The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-09-18
LAS THE TWIG IS BENT, THE
Tree Inclines."

selfish reluctance to accept the trouble
the restraints and cares which newt.
ably come with hel pless iufancv.-
Often, through excessive fondness
they yield implicitly to the unrea,
sonable exactions Of beings too young
to understand what they need. II,
IN such cases, wiser friends remon-
strate with the parents in the vain
attempt to show them the folly OF
their indulgence, they are thought
ankind or hardhearted.
Such darling How can its moth
er deny it any thing!"
But by such an indulgence YOU
are inJuring the child you profess to
love so tenderly. You are laying
the foundation for most selfish and
disagreeable character which, sooner
than you imagine, will outgrow your
control and become your tyrant, caus-
ing years Of trouble and unhapiness.
Why this is but baby /! and |
think our little ones should have all
the liberty possible. 1t will be time
enough to tighten the reins and ex-
erclse authority when the child is
old enough to discern good and evil
All that time comes much earlier
tha9 parents are willing to believe.
1t requires but few weeks for a
baby, tiny and undeveloped as it ap-
pears to the doting parents, to UNI
derstand that by persistent crying
and violent demonstrations of anger,
1t will receive all the care and imme-
diate attention it has demanded by
these natural signs. Having con
quered it becomes sweet and quiet
and soon falls asleep. How long
will it be before that little babe will
learn that passionate crying will
compel the mother to rock it to sleep
regularly? That will soon become
too monotonous, perhaps, and the i'll
clplent tyrant decides that to be
walked with is preferable to rocking.
a good cry, with kicking and strug-
Cling plentifuly interspersed, Will
soon bring the mother to her feet, or
the nurse will be called upon to take
up the line of march. 1t will require
but two or three such victories be-
fore walking will be the only way to
coax the child to sleep or into good
hUmored condition. If sleep comes
at last to relieve the wearied nurse,
how softly she creeps to the crib, how
stealthily she manages to put the
child from her arms onto the well
warmed pillow! That "twig" is
rapidly bending in the wrong direc-
ton.
As the babe grows out of the
nurses arms, its will, which never
has been wisely controlled, is mani
tested in almost every act; but it's
little dainty, imperious ways are
pronounced, $50 charming! Too
cunning for anything!" And,
doubtless, they are so, if one looks
only to the present, with no fore
shadowing of whereunto these Scum
ming" ways may lead in after life.
It may be laughable, just for once,
to see this small specimen of human
ity stamp it's small foot, or strike
with its pretty dimpled hand, when
denied some article of food or de-.
prived Of something unsafe for it to
handle.
In few months the little child en-
ters another stage Of child life. That
which at twelve months or two years
was $50 cute !" $50 smart !" that the
mother had not the heart to check it
was but the beginning ofinsubordina-
ton 20 parental control, or to tres.
passes and Infringement upon the COM
fort of others, will fast become intoI-
cradle, even to the partial eyes of the
parents. Now let them attempt to
tighten the reins or exercise proper
authority. Will it prove an easy task?
Will they succeed in Strengthening the
"twig" which their own folly or neg
lect has permitted to tbendn so far
beyond their reach
Where lies the blame The mother,
who suffers herself to be conquered
by an infants puny resistance, must
answer. The parents, who, late, saw
without rebuke or prevention, the
small child abuse or tear choice books,
destroy valuable articles of furniture,
or strikes the nurse, or torture men
ials, without one resolute effort to
subdue or teach it better, must ap.
peal to their own consciences to de-
eide this question. They who winked
at the child's youthful misdeeds,
proud of its "smartness," will suffer
the most for this wicked indulgence
when thew SEQ what tho little ono an