The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-08-18
the MODEL BOZ
As He I. In Real Iife aud In Imagination.
Letter in Inter Ocean,)

(Ietler IN lnttr Ocean.J
The golden age is never the present
age. The model boy-the mothers who
read this may have observed-is not Our
boy. He belongs to the neighbors or the
cousins; he never lives here. His deport-
ment is as unexceptionable as Mr.. Tur-
veydrop's own; his attire is 'spotless, his
stockings, especially, are immaculate. He
is able to go through the mysteries OF
many games of marbles without wearing
out the knees of his pantaloons. How
it is done know not 'ia
This boy never scatters cracker-crumbs
over the carpet; he never perches upon
the window seat, with his feet upon the
sofa. But OIL know such boys. They
are the lads whose buttons are always
tearing of, who ornament the newly cal
cimined walls with crayon sketches by
the young masters. They do their exam
piles in multiplication on odd corners of
the woodwork; lead pencil in their
hands is almost as dangerous as pocket
knife. They haunt the cupboard and but
terry because these places are generally
the receptacle for bread and butter, and
Jumps of sugar.
There have been times when | have
wished | were mother to the model boy.
When have had the headache, or have
wished to take them to church, or have
had company who knew not the way Of
boys. But it has never been at eventide,
when "Tired natures sweet restorer,
balmy Sleep" has Gained their restless
ness, and thrown a veil of forgetfulness
over all remembrance of their msdoings,
and visit the bedside to take glimpse
of the faces ain sleep SO pitifu and fair"
Here, indeed, some painter could find
models equal to Raphael's inspirations
Can these faces of angelic innocence be-
long to the boys who, all day long, have
rushed with rattle and war-hoop through
the house? See these quiet little feet, the
active ones whose noisy little boots wear
such deplorable holes in the carpetss
When | have sometimes mentioned to
acuuaintances the escapades of my boys
they have listened with polite and patron
izing coincidence, giving the impression
that their children are models, and leav-
| ing me to wonder if mine have inherited
| more of the old Adam than most children,
or if the fault lies in their bringing
up.
| Now, do not say boy may not be as
pure as Bayard, as faithful as Launcelot,
as fiial as st. Leon, but fear it is unusu-
al, and I prefer the fights and wrestlings
of deception. If there must be naughti-
ness, better it shonld break outwardly
than gangrene inwardly.
I have friend whose boys are not
models, Said she to me: "l tell Mr. 5.
that when the children are grown we will
buy some new furniture, and have nice
parlor" Yes, but think with the loss
of the childrcn's merry ways, the new
furniture will be no gain. The cracks,
creases, and fingermarks are dear to me,
OF course they are an eye-sore, too, but |
fret not much about them; and | would
say to mothers who wear their lives away
to gain the tribute due an immaculate
housekeeper, Don't! Let the children
know a muddy track on the white floor
is nothing compared to stain of the uu,
truth or cruelty or impurity on child's
soul Let the dust gather if it must lei
the apron go unruffled yea, even let the
husband go puddingless and pieless tc
bed, but take time to teach your children
Ground them in honor and uprightness
make them reverent and just, watch vel
the truant steps, restrain the reckless
speech. Let them know you prize theil
character above furniture and clothing
and gricyc not for the trouble they limo
Gently make.
1t will not be long-the years fly so fast
when they will be in the world, away
from your side and nearly away from
your influence; when the necktie and col
lar, such trial now to the freedom loving
little throat, will be heedIully looked to
Not long when the boistcrous hugging'
which rumple your laces, will be cool sal
utations.
Take your comfort in your children
now. 1t will not be long when they viii
discover fresher faces than mothers. Ant
yet do not look forward to that day toc
ruefullv Labor to make them-as |, too
am endeavoring strong in heart ant
limb, so pure in thought and deed, so just
SO gcntlemanly, and SO manly, that tn
sweetest lassies in the land can never sa
: them nay, nor the most digriied mothers
t in-law fail to smile upon the man VIII
| never was model boy.