Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-03-08
Children's Rights.

ooh, motherr' shouted Frank Sidney
rushing eagerly into the parlor one after,
noon, don't you think''-
Frank, | am ashamed of Won. VIII
you never learn to be quiet and gentle
manly? Take off your hat, and speak to
Mrs. Clark 0''-> ~
Frank obeyed, and greeted the visitor
as courteously as even his mother could
desire, but all the glow and sparkle were
gone from face and eyes, and he did not
offer to repeat the remark that his mother
had interrupted. He had been rude. he
knew, to rush into the parlor without
looking to see who was there, but he was
very sensitive, like many another such
LAD, and his mothers severe reproof he
tore her visitor had mortified him yery
much. :" She wouldn't have said a word ;,
ne thought, " If George Clark had come
IN just as did; and anyway she might
nave spoken pleasantly; I'd have minded
JUST as quickly, and felt ever so much
better"
: Mrs. Sidney loved her boy. He was the
pride OF her heart; but she was so fearful
of spelling him that sometimes She went
10 the other extreme, in words at least.
Besides. she had not his sensitive tempera-
ment, and did not in the least realize how
harsh word or tone affected him
And are not courteous mothers very
rare? Mothers, | mean, who treat their
own children with as much politeness and
consideration as they show to their friends
or their friends children. Of co11rse .
mother must correct little faults in her
own children which she would not correct
or perhaps notice, in others. because she
would feel no responsibility in regard to
those others; but is not reproof uttered
ma gentle, loving way, quite as effectual
as one spoken IN stern tone, and with
angry glance? How would the mother
herself feel if some one ordered her to do
nlng IN the same way that she sometimes
orders her children; or, if instead of be
ing kindly asked to do it, she were com.
man1ed with push or a cuff by way of
stimulant to prompt obediencef Wonld
not such method stir up some ugly feel
lngs In her heart? And is it not natural
10 suppose that it has much the same eff.
feet on child. When I see a child
pusned unceremoniously out of a chair.
even II II be the easiest rocker or the most
comfortable armchair in the room. that
some older person may take it, I wonder
II that child will be likely to give up a
seat another time without being made TO
DO 1t. he may if his mother is present.
but do you think he would offer it to
another child, or TO anyone if he could
avoid it? No: he would naturally think
to himself Il see all these grown folks |
pick for the easiest seats. I'll do so. too.
whenever | daren
" course we do not mean that the
cnlidren should be allowed 10 monopolize
Inc best seats in the room, but why not |
Whisper gentle word which shall induce |
! 90 TO OTTER the seats themselves" Then,
- ane seat SO offered be accepted with a |
would be given to grown person offering
the same courtesy, the child would have |
feeling of pleasure and satisfaction
which will make him remember and "a.
peat the act another time without heinz
told. 1t seems to me that the little ones
have quite as good right TO a place in
the world as their parents have-yes-~
even 9 growing boys for certainly il is
not their fault that they live, though
really they are sometimes treated as if
they were to blame for their own exist.
ence. think some mothers would like