Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-06-04

( llUl Ntlt lllc duuIeSSCo "a -'-NN io
of New York, entitled That Boy, .
and Attention. We give condens-
ed report of the two mere taste
from each, condensed from the Ripon
Free Press Extra.
THAT BOY.
Ny friends; | confess that l am a
little surprised to fad that my subject
/ has been announced as it has. You
are to Judge Of the extent to which it
concerns Sunday school interests. I
am not going to sneak tonight Of the
..good boy" who dies before he is ten
years old. nor of the ..Old Boy" but
/ of THAT Boy''-tha5 lawful" boy,
that boy who is always doing wrong.
That boy who is always dirty, always
! forgetting to comb his hair, or wipe his
feet, always in the way and never
guilty Of doing anything fitting or ap-
propriate, in short, the Average boy is
my subject this evening.
Let. [ speak OF the baby boy. He
is nothing but a girl. He is ''the dar-
ling little fellow" He has many ad-
mirers, and let me say word right
here about mothers. The sublimest
sphere for woman is womanhood. l
scorn the woman who leaves her child
to others while she follows the follies
of fashion.
2nd. I speak in the second place Of
the bona tide boy. He is not girl.
He puts on boots and trowsers, and IS
out Of doors most Of the time. He
becomes disagreeable. The number of
his admirers greatly diminiShes. You
may read in the boys almanac 'look
out for storms about this time. E" The
boy at this period must have vent for
| his feelings or die. He rarely dies
The unmit;gated franknoss OF the boy
is wonderful He has no regard for
anybody's feelings. His powers Of en-
durance are wonderful. He must have
fresh air, exercise, and something to
do. If these things are given him all
right If not he will steal them. He
has little power OF selt-control. He
has few friends. He is too big to be
petted and too small to be taken notice
of by the girls, He is sent to the day
school, to church and to Sunday school
to get him out Of the way. He Is the
object Of many threatenings and con-
stant seedlings. The boy at this peri
od needs the kin@. hut firm restraint of
father.
3rd. Twelve Plus four make sixteen
He washes his face now, combs his
hair, is particular about his neck-tie.
shaves,-in search of beard car
ries a cane. He loves girls ten years
older than himself. lie knows more
than he will ever know again.
He sings bass What shall be done
with that boy" | have several an
swers.
From the very beginning the boy
must be taught scIf-control. His
physical nature must be cared for.
He must early learn to follow such
maxims as "work before play.
Debt is devil" When it is time
to get up, get up" "Govern Your
self" Be able to say q Will and
mo" 1t is worth a fortune to be
able to say these words at the right
time. the boy should appreciate the
Importance Of work; and the value Of
money. He should be taught to work
and to honor those who do work
Teach your boys that they must not
depend on you for living. [ will
speak Of three institutions which have
an influence uyon that boy, l appeal
in the boys behalf,
1st. The church. The boy should
be early trained in the principles of
the Bible, and taught to attend church
regularly, He may have genuine re-
ligious experience. He will not cease
to be a boy on that account. You
must not expect old saints out of young
boys. I say emYhatically that the boy
should attend church. If the Sunday
school is to draw children away from
the church | want nothing to do with
it. The boy at church sees the people
and hears more of the sermon than is
generally supposed. Some ministers
are not scholarly enough to be simple
in their language.
End, The public school Of this
we shall speak more fully hereafter.
3rd, Home. At homo ''that boy
must be allowed to be ''that boy. y
You cannot change him. He loves
excitement and noise. Do not always
be telling him to keep still. The boy
must be taught to love his home.
abhor these rcry nice parlors which
are never opened except for company.
Furnish the boys with rational amuse-
ment and occupation. Prevent his go
ING out nights Nothing is worse
than this. l would never denounce
iobiectioual amusements in dogmatic
way. l aisapprore of them, [ would
lean to the side of safety. [ would
say let US keep away from the danger
of evil. | want to speak word for
the motherless boy, l plead for the
utterly bad boy Love, look after
and live for that boy who is in
your own house, and THAT boy" who
has no one to care for him.
"ATTENTIoN"
q hold in my hand rubber band.
On my hand, it is worthless-is of nc