The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-07-08

Our theme is not q new one; t can
never be old. As long as one-burth
of humanity is represented by the irre-
pressible boy. 80 long will the happiness
and well-being of the boy be Of moment
to all.
shall preface what am about to
say by relating an incident, the facts of
which came under my immediate OBJ
servation.
A sister and brother, nine and seven
years old, respectively, whose home
was in the Far West. came to spend the
summer with their grandparents in
New England. 1t was a large, many
roomed house to which they came, and
upon their arrival a carpeted room with
dainty belongings was assigned to the
little girl, while the boy-no less dearly
loved by his OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES xiyen
chamber, airy and comfortable, but
guiltless of ornament save the glorious
rays of sunlight that walked the little
sleeper each returning morning.
Judge of the surprise of the family,
one afternoon, at finding all the little
fellows possessions--his box of cloth
ing, his fishing tackle, his balls, his top,
his miniature canOe-transferred to his
sisters room, he avcrring, upon being
questioned, that he liked pretty and
tasteful things as well rs his sister did,
and that he was not going to stay in
that old, bare room.
Now we do not say that every moth
er can give her boys pretty, carpeted
rooms; but we do insist that the bows
should have their share of whatever of
grace and beauty the house affords. If
the little sister has two pretty pictures
in her room, let her give one of them
to the brother. If she makes dainty
cushion for her own toilet table, let one
equally pretty be made for that of her
brother.
Then there are the boys own treas
lres. Give him the privilege of ar
ranging them in his own way. Doubt
less it will be oftentimes a very indi-
vidual way; but what of that? Do we
not every day sacrifice our own tastes
for fashions sake--for friends? Sure
ly we can do at least as much for our
boys.
l have in my mind the memory of
boy just in his teens, who for the first
time was to have room by himself.
With his mothers help, his treasures
were given each its place of honor or
convenience. Most highly priced of all
was gun, the gift of an older brother.
His taste claimed its installment on
brackets on the wall of his room, and
his mother, sitting her woman's fear
of firearms. gave him her help in ar
ranging it there. The look with which
he thanked her will be a pleasant men,
DRY for years.
Let us do all we can for oar boys!
Let us "make home attractive" to
them, not only by filling our houses
with things beautiful and tasteful, but
by making them feel that they, not less
than their sisters, have share in its
arrangement.
When the echo of children's footsteps
shall be no longer heard in the house,
and the tired hands have more time to
rest. we shall be glad to recall the
eager, happy face OF the boy of twenty
years ago, as he stood by our side while
we put the last strong stitches in the
cover of his ball, or fastened one more
bob on his cherished kite.
In the cradle, in his first suit of
clothes which launches him on the world
as the individual boy, in the transition
from little boy" to "big boy" from
the "big boy" to the youth, let us
stand by him with our help, our coun-
sci and our prayers.-Cor. Woman's