The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-05-27
A Mothers Mistake.


thought knew before that orown-rr
people should regard the rights of their
children, and be careful not TO DESTROY
any OF their precious little possessions
Bot 1t seemed | needed a little bitter ex.
penence to make me know it thorouably.
In cleaning up the room | gathered nm
some torn pieces of newspaper. and with
them leaf from an old blank hook
scrawied over with the curious hyro.
giyphics my little boy delights in.
crushed them all up together, and stuffed
them IN the stove, with a 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 he should wish to preserve any Of
them.
After breakfast | heard him saving
81 wonder where that paper is that T
marked on last night. | wish I conId
find it. Don't you know, mamma that
piece OF count book | made machinery on
when you lay on the lounge Where do
yon suppose it is ?"
Cant you make another one ike il %
| asked.
i cant just remember how that was"
he said; land it had my dc,5dal cars on
1t. L want that. | must find il - And
he emPted his box of playthinss and
tools upon the floor, TO make sure whether
1t was among his books or papers or. not.
had not the courage TO tel him that II
was gone past all recovery, and by the
cruel tEoughtlessness of lis own mamma.
Al last he concluded to try again on n
fresh leaf of The old account book. Pres.
emily ne came to me, saying "Oh!I
do want that piece | had last night 50
much ! Can't you find it for me p
Suddenly found grace TO say NV lit
lie boy, L am afraid that is what mamma
burned up this morning with some torn
newspaper" COIL | can't live - be
burst out, 81 want it so ue1Y much - For
minute or two l suppose his loss was
quite as severe for him TO bear "a was
| Carlyle's for his mans heart, when he
discovered that his maid>servant had kin
died the fire with his precious manuscript
of the ''French Revolution" On which he
had labored so long. My boy saw that I
was sorry, and be soon became reconciIed
TO loss for which there was no remedy.
1t Is one of the greatest wrongsjlittle child
rem have to bear-the failure of grown m
| people, who should be their guardians
and helpers, to appreciate their feelings
and aims, We expect the little ones to
understand US and try to conform to our
standards, but we lose many beautiful
lessons IN not trying TO enter into their
| spirit and plans-matching the outreach-
ing OF their growing faculties with wise
and gentle guiding, so that all their happy
play shall really be useful education.
My mother told me how she learned TO
enter into child's feelings and bear with
ITS Sitter" Her fiFst~born soma child
always to her heart, because the anlgels
took him SO early-had got possession of
| an old jacknife. She had just swept her
carpets, and put the room to ''rights,"
when she discovered Henry. with a pine
stick and his knife. making little chips all
over on the bright clean corpet.
''Oh, Henry - she said, s'vou have
Uttered my clean carpet See how bad
those little chips look on the floor!'
With wondering gravity, he gazed at
the dear little chips he had been so proud
to be able to scatter, then lifting his frank,
innocent eyes, he said earnestly: "They
! look pity 10 me y'
Instantly the whole scene was beautiful
to my mother, little chips and all !; and
| she carries the sweet picture with her ever
since, and all the little children love her
the better for it without knowing why.
FAITH ROCHESTER,.