Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-11-24
BOB ISGERsOLL'S METHODS
A Parent Who Tried Them With
out Success.

Springfield Republican,
Colonel Ingersoll says he keeps a
pooket-book in an open drawer, aud
his children go and help themselves to
money whenever they want it.
"They eat when they want to; they
may sleep a day if they choose, and sit
up all night if they desire. | don't
try to coerce them. | never punish,
never scold. They buy their own
clothes, and are masters Of them
selves" :,
A gentleman living on Marshall
street, who has a boy that is as full OF
kitteny as his father, read the article
and pondered deeply. He knew that
Colonel Iugersoll was a success at
raising children in the way they
should 60 and he thought he would
try it. The boy had caused him con
siderable annoyance, and he made up
his mind that he had not treated the
boy right, so he called the boy in from
the street, where he was putting soft
soap on the lamp post, in order to see
the lamp. lighter climb it, and said to
him:
My son, | have decided to adopt a
different course with you. Hereto
fore | have been careful about giving
you money, and have wanted to know
where every cent went to, and my
| supervision has no doubt been annoy
ing YOU, Now I'm going to leave my
rocket book 10 the bureau drawer with
plenty of money in it, and you are at
liberty to use all you want without
asking me | want you to buy any.
thing you desire to; buy your own
clothes, and feel as though the money
was yours, and that you have not got
to account for it. Just make yourself
at home and have a good time"
The boy looked up at the old gentle
men. but his hand on his head, as
though he had fgot en- sure" and
went out to see the lamp lighter climb
hat soap. The next day the sterI.
parent went out in the country shoot
ng, and returned on the midnight
/ train three days later. He opened the
door with a latch key, and a strangi
yellow dog grabbed him by the elbow
Of his pants and shook him, he said
like the argur.' =,
The dog barked and chewed until
the son came down in his night shirt
and called him of. He told the faith
er he had bought that dog Of a fire
man for $ll, and it was probably the
best dog bargain that bad been mad,
this season. He said the fireman told
him he could find a man that wanted
that kind of a dog,
The parent took off his pants, what
the dog had not removed, and in tn
hall be stumbled over a birch bark
canoe the boy bought of an Indian 70
50, and an army mssket, with an iron
ramrod, fell down from the corner
The boy had paid Sc for that. H
had also bought himself an overcoaI
with a sealskin collar and cuffs, and 9
complete outfit ofcalico shirts and silk
stockings.
In his room the parent found tho
marble top Of a soda fountain, a wheel
barrow and shelf filed with all kinds
Of canned meats, preserves and crack
ers, and q barrel of apples. A wal
tent and six pairs qf blankets were
rolled up ready for camping out, and Z
buekskin shirt and q pair Of cOrduro!
pants lay on the bed ready for pulling
on.
Six fsh-poles and a basketful o.
fish lines were ready for business, ant
an oyster can full Of grub-worms 70
bait were squirming on the wash
stand. The old gentleman looked tn,
layout over, looked at his own pocket
book in the bureau drawer, as empt!
as a contribution box, and said:
"Young man, the times have beer
too flush. We will now return Il
specie basis. When you want none,
come to me and / will give you
nickel, and you will tell me what yol
intend to buy with it, Your hear mel