Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-02-05

tinually jerking the reins. If the
end in view were to destroy the
temper or break the spirit of the an
NAL, to make of a good racer, road
ster, carriage or saddle-horse, poor,
dispirited, ambitionless hack, this,
should suppose, would be just the
means 10 be used for its accomplish
ment.
Horses, however, are not the only
creatures that are afflicted in this
way, and horse-drivers are not the
only persons who so afiict.
In the government of the family,
there is a great deal of jerking the
reins. Many parents, instead of
controlling their children in rea-
sonable way, with or without the
use of the rod, are continually bad
gering and lecturing them. Some
have a way of bringing up the mis-
takes and errors of the past, even
though as parents they had forgiven
and forgotten them long ago, on the
principle that they should be moan
ed and howled over periodically.
There may be a strong
desire of the children's Bell-being
and doing, but, just as the drivers
continually and almost unconscious
ly jerk the reins, without as much
as thinking to take the whip from
its socket, so these parents, not only
unconscious that they are doing
their duty, jerk the reins of parental
authority.
1t is not ordinarily great sims
like intemperance, gambling, and
unfaithfulness-that destroy the
peace of the household and make
home so often like the house into
which the seven devils were enter
ed, for these offenses are eompara-
lively rare; but it is the minor trans
gressions and shortcomings. The
trouble is due, IN numberless instan-
ces, to the conduct of the husband
towards the wife. He forgets the
"honor" that is her due as the
weaker vessel. If his victuals are
not cooked to his taste; if his dinner
is not ready at the moment, if his
linen is not immaculate, if the ser
wants are insolent, or leave without
due notice, if he has met with losses
in business, if he is kept awake
nights by the children, if almost
anything occurs to mar the peace OF
hi existence, he is apt to manifest
his displeasure.
Among employers there is ten,
dency to jerk the reins. Many 9
man who would seorn to be unjust
in payment of services rendered
even to the amount of mill, or who
would not use violence if he had the
opportunity and proYoeation of g
plantation overseer, does great in
justice to the conscientiousness and
general faithfulness of those whom
he employees, and Injuries their feel
ings perhaps twenty times a day, by
his quickness of manner of speech.
Many housekeeper of culture and
refinement seems to forget that hel
servants have necessities and weak,
nesses similar to her own, that they
are liable to mistakes and to failure
in the performance of duty, and that
perfection is no more likely to be
found in the kitchen than in the
drawing-room. Such housekeepers
are quick to perceive and sharp in
the correction of faults, while they
pass by excelleneies without a word
of commendation.
The "help" of the period is fal
from perfect; but it is not improved
by the constant jerking of the reIns
Teachers are too much inclined Il
jerk the reins. They have smiles
and smooth words for the pupili
who learn easily, who have few diff
ficuIties to overcome, and need lit
tie sympathy or encouragement
and reserved their frowns and male
dietions for those luckless wights tC
whom a ladder is like an oak plank
who are always striving and poorly
enough off with all the advice anC
good natured incitement that {
teacher can command.
Ministers, like the, "rest of man
kind" occasionally jerk the reins
They sometimes show an inclination
to lord it over Gods heritage. They
say, and even do sharp things nov
and then-not for the good thsi
may be accomplished thereby, bu
for the sake of saying and doinl
them. They seem to be fearful tha
some may not be aware or may fol
get that they have the Oversight o
the flock of God" Now this jerk
ing reins by those in authority is no
a determined and deliberate sill
There is no ''malice prepense" in il
1t is rather a habit that grows littl
by little, until at length it may bt
come intolerable.-I Independent.