The Baltimore County union., 1872-05-25
The Boy John.

S. c. Kendall says some very true and sugges-
tive things about "The Boy John" in the April
number of Scribner's. We quote as follows
John is young. His tastes are Uniformed. His
feelings are very far from being refined. In fact
he is little gross in his sympathies. He wants
amusement. Every bone in his body aches for
recreation, for play, fun, laughter. He does not
care-he has never been taught to care-what the
fun is, if only it will give relief to the fdget that
stings him. Not at all refined, he will go for
what he wants where others go. And going
where others go, be fluids the hunger of his ma
ture coarsely met-just as tainted meat will fill
the hunger of a starving man in the low revelry,
vile stories, unclean mirh of drinking cellars and
saloons The boy does not discriminate very
closely, and TO the longing of his crude appetite
the entertainment of these places is Infinitely
better than any he ever could find in that place
which be has been taught TO speak of as home.
For eating and sleeping and getting his clothes
mended, he feels that no place can be equal TO
Christian home, but for good time, for passing
a dull evening hour FOR learning something new,
for words of cheer for professions Of sympathy,
for those genial ways which any boy but a Uriah
Heep must love, John will tell even the minister
to his face that home is nothing TO street corner,
or billiard room with the attachment of beer
shop.
Well, by and by, just before the clock strikes
ten, the father wakesHr his doze the spectacles
falling and the paper slising upon the floor, and,
looking round wis g bewidered gaze, asks,
"Where is John 7" -
Where is he2 Why, for want of better instruc-
ton, he is out practcing our modern plan of
training himself up 10 the way he likes TO go,
having no thought that when he is old he will
care to depart froul it, Bat the Ia,her who has
inquired for bis boy rubs his eyes, looks out into
the darkness, and listens but he hears him not.
He wishes that his boy would not go out so of
nights but then be does go out. He wonders
that John cannot sit down at home like other
boys. What other boys? And then, with very
feeling remark that, ''If John does not do better
and become steady, he will make miserable
shirk of biDself" the father goes to bed The
mother waits till her boy comes. By and by he
does come in.-bs restlessness blown off, the un
easy Gdget Of the early evening spent in relaxa-
tions which, of some kind, boy must have,-
and then at last the house is quiet Sleep and
rest prepare the household for another day and
evening like this.
And when that other evening comes out goes
the boy again and the father again wonders,
and wishes that John would be steady and stay
at aome and very feelingly predicts that, ''If he
does not change his course. be will very likely
come to miserable end"
But, good father, why should your boy spend
his evenings at homer What is there at home for
him ? What pleasant recreation, what happy plan
for Willing away the hour does he find inviting
him there, or that would invite any hoy there
What have you done TO make home attractive and
winsome 10 him as Johns home? He would like
amnsements suited to his young, restless, brim-
ming nature; how much real thought and care
did you ever give in schemes, devices, plans ef-
fois, with view to meeting this passionate
yearning OF his mind ? How much do you play
with him, talk with him Of what you have done
and seen, Of what your father did and saw p
What games, what sports, what efforts at skill
with slate and pencil with knife, saw and gimiet,
have you devised for him, while your look and
action were saying, "My boy, want you to lore
your home more than any other spot of earth ?"