River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-02-17
YOUTHFUL PRECocITY.


IL III
whole nature does not reach out in ardent
longings after their pure thoughts aud
unsel6sh impulses, he is sour, crusty,
Grabbed old stick. and the world full Of
children has no use for him. In every
age and cline, the best and noblest men
loved children. Even wicked men have
a tender spot left in their hardened
hearts for little children. The great men
of the earth loved Thorn. Dogs love
them. Kamohamckemokimodahroah,t the
king Of the Cannibal islands, loves them.
Rare, and no gravy. All yes, We all love
children.
And what pleasure it is to talk with
them. Who can chatter with bright.
eyed, rosy-cheekod, quick.witted little
darling, anywhere from three TO five
years, and not appreciate the pride which
swells mothers breast when she sees
her little ones admired All, yes, to be
sure, Only yesterday lady friend on a
shopping excursion, left her little It'd tod.
dler. OF five bright summers, in our ex.
perlenced charge, while she pursued the
duties that called her down town. Such
a bright boy; so delightful it was to talk
to him. We can never forget the blissfGl
half hour we spent booking that prodigy
upon his ceatennial history.
"Now listen Clay" we said--his name
is Clarence Fitzherbert Alencon de Mar.
chemont Caruthers,-"and learn about
George Washington.
"Wbo's he :" inquired Clarence, etc.
LISTEN We said he was the father
Of his country,
Whose country
ours; and yours; the confederated
union of the American people, cemented
with the life blood Of the men Of 20;
poured out upon the affairs Of our coun.
try as the the dearest libotion to liberty
that her votares can offer -
who did I" asked Clarence.
There is peculiar tact in talking to
children that very few people possess.
Now most people would have grown i'm.
patient and lost their temper when little
Clarence asked so many irrelevant ques-
tons, but We did not We knew that
however carless he might appear at first
that we could soon interest him in the
story and that he would be all eyes and
cars. So we smiled swcetly. that same
sweet smile which you may have noticed
on our photographs, just the faintcst rip
pie of a smile brea Nng across the lace
like array of sunlight, AMI checked by
lines Of tender sadness Just before the
two ends OF il pass each other at the
back Of the neck.
And so, smiling, We went on,
"Well, ore day Georges Father"
George who T. asked Clarence.
George Washington. He was little
boy then, just like you. One day his
father
"Whoso fatherp' demanded Clarence.
with an encouraging expression Of inter.
est
George Washington this great man
we are telling you Of. One day George
Washington father gave him little
Ratchet for a,
Gave who little Ratchet T. the dear
child interrupted with a CLEAN of be-
witching intelligence. Most men would
have got mad, or betrayed signs Of impa.
thence but we didn't. We know how to
talk to children. So we went on:
George Washington. His"
"WhO gave him the little hatchetl"
lIiS lhLUtIs anu IT'S lhtUHI ---~-~
"Whose fathcrl"
George Washington's.
"Ohr'
Yes, George Washington. And his
father told him
Told whOl"
Told George.
sob, yes, George
And he went on, just as patient and as
pleasant as YOU could imagine. We took
up the story right where the boy inter
rupted, for We could see he was just crazy
to hear the end Of it. We said
"And he was told"
George told hint" queried Clarence.
mo. his father told George -"
"Oh"
ayes; told him he must be careful with
the hatchet--
"Who must 30 carefill'
George must.
"0hr'
ayes; must be careful with his hatch
ct"
what haLchetl"
why, Georges. "
"Ohi"
with tho Ratchet, and not cut him.
self with it, or drop it in tho cistern. or
leave 1t out in the grass all night. So
George went round cutting everything he
could reach with his hatchct. And at
last he came to a splendid apple tree, his
fathers idvoritc, and cut 1t down
and -
"Who cut It down
George did.
ooh :"
"But his father came home and saw 1t
the first thitss. and
"Saw the Ratchet
"No; saw the apple tree. And he
said, who has cut down my fayorite APP
pie tree ? "
what apple tree =
Georges fathers. And everybody
said they didn't know anything about IT,,
aud"
Anything about what r
"rhe apple tree.
"Oh ="
"And George came up and heard them
talkiag about It."
"lleard who talking about 1t
"Ileard his father and the men.
what was they talking about
i.,,t IA. .V,fn t..o