Osage Valley banner. (Tuscumbia, Miller County, Mo.) 1879-1881, 1880-09-09

large share IN keeping their play
room and bedrooms in creditable order.
But II these lessons are not begun early
and made pleasant, children will have
acquired the habit Of being gnIed upon,
and will learn 10 prefer IL TO helping
themselves.
Each year, rs a child can bear il, the
Importance OF the trustand responsible
" may be increased. II the labor is
accepted rs n love-oifering, 10 save
mothers time and strength, there
will soon be found willing hands and
happy hearts, ready at all hours TO
tighten the labor and save msuy weary
steps, while at the same time the young
are learning lesson that will do them
good all through life. Topreyent these
little duties from becoming wearisome
as the child natures. vary the lessons
by changing often the nature of the
trust. Try some small thing that will
tax the taste or judgment little. Send
the child out to buy something of no
great Importance, so that If any mis-
take is made no harm will follow, yet
still important enough for the child 70
feel the necessity Of care and thought in
selecting. This will soon learn them
TO exercise discrimination and judg-
ment in small things, and prepare the
way TO exercise these gifts in larger
matters,
An expedition OF this kind rises be-
fore me as one OF the brightest of child
hood memories. IL was time of much
sickness both at home and in the neigh
borhood. Mother was III, the elder
children either on the sick-list or alb
sent. II was necessary TO have 4" sup
plies from the "shire town." twelve
miles distant, where most of the impor-
tant shopping in former days was done,
and foreign groceries purchased. The
chaise was at the door, and father,
ready TO start on the journey, was max
| ing out the list Of items by mothers s
4 bedside, when he was summoned in
I great haste to see patient.
| Here was dilemma! The purchases
must be made; the patient must be
4 cared for. What was to be doneP In
| the south hall door ! was playing with
| the baby, so near the sick-room / could
! not fail to hear the consultation between
/ father and mother. He must 90 to his
4 patient, but who could be sent for the
/ articles SO much neededP
the morning. and the cloth must be
ready for her work, A tailoress was
an important character in those days.
If we lost our turn, there would be
weeks TO wait before we could secure
her again. That would never do.
1.-THE boys" must have their clothes
ready TO return to college. and there
could be no delay about them, anyhow.
/ heard the hurried talk in a kind OF
dreamy wonder rs TO how they could
settle the troublesome question, but, rs
one who had no personal interest in the
matter went on with my frolic with the
baby, when mother said, "Makc out q
list, give full directions, and send by
E." What bound my heart gavel
nearly dropped the baby. I, not twelve
years old, and mother thought | could be
trusted with such big thing. | felt
half a head taller, only to think that
nv mother bless her!--thought
might be trusted. Whether it was de-
cided that should go or not was just
then secondary consideration. Yet
was wide awake TO catch fathers reply
"Send that child. What does she
: know of buying anythingP And, Lucy
I
} An, then my heart collapsed.
didn't quite want to go-the wort
seemed so great-but did want father
to think me rs trustworthy and capable
as mother did.
Eyes, If you think IL safe for her tC
, drive so far alone think you may trus
7 her to do the errand well. The mer
, chants and grocers are old friends, and
will not take advantage of the child. :
r "Well. it's the only way left for us,
} said father, with an anxious, dissatisfied
tone, and the great responsibility wa!
t committed to my care.
1t is vain to try to give the thought
, that surged through my young brain IL
I that long ride TO town, or how anXiou
5 | was on the return ride lest | had for
/ gotten something, or made some Ill
S advised purchase. But under all tn
1 anxiety aud excitement was dull pain
r remembering as | did that father wa
Il not quite ready TO trust me. This pail
u didn't leave me until, safe at home, al
n the purchases laid out and examined
Y he drew me to his knee, close by moth
v er's sick-bed, and kissing me, said
i "Wel done, my brave girl! Hasn't sh
y done we'll. motherpN
Q How much good that days work
Il with the confidence given, did me
y after years, giving me all needed coul
IS age when duties seemed too hard 10
l. me, can never estimate; but the mos
1t precious of all was the thought OF m
IS mothers trust and fathers approbi
st ton.
le Ii is only by such trust and teachin
id that children can be taught to I'm
ut pleasure in labor, or in importar
as cares. E1aot labor of children as
is duty, sternly command, watch wil
ye constant fault-dnding and suspicion
az and labor becomes drudgery, and ca