The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-01-01
From Blackwood's Magazine.
THE DISAPPOINTING BOY.

THE DISAPPOINTING BOY.
"My dear Septimus, said, s' con-
graduate you on your son. Heis u most
pleasant fellow; cheerful without sill
ness-intelligent, but not prig'
"Humph'' '' replied my friend.
A great part of the conversation in
this country is carried on by grunts;
but, If there is anything which cannot
be expressed in this manner, it is COR
dial ascent. L relapsed into silence,
and filed my glass. Septimus passed
his hand over his hair, which is rather
long, and still thick, though streaked
with many threads of gray, and gazed
thoughtfully through the window,
which opened on to the lawn. A faint
light fingered in the west, and the stars
shone brilliantly above the black cedar,
near which was dimly seen the graceful
figure of my friends wife. At her side
was young man, on whom, moved by
genuine liking and the emotions natural
to benevolent person who was dined
well, had just pronounced seemingly
inopportune panegyric. We sat round
table; over which a shaded light was
hanging, and the claret passed slowly
between as. 1t was too old to be hur-
ried. After silence of few minutes,
my friend leaned back in his chair, and
said
eff it would not bore you, I should
like to tell you few anecdotes of my
dear boys life. -
pray do" 1 said. I was in the
mood for hstening-disposed for
silence, and moderately curious. Sep
timus has a manner gentle as the even
ing, and voice which might have
grown mellow in his own cellar.
cit has long seemed to me, he be-
gan, "that the rules of conduct which
we try to impress on our children are
absurdly inconsistent with those by
which we expect them to regulate their
later life. When they are young they
are to be unobstrusive, and to give up
to everybody; when they have reached
mans estate they are to give way to no.
body, but to push their fortunes IN the
world. As well might we punish the
child for going near the water, end ex-
pect the man to swim; or train the run
ner for the race by making him walk
backwards. When Tommy was born, I
made up my mind to avoid the common
error In the battle of life he should
be taught to win, and not go round,
when the lighting was over, with red
cross on his arm. When he was baby
he showed a great love of color, and
would lie for hours smiling at the sun
light, and making little motions with
his hands. 1t seemed clear to ne in
those days that the child would be a
great painter-you know that l was al
ways fond of art-and take high posi-
ton. There is a great opening III that
direction An active man who culti
Yates d bold style, and Is above hig-
Cling over details, can paint ten pic
lures in a year, and when he has made
aname. can sell then for e100 each.
When / pointed out to Jesse what a
road of fortune lay before our baby,
she laughed at him, and called him
Tommy e. A.
ssBnt of course in those days l could
,,or. he s11re of the line in which my son
would excel. My duty was to prepare
him tos7excel in any way he might
choose, by developing in him the taste
for competition looked about for
competitor, and had good look to md ind
nv little nephew Theodore, who Is ten
minutes older than Tommy. borrow
ed him from his parents, and at once
brought the two lads into competition.
/ well remember my first attempt, and
ita failure. / had been left in charge OF
the children for short time, and selz-
ing the opportunity, induced them to
race across the room for lump OF
sugar.
ing If the boys were not young Tor ed
ucation.
ssNot 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
influence of their parents almost before
they are breeched.
siYou surprise me-" I said, "and
will nigh make me accept the poet s
picture. You remember the hnesg
Didst never hear how the rebeIlious Egg
stood mn i the straw. and TO his Mother Goose
Cried Madam, Twill not be sat upon
Septim us smiled In depreciating man
ner. somewhat uncertain, I think,
whether were In jest or earnest. de
continued his story, Tommy WAS
good walker, If you make allowance Tor
the novelty of the accomplishments, nus
lost some time In lateral m6tIon IKE
those of q Iandsmen on rolling sea;
therefore Theodore, who had a perpeC-
ual inclination foRwaod, and mt with
an involuntary goose step, to, the lead
at once. and would have wor, 81 net
his head. advancing too qui~.-.s for his
legs, come suddenly In 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 as loud
for sympathy. Jessie said that I ought
TO be ashamed of myself, and divided
the lump of sugar between the competl-
orS,