Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-03-08
A Mothers Mistake.

thought | knew before that grown-up peo-
pie should regard the rights Of their children,
and be careful not 10 destroy any Of their
precious little possessions. But it seems that
| needed little bitter experience to make
me know it thoroughly.
la clearing up the room, l gathered up
some torn pieces of newspaper and with them
a leaf from an old blank-book, scrawed over
with the curious hieroglyphics my little boy
delights in | crushed them all up together,
and stuffed them in the stove, with sudden
fear, as the flames devoured them, that the
child might miss his drawings. But he made
so many such scrawls, hardly could see why
be should wish TO preserve any Of them.
After breakfast | heard him saying: |
wonder where that paper is that marked on
last night | wish | could find it Don't
you know, mamma, that piece Of 'count-book
made machinery on when you lay on the
| lounge Where do you suppose it is
Cant you make another like it2" |
asked
can't remember just how that was, ~
he said " and it had my dendal cars on it.
| want that must find it !" and he emp.
tied his box of playthings and tools upon the
floor, to make sure whether it was among his
books and papers or not. had not the cour-
age to tell him that it was gone past all recov-
cry, aud by the cruel thoughtlessness of his
own mamma. At last he concluded to try
again on a fresh leaf Of the old account-book
Presently he came to me, saying ooh
do want that piece had last night so much 4!
Can't you find it for me ?" Suddenly, |
found grace to say A." My little boy, am
afraid that is what mamma burned up this
morning with some torn newspaper Oh |
cant live :" he burst out, want it so very
much :" For minute or two | suppose his
loss was quite as severe for him to bear as
was Carlyes for his mans heart, when he
first discovered that his maid.servant had
kindled his fire with the precious manuscript
of the French Revolution" on which he
had labored so long. My boy saw that | was
sorry and soon became reconcilcd to a loss
for which there was no remedy 1t is one OF
the greatest wrongs little children have to
bear, the failure Of grown-up people, who
should be their guardians and helpers, to ap-
preciate their feelings aud aims. We expect
the little ones to understand us, and try tC
conform to our standards, but we lose many
bSAhAlAhA lto0pho III NV u llhE " NhANl AhAN
their spirit and plans, matching the outreach
ings Of their growing faculties with wise anC
gentle guiding so that all their happy play
shall really be useful education
, My mother told me how she learned to en-
ter into chid's feelings and bear with it
" litter" Her frst.born son--a child Away
to her heart, because the angels took him Sc
early-had got possession of an old jack-kuiie
She had just swept her carpet, and put th'
room to rights, when she discovered Henry
with pine-stick and his knife, making lttl
chips all over on the bright, clean carpet
40 Henry :" she said, you have lttere
my clean carpet. See how bad those littl
chips look on the floor -
| With wondering gravity, he gazed at tn
dear little chips he had been so proud to b
+. able to scatter, then lifting his frank, innC
: cent eyes, he said earnestly, They look pitt
to me :"
Instantly the whole scene was beautiful I
my mother, little chips and all and she car
ries the sweet picture with her ever since, an
t all the little children love her the better 70
= it, without knowing why.-FaiM Rochester
] IN Hearth and Howe.