The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-01
Childhood.

We all have commendable appetite for
the best Of everything-a genuine love for
the besutiful things Of earth-hence we try
the choicest fruits and pluck the fairest
flowers. When we come to animal life we
love to survey it in it's most perfect form
that Of prattIing childhood. Its ever vary.
ing moods are pleasant to contemplate.
Children tell their likes and dislikes frankly,
also their loves and hates. Under the
indulge in no receptions. They do not
strike at your back only to charm the pain
away by flattering you to your face.
They are as God made them, specimens
from nature; rich, rosy, round, and plump
rich, in that they bear the palm of divine
commentator; rosy with the innocent
flush of youth and health; round and
plump in the use of every faculty that God
has given them. Their ringing laugh, how
/ love it.
go, the laugh of a child, sowild and go free,
Is the merriest sound In the world to me-
The laugh of u child is genuine play
Spell-a healthy, happy rest. Fashion has
never prescribed the hearty breadth of q
boys laugh, nor the depth of girls. They
may laugh all over, and throughout, if they
like. With us, who are limited by custom
and circumscribed by rules OF etiquette, a
laugh is either fashionable simper, a hypo-
critical smile, or scornful sneer.
Among the outcasts laugh is boiste-
rous, vulgar roar, or demoniacal howl.
Let children laugh laugh till they drown
with their sweet soul-music all the grating
diScords Of grOWn-up humanity.
Let them talk, too. It does one good to
tell all his heart once or twice in lifetime.
We never do it after we grow up to man.
hood and womanhood. We then have loves
that must be hidden, hates that must be
dissembled, cares that must be concealed,
hopes that fiutter, and fears that haunt,
and all unbreathed. They get burdensome
ut last, and wear us thin. -
That child is to be greatly pitied who,
when he talks, has no listener; no one
who cares for aught except his clothing and
his porridge; no one who is charmed by
his smiles or touched by his tears. To him
boyhood is blank and manhood hateful
burden,
When see tottering old man who says
nothing of his early days / conclude that
in his boyhood he was neglected and
dwarted dwarted by having all the little as
pirations of his young heart crushed ut their
birth neglected in the simple yet inevita-
bic wants, which, if supplied, add life
long charm to the old house at home,"
but, if denied, make it a great house with
windows, and nothing more.
Children like to be appreciated. They
like to eat at the first table; but if they
can't-and they can't always-then they
like at least clean plate, and piece of
everything the rest had. Let them have q
clean plate /; it will make them less barbar.
Gus and more christian.
Children need to be amused on long Win
ter evenings. Popping corn they like right
well. "Its hunk Of fun when it's dry
and pops good," said bright eyed boy TO
me "it's such fun to dive after the white
beauties as they hop out Of the popper,'
and he laughed and whirled on one heel
until his little head wrs dizzy with delight.
Let them make molasses candy now and
then, if it does '.stick up things" What
if they do plaster it right into papa's whis-
kers, or in the back of mammals sewing
chair? These may be among their last little
tingcr-marks on earth. Dainty hands are
often closed over silent breasts, just as buds
of rarest beauty are nipped by an early
frost. Who ever regretteu the watch-care
bestowed upon them?
If they live, it will be to call YOU
| "blessed;" and how CHEEKY it will make you
feel to hear them tell to the little ones on
their knees of the frolicsome times they
used to have when they were all at home
togetaer, and dear grand-mamma in the cor
ner there was gay, and had pink cheeks,
and didn't wear caps.-W Woods Household
Md1lzlne. +.-