Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-12-19

ting most dangerous Interpretation upon hi
last illustration He determined therefore nc
to repeat it, The child, not satisfied with tn
sport determined to repeat it himself; whic
the father opposing, he began to reach and or
| as before. There was but one experiment left
and that was to let the child feel the fame
little. This he resolved to try, but how to con
duct 1t properly was not so easily settled. |
would not Go to allow the infant to put his hant
into the blaze, because it would either burn
| too little or too much. He therefore resolved
to direct the hand to point so near the fam,
that the increasing heat would induce the chile
to withdraw his hand himself Accordingly b.
brought the extended arm slowly towards tht
| flame. the child becoming more and more i'm
patient with every moment pOstpOnement O
its qualification, until the hand came within a
bout an lGch of the wick, when he held the
child stationary. But j ohm would not let hi:
hand remain stationary. nor at the chosen point
He kept snatchlng at the candle, till finding all
his efforts fruitless, he threw himself violently
back, gave his father tremendous thump on
the nose with the back Of his head, and kicked
and screamed most outrageousy.
You little rascal, " said Gilbert, I've good
mind to give you good spanking"
Give him to me, said Mrs. Butler.
You d better not take him, 4" said Gilbert in
an undertone, while he is in such passion. "
NO UGuSSf. Salu SIT HduU ultE IO lue
As she received him, Hush, sir - said she
sharply, and the child hushed Instantly and was
asleep IN a few minutes.
Strange, said Butler, ''how much sooner
the mother acquires control over a child than
the iather'
= Not at all, said Mrs Butler "You would
have controlled him as easily as did ii you had
given him the same lesson beforehand that
gave him. He got in just such an uproar the
other day and finding nothing else would quiet
him, | spanked it out Of hun, and | have had
no trouble in quieting him SINCE
begin to think, Butler" said l. that
Eliza was right In the only points of difference
between you touching the management of chill
dren | observed that you addressed the child
Just now in the gbberish which you so much
condemned before you became father and
though it seemed ridiculous enough, espt cially
In you, think it wonld have appeared still more
if you had said to a child so young,
John, MY son, do not put your fingers into the
fame of the candle, it will burn them And
your experiment has taught you the absolute
lmp mposslbility of governing children OF very ten
der ears by prescribed rules u
i am halt inclined TO your opinion" said
Butler. "Eliza's discipline has performed
several good offices. 1t has relieved US OF Johns
lnsuferable noise, it has taught him to control
his temper at its first appearance, and it has
learned hun the meaning or word t'hush'
which will Ofte0 supply the place or correction,
and always iorewarn him of desires unlawful.
However, this case is an exception TO my rule
ra' her than a refutation of it. After child gets
old enough to understand the language of in
strucion, he should always be premonished be-
fore he is punished.
Eliza again joined issue with him, and 40
argument ensued Ia which Gilbert siienced his
wife as before but with no better effect upon
her judgment, The matter was referred to me,
and | decided this tine 10 favor of the wife
rather upon the doctrine Of chances than of
diaiectc>.
Gilbert now squared himself for an argument
a little more obstinate titan that from which he
had Just come eff victorious, Alter waiting a
reasonable time, well, said he, proceed.
Proceed where?' said l.
"WHh your reasons. -
II We got no reasons" SAID /, except that
your wife thinks So"
"Weil, really" returned he, that is very
profound, and proves you to be the best judge
for the decision Of my wites controversies that
she could 5elect"
There liay be more sound philosophy in
it," rejoined |. than al first sight appears
Your wife has already proved herself TO be a
better Judge of these matters than both OF US
put togelher and think | understand why it
Is SO. She has had ten tunes The experience IN
then, that We have had. Her habits of life have
been domestic, she has seen children O! all ages
and under ali cIEc0mS, ances, and from sixteen
10 twenty-three she supplied her mother place
in her fathers family
"A pretty handsome retreat, said Gilbert
Long before the second son arrived at the
reasoning age Gilbert abdicated unreservedly in
favor Of his wife, conteniing himself with the
subordinate station OF her ministerial officer, Ia
which he executed her orders IN cases requlr-
ing more physical strength than she possessed.
Passing over the intermediate period, | now
introduce the reader to the family alter most OF
the children had reached the age OF reason.
La conten plating the scene which ! am about
to SKETCH he viii be pleased to turn his though hts
occasionally to G!berl's principles OF good gov
ernment."
Sarah was about two years and half old
when Gilbert invited me to breakfast with him,
spue December morning near the Christmas
holidays. 1t was the morning appointed Tor bis
seesHd killing OF hogs; which, as the Southern
reader knows, is a sort OF family carnival IN
Georgia. Iwent and found all the children al
home, and Giher; mother added to the family
circle. John a1elaAn ma had reached the age
when they were pef fmitted to take seats at the
first table though upon this OCCASION John,
being engaged about the pork, did not avail
himself OF this privilege. The rest OF the chill
dren were taught to wait for the second table.
Breakfast was announced and, after the adults
and Auna had despatched their meal, the chill
dren were summoned. As they had been taught
not to seat themselves at the table until hidden,
and as there were some preparatory arrange
meuts to be made, they all gathered around the
fire. clamorous with the events 0! the morning
by jokey," said William, ''didn'; that old
black barrer weigh heapY'
Look here, young gentleman" said his
mother, where did you pick up such language
as that? Now let lie ever hear you by-lokey-
ing, or by-log anything else again, aud II by
jockey you with witness, Hi warrant you.
But the black barrer," said George, ''dldn'
weigh as much to his size as the bob-tali spec
kle, though"
He did"
''He didn't
"Hush your diaputing this instant stop it
You shall not contradict each other in that
manner. Aud let Us hear no more Of your hog
pen wonders nobody wants TO hear them"
At this instant William snatched pig tail
o1t of Isaac band
Ma" yelled Isaac, make Bill gi' NE muh
tail"
You, William give him his-thng. Aud
if | were near you I'd box your ears for that
snatching. nir Butler, you really will have to
take that fellow in hand. He is getting SO |
can do nothing with him"
III he don't behave himself" said Butler
carelessly, Just turn him over to me | reck-
on L eau mauag- him"
Ma" said Bill, 'he took ny blather"
Hush
81 didn't.
W., d;J