Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-06-26
A Case Strongly Put.

In the variety columns of the news
papers, where facts and fancfes and face
tiie are intermixed, appears the following:
A poor woman, called in New England
| and Old England "charwoman'' (pro-
nounced iii Boston ch0re-woman) spends
all the money she can possibly spare in
dressing her fatherless little boy. She
decorates him in the latest fashion, con-
tenting herself with clothing of the poor
est and plainest. Being expostulated with
for her oyer-weening selfdeniaI, she an
swered, ooh, don't blame me! Just think
of it--when / take little Tommy into the
park for walk, people think | am his
nurse!''
This may be fact. Probably it is. 1t
may come under the head of 'amusing'
with some readers, but those persons who
think discern in the poor mothers fond
| ness a serious and somewhat sad typical
exhibition of the selfdenying character of
| a woman's love for her offspring. She is
willing TO be moderated that her children
may be in better esteem, and to put up
with poverty and inconvenience to place
the child Of her heart-boy or girl-in a
good position before the world 1t is to be
hoped that Tommy" when he grows
older, may not regard his mother as an
incumbrance and low person with whom
it is rather a misfortune than otherw Use to
be connected. If he does happen 10 APP
preclate her kindness, return her affection
and manfully reward her devotion, why
then Tommy will be one of q thousand
among spoiled children. They generally
repay undue parental INDULGENCE with in
gratitude, and are more spoiled" to their
parents than to anybody else Some
fathers, though not so many fathers as
mothers, sacrifice themselves unduly or
their children, and find that nobody holds
them cheaper for it than their children
themselves.
Yet, in the very nature Ofthings, some
thing OF the establishment of the poor
char woman enters into every good
mothers heart Where reason and iudic-
iOus education accompany the exercise of
parental love, the child is trained to per-
celVe and reciprOCatc that love. Rather,
we should say, affection being q natural
sentiment, respect is added. Without the
habit Of Difference and the feeling ofrevcr-
ence, affection is soon obliterated by sell
fishncss; and the over-indul ged. child tres
passes cruelty on the weakness which has
pampered his appetites and fostered his
vanity.
In one of Captain Marryatts now neg
lected novels the sage remark is made that
there is great deal Of human nature in
man." Many young people are in Tom
my's case, without knowing it. Their
surroundings do not bring out the absurd
ity of the case quite 50 strongly as in the
instance of the mother who was content to
seem the hired nurse, in order that her
child might appear to be a scion Of more
aristocratic growth. There are very
many "Tommys' in the world, and
"Sissys," too, fourishing bravely at the
expense Of their too indulgent and mis-
takenIy selfdenylng parents. But true
maniness and true womanly character in
young people will defend father and
mother before all corners; or at the least,
will see to it that the child does not hold
a false position in society at the expense
of the parents, either one or both. There
is no greater human excellence than flial
piety, and no better assurance of success
in life than honor to the father and mother.
-PhiladclphiG Ledger.