The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-02-24
YOUTHFUL PKEcocrrY.

YOUTHFUL PkECOCITY.
We always did pity q man who doei
not love children. There is something
morally wrong with such q man. Il
his tenderest sympathies are NO
awakened by their innocent prattle, q
his heart does not echo their merry
laughter, If his whole natnre does moi
reach out in ardent longings after
their pure thoughts and unselfsh i'm
pulses, he is sour, crusty, Grabbed old
stick, and the whole world full ol
children has no use for him. In every
age and CLINE, the best and noblesi
men loved children. Even wicked
men have tender spot left In their
hardened hearts for little children
The great men of the earth loved them
Dogs love them. Kamehanekemoki.
modahroah, the king Of the Cannibal
Islands, loves them. Rare, and NO
gravy. All yes, we all love children.
Aud what q pleasure it is to talk
with them. Who can chatter With q
bright-eyed, rosy checked, quick-wit.
ted little darling, anywhere from three
to FIVE years, and not appreciate the
pride which sweIls mothers breast
when she sees her little ones admired
Ah, yes, to be sure. Only yesterday
lady friend on q shopping excursion,
left her little It'd toadler, Of five bright
summers, in our experienced charge,
while she pursued the duties that call
ed her down town. Such . bright
boy so delightful it was to talk to
him. We can never forget the blissful
half hour we spent booking that
prodigy upon the centennial history.
Now listenC Clary,' we said-his name
is Clarence Fiizherbert Alencon de
Marchemont Caruthers,-.and learn
about George Warrington
Who's he p inquired Clarence, etc.
Listen,' we said +: The was the father
Of his county
sWhose country?
ours and yours; the confcderated
union of the American people, cement
ed with the life blood of the men OF
'76; poured out upon the affairs of our
country as the dearest libation to lib
erty that her votaries can oner?'
who did p asked Clarence. @
There is a peculiar tact in talking TO
children that very few people possess.
Now most people would have grown
impatient aud lost their temper when
little Clarence asked so many irrelev-
ant ques tions, but we did not. We
knew that however carless he might
appear at first we could soon in
terest him i'm the story and that he
would be all eyes and ears. So We
smiled sweetly,-that same sweet
smile which you may have noticed on
our photographs, just the faintest rip
pie of soile breaking across the face
like ray Of sunlight, and checked by
lines Of tender sadness just before the
two ends of it pass each other At the
back of the neck.
And so, smiling, we went on:
We'll, one day Georges Father
George who /? asked Clarence.
George Washington. He was a lit
tie boy then, just like you. One day
his father
Whose, father 2 demanded Clarence,
with an encouraging expression Of in
terest.
George Washington this great man
we are telling You of. One day !
George Washington's father gave him
q little hatchet for 49,
Gave who little hatchet 2 the dear |
child interrupted with q CLEAN Of be.
intelligence. Most men /
would have got mad, or betrayed signs I
of impatience, but we didn't. We
know how to talk to children. So we
went on:
George Washington. lie
who gave him the little hatchetY
sHis father. And his father-'
Whose father?'
George Washington's.'
.sOhr /
Yes, George Washington. And his
ather told him
Told who2' /
Told George
'Oh, yes, George /.
And we went on, just as patient and
Q pleasant a. ysu could imagine. We
Ook up the story right where the boy
for we could see he was
nst crazy to hear the end of it. We
aid:
And he was was told ,
George told bim5' queried Clar. !
nee. /,
NO. his father told George I
'Oh!' n
yes; told him be must be careful c
ith the hatchet- 4
who must be careful?'
George must
'Ohv d