The Portland daily press., 1870-05-21
A PLEA FOR BOYS.

O. do believe that the very spirit OF mischleI
is in the boy! From morning to nlgnt IL IS
out Of one thing into another. Ihere Is ho'n-
ing safe when's he's about -,
swim him! There is hardly day goes
over his head that he's not punished, besides
the grand totals that are paid off by his father
about once fortnight"
ais he ugly? Do you think he means to
do wrongw
"Thats the worst of it. He has as kind
heart as need be, and is always so sorry. But
it does no good. The minute my back is
turned he is tying up the two cats, or putting
chairs before the door to see them tumble
over, when some one opens it, or bouncing out
Off corner suddenly upon Sally, whose
screams seem to delight him. Yesterday he
got the scissors and began to cut his own hair.
A pefect fright he made of himself. He tied
Aunt Prue's dress to the back of her rocking
chair the other day, so that when she got up,
the chair got up too. Only a week ago he put
wick into his fathers bottle of bears grease
and set it on fire, and yesterday he must needs
collect all the tooth powder he could find in
the house and mix it in tumbler with lamp
oil, to paint the bureau with! Oh dear! 1
am never at rest minute with him, except
when he is out doors at play. There is some
body scolding down stairs, or crying up stairs !;
and when there is silence, know that some
peculiar mischief is Matching. I've talked and
talked to him. But there is no use in it. He
is sorry and will not do SO again; and that
seems to act like an absOlution, and he is rea-
dy with cheerful heart for the next prank.
Oh, if Robert was only half as good as Mrs.
GOOdkins James! Well, it l ever lie to see
him grow up, hope that shall have some
comfort in the boy, for heaven knows l have
very little now.
Now, We take the boys side. We know just
how he feels, and just what the mother is.
A fine organization and high health fill the
lad to overlooking with animal spirits, and the
parents are trying to cork it up, and in spite
OF them, nature drives out the cork. The pa
rents are in regular occupations and have no
surplus vitality to vex them. But vigorous
boys generate vast deal of motive force for
which no regular channeslare provided.
In family where all the children work, at
some appropriate trade, boys are less likely to
fall into mischief. This is one reason why it
is easier to bring up children on farm than
in a town. 1t is true that there are fewer temp
tations. But main reason is that there is a
legitimate channel for the boys energies to
how in. Govern boys by keeping them busy
Now and then there are bad natures that will
60 peryersely wrong. But ordinarily boys do
not do wrong on purpose. Their high spirits
get them into mischief and then they 90 wrong
for the sake of avoiding the consequences.
Work off the steam and there will be less pres
sure and fewer explosions.
And now comes the very question for which
all this has been said. What shall parents do
who live in towns and cities? What shall
professional men do whose children cannot
participate in their parents work.
Instead of keeping them anxiously within
doors, thrust them out as much as possible.
Do not let watching become spying. Let chill
dren have sports and companions, and I'M
watched liberty. Put them upon their honor.
Boys will early respond to this. Dc not make
too much OF their mistakes and faults. How
can one be child and not be full of faults !?
Explain their mistakes gently. Be patient!
Wait for them! Children must have time to
grow. Somebody had to wait for you. Never
let fear make gulf between the child and
you. Within due bounds, liberty is the best
thing for child, as it is for man. 1t will
lead to Irregularities, but out of these will come
experience, and, gradually, selfcontrol. The
object of all family government is to teach
children to get along without being governed.
They must therefore be trusted, even if they
abuse it, they must be trusted. Keep them
busy with pleasant work, if possible. Awaken
in them curiosity about the things which lie
around them. A very little instruction will
make children curious about plants, minerals,
autographs, postage stamp collections, and a
thousand things which will inspire pleasure
in their reason rather than in their appetite.
Never scold children, but soberly and quiet
ly reprove. Do not employ shame except in
extreme cases. The suffering is acute, it hurts
selfrespect in the child, to reprove a child be-
fore family; to ridicule it, to tread down its
feelings ruthlessly, is to awake in its boson
malignant feelings. A child is defenceless
he is not allowed to argue. He is often tried,
condemned and executed in a second. He
finds himself of little use. He is put at things
he don't care for, and withheld from things
that be does like; he is made the convenience
Of grown people, is hardly supposed to have
any rights, except in corner, as it were, is
sent hither and thither, made to get up or sit
down for every body's convenience but his
own, is snubbed and .catechised until he learns
to dodge government and elude authority, and
then be whipped for being :" such lying
whelp that no one can believe you"
Well, well; girls may have the hardest time
OF 1t in after lite, but for the first fifteen years
boys are the sufferers.