The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1881-09-14
MISCELLANY.
WHAT PEOPLE WILL SAY.
By ANNA OLIVER.


- = isl
A few days since we were pondering the
question why is it that, with few exceptions,
every one is under the thumb of Mrs. Grundy
when we called to see friend. Her little
child was playing in the room. Presently
the nurse girl came to take him away and
prepare him for dinner. But the young gen
tleman preferred to remain with the company,
when mamma interposed in this manner:
"Oh! Willie must go and have his hair
brushed. Why, that lady thinks Willie has
not had his hair brushed to-day. See how as
tonished she looks And Ito the nurse,
Mary, everyone will think Willie has no more
clean aprons unless you put one on him right
away"
This had the desired effect. The child
went at once to be brushed and dressed, from
fear of what persons would think of him.
The next call made was on poor sick wo-
man. She had a child somewhat younger
than the othor-two years old, perhaps. Soon
the little one began to cry, iuterrupting our
conversation.
sob, my p said the mother. "See Campo
looking at you. He thinks it awful queer
Minnie should cry
Now, Grandpa was surly old man, sitting
in the corner of the room, reading his news
paper and paying no attention whatever to
the child. But Minnie Strengthened her face,
and wiped her eyes to see whether .'Gampa
didn't think her awful queer"
This visit finished, We returned home, and
proposed to take Ethel, our own little girl,
out for walk. We asked the lady who has
her in charge to put on her coat. But Ethel
said
"oh no. l want to wear my little boo
shawl"
Immediately the lady exclaimed: "Mercy
on us | If the little girl should go out with
only her little blue shawl on, every body in
the street would look at her. And they would
say to themselves Is. 1t possible that little
girl hasn't got her winter coat yet?'' KS
At this Ethel laughed. The coat went on
and the walk proceeded. The young lady
carried herself and eyed every passer-by in a
manher that said, Look at me, I've got my
winter coat on
Returned from the walk, her wraps were
removed, but her mittens, being novelty
from gloves, she did not wish to relinqush.
ENERGY on us p was again exclaimed
Did ever hear of a little girl wearing her
mittens in the house? What would every
body think?"
At this point we sat down, with the clear
conviction that we had arrived at the solution
of the question previously pondered. From
the earliest dawn of consciousness tip to ma
turity, the motive most frequently held before
our children is the opinion of others. What
wonder that SO many of us are slaves to Mrs
Grundy. Boys and girls thus trained will be
at fourteen years of age thoroughly uncon-
scious, and will ask themselves, in regard to
every action tot what is wise and right, bui
What will people say?' If parents and al
who have the care of children will watch
themselves, they will probably be surprised
in discovering to what an extent they present
this motive. 1t is SO easy .in this manner tt
stop children from crying or induce them tc
conform to our motives that the temptation
is great. But very little thought will obviate
this and offer true motives of action.
For instance, take the case Of Ethel. The
very next day she was going to play in the
yard, and her warm coat was needed but
again she preferred her shawl and was cute
enough to suggest:
"Nobody can see me in the yard"
We drew her into our arms, and said
Sour little darling must wear her coat be-
a sa ~ IN do,
member how bad cold and cough and sore
eyes she had when she came from the asylum u
live us? She is now strong and ven; ana we
love little Ethel too much to let her get sc
sick again. At that time, you know, pet,
you had no warm clothes to wear but nov
our Heavenly Father has given you home aud
friends and nice warm things; and he expects
you to wear them and keep WE'LL Is it moi
kind in our Heavenly Father to take such
good care of little Ethsls'
BY this time the coat was on and buttonod
and the child's lips were held up to us for o
kiss, as she said
at NV Heavily Father most, and 'ou next.
And thus, 18th her thoughts drawn off from
herself to the goodness of God, she went out
to her play.
Now we submit if such motives are not fal
in advance of the former Besides, the
former are not true. People are not thinking
about us. If we pause TO reflect, it is very
apparent that the world--a few gossips ex
eepted-is thinking of itself-not Of us.
The one general reason to be given to chill
dren, however young, for any course to b.
pursued is, because 1t is right. Why it !!
right can also usually be explained to them
If we had one generation trained to sucf
motives, we would need fewer prayers agains
man-fearing spirit, and heroes would b.
more common who "dare to be a Daniel
| Ia "a IN stand alona IN Y. Tndspendent.