Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-02-06
Managing a Child.

"Gol dang it," said Herbert Ames
with petulence, as the knees of his sleigh
broke in riding down hill; ''Gol dang it, l
say"
1t was near the house, and Herbert's
mother overheard him. But she said
nothing, knowing that the best time to
reason with boys was not when they were
excited.
With his sleigh broken, Herbert's
amusement ended for the time, and after
examining the fracture moment he I'M
willingly dragged the sleigh to the house.
Mother" said he on entering, "this
plaguy sled of mine is broken. I'm so
mad l feel like breaking it all to pieces,
and burning it."
"Well, suppose you do" said his
mother quietly; "will that improve the
matter? viii that be as well as to wait a
day or two until your father can repair it,
or get it repaired, if he has no time to do
it himself?"
"But l hate such luck" said Herbert,
impatiently. every time l go out to have
some fun, something happens to spoil it
ALL"
Don't speak any more about it. Take
your school history now and look over
your lesson"
This was said quietly but firmly, and
the impatient boy, knowing there was no
chance for any compromise, sat down on
the lounge and was soon absorbed in the
lesson. He was quite irritable at times,
but he loved his mother, and had very
early learned to obey her; and in his
calm moments was ready to concede that
her advice was always meant for his
good.
He went to school as usual during the
nd
that mornings mishap until in the even
ing, when, on being alone with him, Mrs.
Ames said:
Herbert, what is the meaning of 'gol
dang it?"
The question had such an air of earn
est inquiry that Herbert looked up, and
after moments hesitation, answered.
cit don't mean anything that | know
Of"
"But if it don't mean anything, why
do you use such an expression some
times?'
Il don't think l do very often" said
Herbert.
''But why use it at all? 1t does mean
something, and as you never use it when
good natured, or in the presence of those
whom you admire and respect, it would
seem that even you understand that it is
| not at least creditable expression"
81 never thought what it meant. l
heard other boys say SO when they had bad
luck"
81 suppose you have heard other boys
swear sometimes!"
Eyes, mother, but I didn't swear"
You think so, and no doubt you mean
it; but you should remember that that
low word 'gop which comes to your lips
so readily, is a disguised substitution for
your Makers holy name, and dang it
covers the more open imprecation of damn
it, so common among bad boys or bad
men. The words you used are precisely
in the same sense as the profane oath
which impiously calls upon your Father
in Heaven to blast or destroy somebody or
something because you have little bad
luck. 1t is an imitation, in low way, of
a horrid oath, and of false oath too, for
not many of those who invoke Gods
wrath in this way would care to see their
prayer answered. The original and vul-
gar imitation are neither fit to be uttered
by decent lips. Indeed, Christ expressly
says, Let your communications be Yea,
Yea, and Nay, Nay, for whatsoever is
more than this cometh of evil Nh boy,"
continued the mother, tenderly kissing
him, "should be above such language"
The matter had never appeared to Her
bert in that light before. and yet, young
| as he was, he felt that the language,
which at first had amused him, was not
of the kind which is heard in good socie-
ty. His mothers exposition of its real
import shocked him, and her kindness
and gentleness touched him deeply. His
| eyes filled with tears, and, throwing his
arms about her neck, he said:
"Dear mother, I'm oe,y sorry, and I'll
try not to use such bad words again"
Whether he ever did yield to the temp
tation again we cannot say; but the course
his mother took to explain the matter,
when neither was excited, was certainly
far better than an instant appeal to the
rod, or those foolish and angry reproach-
es IN which so many parents indulge
when children are guilty of 'cittle sins"
Country Gentleman