The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-03
THE DISAPPOINTING BOY.

pleasant fellow; cHecflul without SILL
ness--intelligent but not prig."
"Humphw replied my friend.
A great part of conversation in this
country is carried on by grunts; but if
there is anything which cannot be ex-
pressed in this manner it is cordial as
sent. relapsed into silence and filled
my glass. Scptimus passed his hand
over his hair, which is rather long, and
still thick, though streaked with many
threads OF gray, and gazcd thoughtfully
through the window, which opened on to
the lawn. A faint light fingered in the
west, and one star shone brilliantly above
The black cedar, near which was dimly
seen the graceful figure of my friend S
wife. At her side was young man on
whom, moved by genuine liking and the
emotions natural to benevolent person
who has dined well, | had just pro-
nounced a seemingly inopportune pam
egyrlc, We sat at a round table, over
which shaded light was hanging, and
the claret passed slowly between us 1t
was too old to be hurried After a ST.
lcnce of few minutes my friend leaned
back in his chair and said:
"lf ii would not bore you should like
TO tell you few anecdotes Of my boys
life"
Pray DO" said. | was in the mood
for listening disposed for silence, and
moderately curious. Septimus has a
manner gentle as the evening and d
voice which might have grown mellow in
his own cellar.
" 1t has long seemed to me-" he began,
+" that the rules of conduct which we try
TO impress on our children are absurdly
inconsistent with those by which we ex-
poet them 10 regulate their later life.
When they are young they are to be I'M
obtrusive, and to give up to everybody
when they have reached mans estate
they are to give way to nobody, but to
push their fortunes in the world As
well might We punish the child fol
gong near the water and expect
the man to swim; or train the run
ner for the race by making him walk
backward. When Tommy was born |
made UP my mind to avoid the common
error. In the battle of life he should be
taught to win, and not 20 round, when
the lighting was over, with i red cross on
his arm When he was 4 baby lie showed
great love of color, and would lie for
hours smiling at the sunlight, and max.
ing little motions with his hands. Ii
seemed clear to me in those days that the
child would be II great painter you know
that | was always fond Of art1 and take
high position There is a great open
ing in that direction An active man
cultivates bold style, and is above hig-
cling over details, can paint ten pictures
ID the year, and when he has made a
name can sell them for $1,000 each.
When | pointed out to Jessie what a
road to fortune lay before our baby she
laughed at him and called him Tommy
Il. A.
But Of course in those days could
not be sure Of the line in which my son
would excel. Ny duty was to prepare
him to excel in any which he might
choose, ny developing in him the taste
for competition ! looked about for 4
competitor, and had the good luck to
tlnd my little nephew Theodore, who is
ten minutes older than Tommy. | Dor
rowcd him from his parents, and at once
brought the two lads into competition. |
well remember my first attempt, and its
failure. had been left in charge of the
children for a short time, and Selling the
opportunity induced them to race across
the room for a lump of sugar.
Here interrupted my friend by ask
ing if the lads were not young for edu-
cation.
Not at ALL, said he; /" for let me tell
you that in these days, when the idea of
individual liberty is in the air we
breathe, children rebel against the influ-
ence Of their parents almost before they
are put into breechcsn
You surprise me-" | said, land we'll
nigh make me accept the poets picture.
You remember the lines?
Didst thou never hear how the rebcllous err
Stood up i the straw, and 70 his mother goose
Cried Madam will not be sat upon -
Septimus smiled in dcpreeating man.
ncr, somewhat uncertain, | think, whether
l were in jest or earnest He continued
his story. Tommy was a good walker,
if you make allowance for the novelty of
the accomplishment, but lost some time
in lateral motions, like those of a lands
man on rolling sea, therefore Thco-
dore, who had a perpetual inclination
forward, and went with an involuntary
goose-step, took the lead at once, and
would have won had not his head. al
vancing too quickly for his legs, come
suddenly II contact with the floor Now
was my boys chance; but, instead Of
going BY his cousin, who was PROSTATE
and bowling, he sat down on the CARPET
and beloved twice rs loud for sympathy.
Jessie said that ought TO be ashamed Of
myself and divided the lump of sugar
between the competitors
"When the boys were a little older |
again borrowed Theodore and made a
little class of him and Tommy, hopine
Tor healthy rivalry in the acquisition of
knowledge. | began with an opening adj
dress in which pointed out to them that
the duty OF each was to beat The other;
and that, as every man in the grown-up
world was trying to get rs much of the
luXuries and honors as he could, so each
boy should try to gain for himself as
large share as possible Of the marbles
taflee and other prizes which / should
from time to time offer. They heard me
with great gravity and our opening was
a decided success. soon found, how
ever, that my prize system was a failure,
since, as the students always PLAYED to-
gether, they cared not a jot who won the
toys, which they enjoyed in common:
and as to the tailee, they both suffered SO
much after the first prize-day tina, Jessie
put her veto on that form of reward.
After this determined to substitute
pennies, and for time thought l had
effected my purpose. Tommy grew
wonderfully industrious, and in spite of
my strict impartiality accumulated
vast store of coppers. Week after week
he drew on me with papers of marks,
which were duly honored, until / saw
myself in days to be the aged father of
inc nrst OF Gentle financicrs. He should
direct the annl;nat;a, of -; :1,,