Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-04-12
A Plea for the Little Ones.

I'm not so sure but a Mr.. Bergh is needed
to 90 into families, and prevent crueltyto |
children. Surely the cruelty exists.
The tradition is, that step-mothers are |
the only ogres in the family. This is a !
curious mistake. These, often from the |
bad name which precedes them, are the
most jealous to be just to the children
who have come under their charge. But
it is of parents, more especially, of whom
now complain.
Fathers and mothers are often most
cruel to their offspring and the tortures
are as varied as those OF the lnqulsltlon.
The mind of a child is acutely sensitive.
We hear much of careless, happy
children" Who hears of the sharp suf-
fering a child may feel? Yet, if we re-
fleet a moment, we will remember by our
own experience that they suffer as keenly
as they enjoy. Don't we remember slip
ping into the creek, and then spreading
our wet stockings on the bank In the sun
to dry. while we sat beside them in utter
wretchedness because of the reproof we
would get when we reached home ? Do
we not remember when the privileged
nurse slapped us across the ears till they
rang and burned, and called us con-
! temptuous name, and we went down In
the cellar and sat upon potato bin as
| stiff and fearless as a stone, and wished
we could kiln herr Do we not remember
the hour we had to amuse the baby SEEM
ed a year and the nursery was prison ;
and no convict ever chafed more under his
chains ? Then, when we were released,
to have the freedom of the fields How
wildly we flew, with the sense of liberty
and complete happiness. But soon, even
as the wing of bird droops,. we tired,
and sat down upon q stone and wondered
if there was not something more. Liberty
did not satisfy our wants
Do we not remember the task thought
lessly given beyond the capacity OF q
child, and the dreadful sense of hopeless
ness that came over us on attempting tC
do itY And then we remember going
home from school with friend, without
permission, to spend the night. And
while all the household were asleep, VIZ
lay in the darkness with eyes wide open
: suffering because wayward VIII haC
, disobeyed sensitive conscience. All
, truly, children are only men and womeI
in epitomel Their sensations are just a
varied and keen as ours-far keener, be
cause they have not yet. become callous
We look to God to temper the wind Z
, the shorn lamb" Why are not peopl
equally tender of the lambs under thei
/ own care
! There is much domestic despotism- TIL
| worst despots, of course, are weak, sell
/ ish, undisciplined characters. Some
e also, are despots through mistaken nc
r tions others through ignorance. Man
: want their children to bow servilely, an
4 without question, to every mandate, be
a ever so whimsical. Any opposition show
/ will SO that will must be broken. The
d strive to break the will, and succeed onl
Q in breaking the temper, and almost breal
t ing the heart
Some aspire to have their children goo
v and quiet like mummies, and make thel
Y prisoners. Others wish their offspring
J, be smart" They crowd, and crow
n and crowd them until knowledge has n,
;, zest, 1t is only so many chips to
@ piled in the storehouse. They cannot
If simulate when laboring TO stuff, so th'
st wearily crowd.