Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-03-27
The dtEnmp Circle.
A Fearful Inheritance.

The last time | was at Hannah Cranes,
her youngest boy Richard, sat on the floor
eating bread and milk, and while elbowing
the cat away he upset his tin cup. hap
pened to see him that minute. lie surveyed
the mischief, and then, as though struck by a
sudden thought, he called Oh ma, ma,
look'er here"
Why, Rick, my child how did you do
that o. said his mother.
Why, Lion upset it, said he, looking
in her face. Lion was the name of his grand
pas dog, and grandpa lived three miles away.
/" Lion must be whipped " she said coolly, and
the matter dropped.
The bad seed was there aud a little hand
ful Of earth was thrown over it, and it will
take root aud grow and the results will be
for all time, and for eternity.
While toddling around and helping his lit
tie sisters carry in some wood, the child tore
his apron. His mother said, " you must be
careful, Rick, and not tear your clothes"
Il didn't do it, said he brayely, " it was
Mister Jimson's pup tored it,
The poor, unwise mother turned her head
away to hide smile, because her " baby was
so cute"
This little incident set me to thinking.
There is slang phrase" a nat'ral born
fool, here was a child who was a " nat'ral
born liar Who was to blame | knew
bad always known his iather-we were
brought up together. He was the most gen
enous hearted boy ever saw, but he had one
crogning fault-he was a born liar. He
would look right in your face with his beau
tifl dark blue eyes, and lie most superbly
Whata pity Who was to blame knew
has mother well-a brave, bright, little body
just as free-hearted and kind and unselfish
as people generally become in this world. Ii
you we're sick, no hand was so tender no voice
80 sweet. DO step so soft, and no nurse so for
getiul Of self as she was, but that fair-iaced
trim, light-footed little woman was an uncon.
scionabe liar, She would set the whole neigh.
borhood together by the ears frequently, and
many and many pair Of fast friends did she
sunier irrevocably. Oh, what pity And
her mother?
can Just remember hearing my mother
and grandmother, and my aunts, in the dim
long ago, say what a sad thing it was that
good old grandma Button leould lie so-that
it was all the fault she had.
And so it goes-back, away back who
knows but Sapphira was the pebble dropped
in the still water from whom the widening
circles first started What an inheritance
to bestow upon ones children, and children's
children.
How especially careful should woman be
from whose life grows little budding life
how careful, even before its eyes open to the
light Of day, should she be lest she transmit
faults, lest she bestow upon it heritage oil
sin the dover Of lies.
knew woman once who said TO me il
the spring time' God blessing me, there
will be pure, new life laid in my arms, and
Graded in my bosom for my precious Christ
mas gift, and my work through the May
and June, and the summer and the autumn
will be for it.
] didn't understand, aud looked at her
in surprise, she must have read my fear il
my face, for before could speak, she laugh
ingly said "0h not embroideries, and
dainty workmanship Of frills AMI laces, aud
such abusive waste Of time and strength
but mean, shall be giving character to my
babe"
And that consecrated woman lived the life
morally, intellectually, and physically, tha
she onged to impress upon another.
| said TO the doctor yesterday, when We
talked about the inheritance Of lies that has
passed into the fourth generation "Oh
that parents would live clean, pure, exalted
lives, and thus bestow upon their children thii
precious legacy -
He wrinkled up his nose aud said "pooh
all fol-de-rol butif you women can be made
a.,believe II so. it will ennoble you, and maxi
}oa happier and the more worthy to wear the
crown Of motherhood"
" But, Doctor said, " there's Mrs. Lay
ton who loves music but can't sing any more
than an owl-and Mr.. Layton's voice is ne
sweeter than the filing Of saw, but for The
sake of their children they cultivated the
love of music to the very heights of exalta
ton, and now their Kitty sings like roblr
aud all the little Laytons will excel in nu
SIC"
Pooh !" he said, and he shifted at me
but | said, "What would a man know abou
such things, big man who has to face thu
stern world to earn bread, who falls among
thieves, and liars, and rascals He has NJ
chance Of knowing,--he never feels his sou
glow and warm over these things that vi
women think of when We sit in our cosl
rooms,-iacts that come to US intuitively
that we do not care to question because W.
have no doubts, or wonderment, or mlsglv
ings as to the truth.
7" tell you, doctor, feel sometimes a
though we women, chid-bearing mothers, hat
our hands on the lever that moves the world
and that if we all knew the fearful respousi
bility resting upon us we would toiter unde
the terrible burden" and here leaned m,
head on my desk and let the tears drop unre
strainodly my heart was SO heavy.
Goodbye, little wife, said my matter
of.iact doctor, as he hustled on his overcoa
and gloves, and laid kiss reverently on m.
hand and was gone, leaving me alone 4
write these thoughts that weigh me down hk
an incubus. Adranee,