Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-04-30
.sThe Bou John"

1.-The Boy john"
John is Young. His tastes are uniorm-
ed. His feelings are very far from being
refined. In tact he is little gross in his
sympathies. He wants amusement.
Every bone in his body aches for recrea'
ton. fol- play, fun. laughter. He does not
care. he has never been taught to care
what the fun is, if only it will give re-
lief TO the fidget that stings him. Not
at an refined, he will go for what he
wants where others so. And gong
where others 60 he finds the hunger oil
his nature coarsely met--iust rs tainted
meat will ill the hunger OF starving
mlu-iu the low reyelry, vile stories. I'M
clean mirlh OF drinking cellars and sa'
looms. The boy does not discriminate
very closely, aud to the longing OF his
crude appetite the entertainment OF these
places i infinitely better than any he
ever could find in that place he has been
taught to speak OF As home. For eating
and sleeping and getting his clothes
mcn,ed. he feels that no place can Ae
equal toa Christian home; but ior
GOOD time. tor passing dull evening
hour. for tearing something new, loi
words of cheer, Tor professions OF sym
pa,hv. ton those genial ways that q boy
does owe. aud which ANY boy but Urlah
lIeep must love, John will tell even the
minister 10 his face that home is nothing
To- street corner, or a billiard room with
the attachment OF a beer-shop.
Well, by and by, Just before the clock
strikes ten. the father wakes from his
dozc, the spec,acles falling and the pa
per sliding upon The floor, and, locking
round with a bewildored gaze. asks.
Where is John 2"
Where is he Why, Tor want of bet
ter Instruction. he Is out practiciug our
modern plan OF training himself up III
the WAY he wants TO 60, having no
thought that when rc j. old he will care
10 depart from it. But the father who
has euquired for his boy rub, his eyes,
looks ont into ths darkness and listens
but he hears him not He wishes that
his boy would not 90 out 50 of nights;
but then he does 90 out. lie wonders
that John cannot sit down At home like
other boys. What other boys And
then with 81 very feeling remark, that Iii
John does not do better and become
steady, hc will make miserable shirk
OF himself the father goes to bed. The
mother waits ill her boy comes home.
By and by he does come home-his rest.
lessuess blown of. the uneasy iidSet OF
the early evening spent in ralaxations
which. OF some kind, boy must have
AMI then at last the house is quiet. Sleep
and rest prepare the household Tor aroth-
er day and evening like these.
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 home, and
very feeIiugly predicts that Ill John
does no; change his course. he will very
likely come to miserable end
But good father, why should your boy
spend his evenings ut home? What is
there at home tor him! What pleasant
recreation, what happy plan Tor Willing
away the hour. does he find Tor inviting
him there. on that would invite any bog
there What have YOU done to make
home attractive and winsome 10 him ~
Johns home He would like amuse-
ments suite 10 his young, restless, brim-
ming nature; how much real Thought
and care did You ever give in schemes,
devices, plans, efforts, with view to meet
this passionate ysarning OF his mind ?
How much doyou play with him, tell
Store. with him, make riddles with him,
talk with him of what YOU nave done
and seen, and of what your father did
and saw ? What games, What sports,
what oiloIts At skill with slate and pen
ell. with knife, saw and gimlet. have
You devised for him, while your look
and action were saying, My boy, |
want YOU to love your bone more than
any spot on earth ?n-Scritner'S N0Hthiu.