Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-04-04

la, FRIDAY. APRIL q, 1879.
Mrs. Turmoyle, being woia OF sense'
did not continue the argument, but men
tally resolved to see Mrs Stone the next
day, and talk with her about the wonder
full secret of having five children and a
quiet home.
II am sure can't do itl'' the gentle,
loving mother thought, with sigh.
Seated, the next morning. in close con-
versation, the ladies presented contrast
as marked as the atmosphere of their own
houses. The tiny, blue-eyed woman, who
had no heart to suppress Toms merry
whistle or Bessie's silvery laugh, had left
a home where con slant care only secured
cleanliness, and where childish disorder
was manifest everywhere but in the best
parlor. She looked at the tall, dark haired
woman opposite her, noted the exquisite
morning dress, faced with light silk, spot
less and uDrumpled, and thought, regret
fully, Of the marks of ten chubby fingers
upon her own, printed there, when her boy
baby, her darling Mark, had succeeded ID
forcing piece Of his sweetest candy into
mammals mouth. She noted the dainty
order of the sitting-room, where every
chair stood primly in'its appointed place,
and not even thread rested upon the car
pet, and remembered Marks stable for his
''spress Cart and horses under the lounge.
and Bessie keeping house on the lower
shelf of the bookcase.
1 Visions haunted her also of snippings of
paper, bits of string, and odds and ends of
dolls fnery upon the table.
Drifting from one scrap of matronly talk
to another, the ladies came naturally to
the care and management of children, and
Mrs. Turmoyle complimented her neigh
Dor upon the appearance of her house and
the proficiency of her little ones.
81 cannot understand how you accom-
plish it, she said frankly.
.s'By SYSTEM . was the reply. ''The edu-
cation of my children begins, may say,
in their cradles. AS soon as they can
walk, they have their own proper place in
the room, and are trained to perfect 81
lence when older persons are present."
Mrs. Turmoyle thought Of the noisy
chorus of shouts, the eager recital of the
days pleasures or acc dents, that greeted
papa, aunties or uncles in her own n ursery
and wondered if Tom, Bessie and Mark
would be trained to sit quiet in one place
for hours at time.
/ Sat two years of age I teach my chill
dren their letters, and after that, they are
sent to school. All.of them we're entered
at three years of age at private school
and at five at public one. In the inter
walls of school hours my boys have geo.
graphical puzzles, spelling games and prob
lens, and my girls are taught sewing"
'.And when do they play?"
ssTheir games and puzzles are sufficient
| for the boys, and allow the girls to cut
out and fit clothing for large wax doll.
But do they not have any hours fol
running, balls, kites and other outdoor
play?''
Il disapprove entirely of outdo play
1t ruins clothing and makes Children rude
Fhey lfaye outdoor exercise in long
| walk to and from school,"
| AS she spoke, the hall door opened qui
| city and a fall OF footsteps crossed the hal
to the sitting room. Five children, thre'
girls and two boys, came in with languil
| footsteps and pale faces, from which al
childishness seemed stricken. Spotlessl,
clean, with shiny hair and polished boots
they followed in orderly fashion, the leac
of the eldest, who stood before his mother
] waiting for permission to speak.
| ''Well, my SOM" she said quietly.
1 ''There is no school this afternoon. TIT
senior class is to be examined" he sale
YEARLY.
"No school! Very we'll. will set you
some sums after dinner, and find you som'
words to study in the dictionary"
Silently the five sat down until the vlsi
tor departed, uncomfortably conscious O.
ten weary eyes and five pallid, pinchet
faces.
Crossing her own doorway. Mrs. Tur
moyle was greeted by merry duet,
s'No school! No school!''
Then the tenor solo.
"Won't you make some. hobs for m.
kite, mamma? There's splendid wind!'
Followed by sweet soprano.
"And ON, mamma, you promised the
first holiday you would trim my dolr'
bonnet"
81 'ant kite, too!'s struck in Mark.
sob, let me get my BREATHE cried the
little woman. "Where's your hat, Tom?'
sob. 1 forgot" Tom said, sweeping il
off with profound bow. Here, take this
chair. And let me take your bonnet ant
sacque up stairs. You are tired. Never
mind hobs if yon are very tired"
''I'll help make them,'' said Bessie; ''anG
Ill 60 watch Tom, mamma, if you don'1
feel like making the bonnet"
"We'll see. after dinner" said Mrs. Tur
moyle, looking from one round, 1osy face
to the other, marking the sturdy limbs
and dancing eyes. To be sure the hair Of
all three must be reduced from state Of
rebellion before they were presentable al
the table, and soap and water were pleas
ant suggestions in the maternal eyes
There was erfect health and happiness
if the voices were shrill and the boots
noisy.
'I've been to see Mrs. Stone,'' she said,
when washed and combed, her children
gathered around her to wait for papa and
dinner, land wondered If l could ever
make my children as quiet and orderly as
hers are'''
"Willie Stone is milksop!'' said Tom.