Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-04-10


Probably most parents. even very kind
ly ones, would be little startled ut the as
sertion that child ought never to be re-
proved in the presence of others. This Is
SO constant an occurrence, that nobody
thinks OF noticing It; nobody thinks Of
considering whether it Is right and best. or
not. But 1t Is great rudeness to child
l am entirely sure that 1t ought never to he
done. Modification is condition as nn-
wholesome as 1t Is uncomfortable. When
the wound is inflicted by the hand Of pa
rent. 1t Is all the more certain to rankle
and do harm. Let the child see that his
mother Is SO anxious that he should have
the appreciation and goodwill of her
friends that she will not call their attention
to his faults; and that while she never I'M
der any circumstances, allows herself to
forget to tell him afterwards. alone, If he
has behaved improperly. she will spare
him the additional pain and modification
OF public reproof; and while that child
will lay these secret reproofs to heart, he
will still be happy.
know a mother who had the insight to
see this, and the patience to make it a rule
for 1t takes far more patience, far more
time than the common method. She said
sometimes to her little boy, after visitors
had left the paIlor: "Now my dear, / am
going to be your little girl. and you are to
be my papa. And we will play that gen.
tleman has just come in to see you, aud |
will show you exactly how you have been
behaving while this lady has been calling
on me. And you can see If you do not feel
very sorry to have your little girl behave
So" There is a dramatic representation
at once. which that boy does not need to
see repeated many times before he is for
ever cured Of interruption, OF pulling his
mothers gown. of drumming on the piano.
etc-.-of the thousand and one things
which abie-bodied children can do to make
social visiting, where they are, martyr
dom and a penance. Once l saw this same
little boy behave SO boisterously and rude
ly at the dinner-table, in the presence of
guests, that / said to myself Surely
this time she will have to break her rule
and reprove him publicly" | saw sever
al Geographic signals of rebuke. entreaty,
and warning flash from her gentle ewes to
his; but nothing did any good. Nature
was too much for him; he could not at
that moment force himself quiet. Present.
ly she said in perfectly easy aud natural
tone: "Oh. Charley. come here a minute :;
| want to tell You something" No one at
the table supposed that II had anything to
do with his bad behavior. She did not in
tNhu eiiit thts sHouiu. As she whispered
TO him. alone saw his cheek flush, and
that he looked quickly and imploringly in
TO her face; alone saw that tears were
almost in her eyes. But she shook her
head. and he went back TO his seat with a
manful but very red little face. In few
moments he laid down his knife and fork
and said Mamma, will you please to ex-
cusc meF Certainly, my dear" said
she. Nobody but | understood 1t, or OBJ
served that the little fellow had to run fast
To get ont of the room without crying.
Afterwards she told me that she never sent
child away from the table in any other
way. But what would you do said |.
"if he were to refuse to ask to be excus-
edS Then the tears stood full in her eyes
DO YOU think he could" she replied
when he sees that | am only irving TO
save him from pain?' In the evening.
Charley sat in my lap and was very sober.
Al last he whispered 10 me IN tell you
an awful secret if you won't tell. Did YOU
think had done NV dinner this afternoon
when got excused? well. hadn't. Mann
ma made me, because acted so. That's
the way she always does. Bnt | haven't
had 10 have II done to me before for ever
so long. since | was a little fellow
lhe was eight now land | don't believe
shall ever again till I'm man." Then
he added, reiiectively MARY brought
me all the rest OF my dinner, upstairs;
but | wouldn't touch il. only little bit
of the ice-cream. | don't think deserved
any at all: do your"