Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-11-30
FAMILY STEALING.
By GAIL HAMILTON.

I Have just been reading the
story Of a little girl who was alien
ated for life from her father because
he made her wear two figs strung
around her neck to punish her for
having stolen them from the dinner
table. How great was her sin, or
how incommensurate the punish
ment history furnishes MS no ag-
gravating or I ex'enuating circum-
sances ty which to Judge; but I
desire to protest against the unwis-
dom and injustice Of ofcalling such an
act stealing, or OF assuming for .
moment that there can be any such
thing rs stealing between parents
and little children. It may be dis
obedience. and if not suppressed, it
may lead to theft-but theft it is
not; and if it were. I would not let
u child think So. There are pitfalls
enough for his little soul to stumble
into without leading him out of his
path to throw him into one that he
would never have found of himself.
Every thing that tends to create
q division Of interests between
porents and children should be
discouraged Every thing that
tends to create unity should be
iostered. It is never too early to
make = child feel his ownership of
home not the ownership Of tyran-
ny and selishness, but of afec-
ton and attachment. Let him have
his share of the proprietorship in
all its comforts conveniences and
luxuries. I do not know what the
law would say, but they are his.
The rights Of child are the strong
est in the world His absolute
inability to decend them throws
an immense burden upon grown
up people. He owns every thing he
is born to. The wealth of his father
is his by divine right. All that his
parents can do-what they are
strictly bound to do is to pass
over his property to him in such
measure. by such means, as shall be
most for his welfare. To talk of his
stealing figs from his fathers
absurd.
The table is his figs. father. and all.
He must keep his little hands of, be-
cause it is not good manners to put
them on, because he will get his fingers
sticky and soil his frock, because the
time for figs is not yet, and he must
not take his till Kate and Mary and
Frank havet heirs; but not in the least
because the figs belong to somebody
else, and not him. And if this little
confused, fumbling, twilight soul half
thinks it Is stealing, does not rightly
know the difference, soothe away the
or hush it away by silence.
One sin at time is enough for him to
be saddled with. If he has been or.
dered not to touch the figs. there is q
clear cn.e Of disobedience. Let il stand
out by itself, and not be mixed. in with
else. II nothing has ever
been said to him about it, wherein
does his fault consist But children
are such conscientious little wretches
that they viii often show signs Of guilt
when q wise man viii be puzzled to de- |
line it. The part Of wisdom is not to |
iniquitics, but to diminish
them. Bessie had got into . habit |
"a mere habit-Of waking up in |
The night and going to her mothers |
room. Presently her mother told
her she must not come into her
room again unless she was sick. |
The very next night I was awakened |
md aware o. q little midget paving |
rapidly over the head Of my bed
with speechless but ferocious reso-
ution. and down snuggled Bessie, |
not half awake, aud in . minute not |
'ven that. In the morning. and in |
The full possession Of her senses,
crime gnawed ut Bcssie's |
heart, and when she heard her |
mothers step coming in search Of
her she for IN instant contemplated |
,oaeealmeut. But her mother was
wise eooagh 10 pass il over slightly. |
md it was with great relief that |
Bessie bounced Up after abe was
gone. and cried. "Shs didn't care q
,itl"
And Bessie was not the least |
BY it, though that evil and |
utter thing, 70 strict discipliu, ,risn,