The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-12-14
l;Ow to make Village Loafers

No parents probably suffer more than
the village parents over their great, stout,
hearty boy, whose habitual round of idle
ness and dissipation is no less methodical
than the work Of merchant prince or
city editor. He has his regular morning
resort and his evening resort. He smokes
here drinks there, drops into this peanut
shop and that other shop, no matter
whose for vulgar story or the village
gossip, with all the tt.;;;::::.:;' tt.;;::.;' of a letter
carrier. He is punctual at dinner pune
tually late at breakfast, punctually out
till midnight. He is vulgar gormandi-
zer at the table, an idle lout about the
house. He mortifes his sisters, is per-
petual anxiety to his mother who derives
no comfort from him, and trouble to his
father who gets no work from him, can
not keep him at school and sees no pros
pect of making any thing of him.
The blame for a oafing boy, who is
anywhere more at home than in his own
home, belongs in great measure to his
parents Young people must have anuse-
ment; without it they can neither work
nor study Neither when night comes
after days work at books or at trade
or behind counter, can they sit down at
home like quiet old men until bedtime.
Young America" must have vent. 1t
must dance and laugh, crack jokes, and
make love. 1t has no idea of giving up
the solid pleasures of sentiment and fc-
=. Il u Ia
fresh blood courses in its, veins. But
parents overlook this necessity of youth
If they have fault, it is not understand
ing the fact that amusement stimulates a
healthy mental activity, and that an
abundance Of new pleasure creates for
young people .ove and attachment for
their homes, which no amount ofparental
preaching about staying at home and
going away to spend the evenings, will
ever succeed in bringing about. In Will
age homes there is too much hard work
and too little play; too little evening So
ciety too little hospitality too little
provision for the entertainment Of the
boys and girls The parlor is hardly
once warmed toi the long Winter; the
table never spread tor a young company /;
the companions Of the children are not
made free 10 run i'll and spend the even
ing with games and music there are no
parties at seasonable hours, in the pres.
enee ofparents and grandparents pres
ence so sacred that it should regulate
times, manners and habits.
Now amusements young people will
find out and have. Unless they can have
anusements of innocent and childlike ma
ture at their homes, they will have them
elsewhere. They will go to disreputable
places, mingle with exceptional company
carry their amusements TO excess, and
contract along with them vicious and de-
grading habits. Give the girls liberty
to invite in their companions once a week,
TO spend an evening in singing or al
games. Let the boys have the same pri'
yilege. Smile upon them. Don't let
them feel that you haze kind of holy
horror of these things, but encourage them
by providing little entertainment. II
! will disturb the house, make work, be
tiresomc, perhaps, and add a trihe of ex.
pcnse. But which had you rather have
the noise and the trouble of party once n
week, or night after night of anxiety and
watching and waiting for your boys II
come home from the saloons and shops.