Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-12-26
What is to be Done with our Charley


After ALL Charley is not to be wholly
shirked, for he is an institution. solemn
and awful fact and on the answer of the
question, What is to he done with him 2"
depends future. Many hard, morose and
bitter man has come from a Charley turned
off and neglected; many parental heart
ache has come from Charley left to run the
Streets that mamma and sisters might play
the piano and write letters in peace. 1t is
easy to get rid of him-there are fifty ways
of doing that he is a spirit that can be
promptly laid for season, but If not laid
Alright. will come back by-aud-by a strong.
armed man, when you cannot send him off
at pleasure.
Mamma and sisters had better pay a little
tax to Charley now, than u terrible one
hereafter for to-day he is at your feet, to-
day you can make him laugh, you can make
him cry, you can persuade and coax, and
turn him to your pleasure; YOU can make
his eyes fill and his bosom swell with recitals
OF good aud noble deeds; in short. you can
mould him if you will take the trouble
But look ahead some years, when that
little voice shall ring in deep, bass tones {;
when that small foot shall have a mans
weight aud tramp; when rough beard
shall cover that little round chin, and all
the strength of manhood fill out that little
form. Then you would give worlds to have
the key to his heart, to be able to turn and
guide him to your will but If you lose that
key now he is little, you may search for it
carefully, with tears some other day, and
not find it.
One thing is to be noticed about Charley.
that, rude and busy and noisy as he inclines
to be, and lrksome as carpet rules and parlor
ways are to him, he is still social little
creature, and wants to be where the rest of
the family are. A room ever so well adapted
for play-room cannot charm him at the
hour when the family is in reunion he
hears the voices in the parlor, and his play
room seems cold and desolate. 1t may be-
warmed by a furnace and lighted with gas,
but it is human light and warmth he shivers
for he longs to take his things down aud
play by you; he yearns to hear the talk OF
the family, which he so imperfectly compre
hends, and is necessarily promising that OF
the fifty things which he is liable to do il
the parlor, he will not commit one if you
will let him stay there.
This instinct of the little one is natureS
warning plea-God's admonition. o, how
many mother who has neglected it, because
it was rksome to have the child about, ha'
onged, when her son was man, to keel
him by her side, and he would not Shu
out as a little Arab-constantly told that h
is noiSy that he is awkward and meddle
some and plague in general-the boy ha
at last found his own company in the streets
in the highways and hedges where he runs
till the day comes when the parents wan
their son, the sisters their brother and the
they are scared at the face he brings back t
them, as he comes all foul and smutty fror
the compauionship to which they hav
doomed him. Depend upon it, mothers an
older sisters, if it is too much trouble
| keep Charley in your society, there will b
places found for him, warmed and lighte
; with no friendly fires, where he who " find
j some mischief still for idle hands to do
, will care for him II you do not. You ma
+ put out a tree aud it will grow while yo
: are asleep; but a sou you cannot lo
must take trouble for him, either a lit
/. now or a good deal by-and-by.
n Let him stay with you at least some pc
!. tion of the day. Put aside your book
!, work to tell him a story, or read to him fro
+ some book. Devise still parlor plays f
+ him, for he gains nothing if he be allow'
i to spoil the comfort of the whole circle.
\. pencil and sheet of paper, and lew pi
At terms. will often keep him quiet for an no
a by your side; or in IA corner he may build
# block house, annoying nobody; aud il occ
r sionaly he does disturb you now, balance
,e your own mind which is the greatest evil
to be disturbed by him now or when he
a man.
OF all that you can give your Charley
YOU are good woman, your presence Is !
to best and safest thing. God never intend