St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-06-27
Be Patient With Your Boys.
BY MRS. HENRY WARD BEECHER.

BY MRS. HENRY WARD BEECHER.
While desiring that mothers should
keep fast hold of their girls as long as
they can, what shall we do with the
boys?
1t rests with the mothers usually, far
more than with the fathers, to decide.
If the mother is tender, but firm and
equitable, overlooking misdeeds that do
not spring from natural depravity, but
from the thOughtlessness of youth, with
its frolicsome, bubbling, effervescing
spirits-if she is prompt and ever watch
ing to know whereunto this bOisterous-
LESS may tend, always ready with low
ing but restraining hand to check their
wild play whenever it approaches real
wrong or evil-then, we NAV be sure.
such mothers will keep their BOYS, as
well as their girls, where their influence
will always be stronger and more holy
than any other. But with the mothers
who are constantly restraining and
thwarting every childish pleasure, Civ
ing words of unmerited reprOOf for ev-
cry mistake or hayward act, there is
danger that their children will become
peevish, selfish and deceitful Particu-
larly is this the danger with boys, who.
when out of doors, are beset bv the
very evils that assail them through the
uncertain, and often unnatural, disci-
pline of boarding schools.
All if some of the mothers who most
cOnscientiOusly endeavor to do their
duty by their children, giving cheerfullv
their own ease, strength and comfort to
this work, could, while the little ones
are growing up, act with the same in
sight and judgment which comes to
them after this formative work is done.
what precious results would follow
How many of our most scrupulous and
conscientious mothers err by over-gov-
erning-Over-wa tchfulness Their chill
dren, after little while, learn to look
upon them as "keepers," or spies, and
do not dream that this irritating super
vision comes from imperfect Judgment
not lack of atfectiOn-in the mothers,
who would gladly give their own lives
to be able to make their children al
ways happy while trying to lead them
in the straight and narrow path. Yet
the sense of responsibility which thew
feel, and which is supposed to rest upon
parents always, makes the little ones
ConscientiOusness is so largely devel-
Oped in some minds as to make their
lives perpetual torture to themselves
and all who come under their influence
or control. So strong is the hold that
this peculiar trait of character has over
their whole lives, a trait expressed in 81
many different forms of action, that
they are not able to distinguish the
follies and freaks of joyous childhood
from the fragrant sins and vices of ripeI
and more responsible age. So they
mete out the same reproof or punish
ment to the ''toddling wee thingsn that
may be merited by child Just on the
borders of mature life.
Then, sickness, in many cases, is too
mighty for some mothers, and thew in.
dull ge in reprOOf and irritability because
their nerves are unstrung, and not be.
cause the child is deserving of rebuke
Particularly is this the case with the
boys in family. Boys will be boys
They must run and whistle. burst into
the house whOOping like young Indians
forgetful-nOt regardless theiI
mothers aching head is not benefited
by such mode of entrance. Who nor,
sorry than these young thunderers wheI
they see that they have increased th,
: suiferlngf Yet how soon is it all for
gotten when the door closes after them
anu they once more feel the invigorat