Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-01-29
IPapa is SEQ, too, taking his all alone

papa is sad, too, taking his all alone
downstairs"
! At this willy burst out into hyster-
ica1 fit Of crying and sobbing.
ftI shall never see my papa again IN
Then his mother broke down, too
and cried as hard as he did; but she
said "Ohl yes, you viii, dear. think
/ YOU Will say that letter before tea-time
and we VIII have a nice evening down
stairs togsther."
siI can't say It. I try all the time
! and I can't say it; and, If you keep me
here till die, shan't ever say it,
/ The second night settled down dark
and gloomy, and Willy cried himself
/ to sIeep. His mother was i'll from anx-
iety and confinement; but she never
| faItered. She told me she resolved that
night that if it were necessary she
| would stayin that room with Willy a
month. The next morning she said to
him, more seriously than before: "NoW,
Willy, you are not only a foolish little
boy,yOu are Hnkind; you are making ey-
| cry body unhappy. Mamma is very sor-
ry but she is also very much displeased
with you. Mamma viii stay here with
| you till you Say that letter, If it is for
/ the 5f y0ur life; but mamma will
not tax with you, as she did yesterday.
She tried all day to help you, and you
| would not help yourself; to-day you
| 8Manarrla. are YOU sure shall ever
| say it?'' asked willy
Eyes, dear; perfectly sure. You viii
say it some day or other"
fsDo you think sllatl say it to-day2''
81 can't tell. You are not a strong
| little boy as tbgughs. I believed you
would say it yeEterQHy. / am afraid
you have some hard work before you"
Willy begged her 70 go down and
| leave him alone. Then he begged her
- ~ fET- Z
that wouldn't make him good" Every
few minutes he would come and stand
before her, aud saYs very earnestly:
care you sure shall say it?''
He looked very pale almost as if he
had had fit of illness. No wonder
It was the whole battle of life fought at
the age of four.
It was late in the afternoon of this the
third day. Willy had been sitting in
his little chair, looking steadily at the
floor. for so long a time that his mother
was almost frightened. But she hesi-
tated to speak to him, for she felt that
the crisis had come. Suddenly he
spranR up, walked toward her with all
the deliberate frmnsss of man in his
whole bearing. She says there was
something in his face which she has
never seen since, and does not expect
to see till he is thirty years old.
Mammal" said be.
bling SO she could hardly speak.
Mamma, +" he repeated, in loud,
sharp tone: sc! G.! Gl G!'' And then
he burst into a fit of crying, which she
had hard work to stay, 1T was over.
Willy is now ten years old. From
that day to this his mother has never
had q contest with him; she has always
been able to leave all practical ques-
tions affecting his behavior to his own
decision, merely saying: "Willys 1
think this or that Would be better"
His self-eontrol and gentlenegs are
wonderful to see; and blending in his
face of childlike simplicity and purity
with manly strength is something
which have never but once saw equal
For a few days he went about the
house, shouting "Gi o. Gi'' at the top
of his voice. He was heard asking
playmates if they could 'say G" and
sswho showed them ho7T.'' For several
years he used often to sllude to the af-
fair saying: "Do you remember, mann
ma, that dreadful time when wouldn't
say G?D He always used the verb
Sc f'Wouldn't" in speaking of it. Once
when he was sick, he said; Mamma,
do you think could have said g any
sooner than did ~
81 have never felt certain about that,
Willy, she said. do you think?"
81 think I could have said it a few
minutes sooner. Twas saying it to my
self as long as thatI'' said Willy.
1t was singular that, although up to
that time he had neYeE been able to
-pronounco Ahe 1eESeEzzssabh- any distinct
ness. when he first made Ests-l4Iy7 mind
in this instance to say it, he enuciated
it with perfect clearness, and never
again went back to the old, imperfect
pronunciation.
Few mothers, perhaps, would be able
to give up two whole days to such a
battle as this; other children, other
duties would interfere But the same
principle could be carried out without
the mothers remaining herself by
by the child's side all the time. More
over not one child in a thousand would
hold out as Willy did. In all ordinary
cases few hours would suffice. And,
after all, what would the sacrifice of
even two days be, in comparison with
the time saved in years to come? If
there were no stronger motive than one
of policy, of desire to take the course
easiest to themselves, mothers might
well resolve that their first aim should
be to educate their children's wills an
make them strong, instead of TO con-
quer and "break" them.