Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-09-10
order in Disorder.

Auuie Gray, want you to come and
look at this room such sight | never
saw {"
whats the matter, Jane ?" came in
even tones from the apartment adjoining.
What's the matter IL would take
more breath than I've got to spare to tell
you what's the matter Come and sec"
Accordingly Mrs. Gray put down the
little moriuo dress she was braiding, and
went TO see, When she saw, she laughed
right heartily.
l don't sec anything TO laugh at, said
Jane, Mrs. Grays sister.in.law "Such a
looking place How do you ever keep
any order | should ike to know"
There are different kinds Of order,
Jane, although they all belong together, a,
different notes make one melody"
well, ! hope you won't GO so far as tc
say that this room is specimen of onC
kind Of order"
/ shall be obliged to 60 as far as that
see harmony here instead of disorder n
| always thought you were a little un.
sound in mind, Annie believe you are
worse than ever
The room that Jane Arnold made such
q fuss over was Mrs. Gray's own room and
had benn given up to the children during
the morning. The youngsters had invited
10 two or three playmates, and they had
imported from the attic all the cast.oG
clothes the house afforded. With these
they had arranged various costumes, and
had played make journeys, visits, etc. The
little ones were on trip to the Sandwich
Islands, represented by the adjoining bed
room, when Aunt Jane swooped down upon
the scene Of action.
Do you know what | should do with
these youngsters ?" she said, after having
consigned Mrs. Gray, mentally, to a luna
tic asylum.
| can guess replied that lady smiling
| should make them carry those clothe.
back where they belong, and then | should
set them down one while where the'd stay
Just then the children came tumbling in
the girls in trains of bustles, and the boyi
in uniforms, aud the aunt followed the
mother into her pretty sitting.room. Mrs
Gray took up her little frock, and contin
ued her work. Presently Mrs. Arnold
said
Annie, your idea of bringing up chill
dren is very different from mine"
Yes, Jane, | know it is you think my
/. plan a very poor one but we must Judge
by the results. 1t is the harvest that jus
tides or condemns the farmer. l try tC
keep the future Of my children always il
sight | want beautiful full harvest, NJ
matter how much trouble it makes me now.
What did you mean, Annie, by the
different kinds Of order order is order, as
far as can see"
That what seems to you so disorderly
in the children's play, is to me perfect or
der; because the children are having wha
they need, exercise and diversion, in way
perfectly innocent and natural. When tn,
irolic Is over, the room can be put in ordel
in five minutes. If the outside order haC
been preserved, perhaps the inward disor
der could never have been remedied WheI
a child says 10 himself: Mamma doe
not care whether have a good time ol
not, the very foundations Of inward ordel
are disturbed With such feelings, tn,
child cannot grow harmoniously. A per
feet trust, a sweet, tender confidence be
tween mother and child, are the first con
ditions of true growth. The child tina
trusts his mother will be prepared to trus
his teacher when he goes outside Of home
to trust God, when he is developed enougl
to learn spiritual truth"
But you believe in outward order, a
you call it, don't you, Annie2"
Certainly. Butall outward things mus
be the servants of the inward. | make i
a rule never to be disregarded, that tn
children shall leave their play rooms in per
feet order. give them perfect liberty il
the hours Of liberty. | make the restrain
as perfect as possible, when it is time 70
restraint. But try, whenever there is
choice between outward neatness and tn
real good and happiness of my children, t
let the first 60 by the board. 1t is yer
seldom that the latter sacrifices the former
but when it does, let it be sacrificed.
would rather have everything topsy turv
all over the house, than hurt the honest
natural feelings Of any of my children
Our children should be taught to regar
scrupulously the rights and feelings G
those around them and above them, but thi
object will never be attained by disregard
ing their rights"