Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-02-23

Handles, Joy landies :" our dear, DO.
lite gentlemanly grandpa used to cry whor
his grandsons came rushing noisily into hii
presence, asking iavors, making remarks, and
replying TO questions, leaving out the little
very important words, "Sir," " Madam, '' Il
you please, Thank you, and Excuse me.
Not a reply could be gained from grandpa
no matter how pressing the case, till the hdn
dies were applied TO sentences. If six boy,
had been waiting to start on fishing expedi
ton, if a new kite was Just ready to BE-
launched, if brass band, and procession Of
Gagged wild beasts had been passing the door
not even the elephant could move him TO re.
ply to string Of sentences without handle,
uttered by boy with a hat on his head and
his hands in his pockets.
As consequence, the boys about grandpo
grew civil and polite They learned 10 stand
aside and let a lady enter door before them
they ceased to interrupt conversation, or mo-
nopollze the easy chairs aud peasantest seat.
in the windows, 30 priced by the old, who can.
not walk out TO see the outdoor sights. A,
they sat about the evening freside with their
books and games, they became an ornament
instead Of a nuisance, as | have heard boy.
called by those who do not view their actioni
with loving mothers partial eye.
Grandpa, with his sanity spirit and courty
manners, has gone to his reward. With hii
generation have passed away our gentleman
of the old school," who obeyed the command
" Be courteous" " Yes, ma'am," and " No
maam,' have become antique phrases and
a half.spoken " Yes'm, and Nom, shake
Of the head, nod, or nothing at all, has taken
their place. A group of boys standing by
the roadside district school-house, with hats
of, making polite salutation to passers by,
as was the custom in ancient New England
days would be a more wonderful sight to be-
hold than the children who Knocked the hoary.
headed prophet Of God, and we're deyoured
by the bears.
| don't know how grandpa could endure
It, If he was alive, to hear the sort of iuar-
ticulate sounds, perhaps intended for " Umph,
umph," that proceed from the mouth, without
opening the lips Of our young people now-a-
days in place Of the obsolete 4" Yes ma am. u
1t tries my love and patience severely
This new code Of manners may be mod.
ern improvement; but fail to see its beauty
or utility. A polite, respectful boy can never,
by any freak of fashion, be transformed into
anything but beautiful sight. Satan favors
the modern system Of calling parents and
guardians "old fogies," played out" " not
up to the times, because he knows they want
to make boys manly, pure, and true and he
is trying to have them disrespectful, bold,
and regardless of the feelings of those who
are given them by God to guide them in paths
of wisdom
They say, fashions come around every
seven years This is encouraging. hope
the readers of this paper will not wait for
polite children to come in fashion; but, when
they find themselves actingIudely, will remem-
Der grandpa's cry, " Handles, boys, Handles ="
once, in passing, gave little boy an ap-
pie. What do you think he saidl Of
course you will reply be raised his cap
and said, Thank you l blush to say that
this was his reply--a stare, aud the exclama-
ton, " Bully for you ~
Boys, be courteous. You will never be fit
for any position of power or influence in our
land unless you learn to use the handles
Our country is growing very large and we
shall want some noble men for presidents
governors, and cabinet members, twenty years
hence. | hopea few boys, at least, will cling
to old fashioned, respectful ways, such as
George Washington practiced and be ready
for elevation to these high positions.-ChriS-
tiaH Banner.