Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-06-23

was Just in the act of putting his fingers in
the blaze of the candle Gilbert jerked him
away suddenly, which so incensed Master
John James Gilbert, that he screamed insult
ferably. Gilbert tossed him, patted him !;
but he could not distract his attention from
the candle. He removed him out of sight of
the luminary, but that only made matters
worse He now commenced his first lesson
in the "principles of good government" He
brought the child towards the candle, and the
nearer it approached, the more paciied it be-
came The child extended its arms to catch
the blaze, and Gilbert bore it slowly towards
the fame until the hand came nearly in contact
with it, when he snatched it away, crying,
"bunny fnnies ~ which is, by Interpretation,
you'll burn your fngers" Eliza and ex.
changed smiles, but neither of us said any.
thing.
The child construed this into wanton teas.
ing and became, if possible, more obstrepe-
rous than ever. Gilbert now resorted to
another expedient. He put his own fingers
into the blaze, withdrew them suddenly, blew
them, shook them, and gave every sign of acute
agony. This not onl y queed but delighted
the child, who signi6ed to him to do it again.
He instantly perceived (what was practically
demonstrated the minute afterwards,) that
the child was putting a most dangerous inter-
pretation upon his last illustration. He de-
termined therefore not to repeat 1t. The
child, not satisfied with the sport, determined
to repeat it himself, which the father oppo.
sing, he began to reach and cry as before.
There was but one experiment left; and that
was to let the child feel the flames little.
This he resolved to try, but how to conduct
it properly was not so easily settled. 1t would
not do to allow the infant to put his hand
into the blaze because it would burn too
little, or too much. He resolved therefore to
direct the hand 70 point so near the flame,
that the increasing heat would induce the
child to withdraw his hand himself. Ac-
cordingly, he brought the extended arm
slowly towards the fame, the child becoming
mere and more impatient with every moments
postponement of its qualification, until the
hand came within about an inch of the wick,
when he held the child stationary. But John
would not let the hand remain stationary, nor
at the chosen point. He kept snatching at
the candle, till finding all his efforts fruitless,
he threw himself violently back, gave the
father a tremendous thump on the nose
with the back Of his head, and kicked and
screamed most outrageously.
"You little rascal said Gilbert, "1've a
good mind to give you good spanking"
"Give him to me, said Mrs. Butler.
YOU'D better not take him." said Gilbert,
in an undertone, "whle he is in such pas
sion"
mo danger" she said "hand him to me"
As she received him, "hush, sir" said she,
very sharply; and the child hushed instant
ly, and was asleep in few minutes.
"Strange," said Mr.. Butler, show much
sooner the mother acquires control over a
child than the father"
"Not at ALL" said Mrs. Butler. "You
would have controlled him as easily as | did,
if you had given him the same lesson before
hand that did. He got in such an uproar
the other day, and finding nothing else would
quiet him, spanked it out of him. l have
had no more trouble in quieting him since" :"
Il begin to think, Butler" said l, that
Eliza was right in the only points of the diff:
ference between you, touching the manage
ment of children. I observe that you ad-
dressed the child just now in the gibberish
you so much condemned before you became
a father; and though it seems ridiculous
enough, especially in you, it would have ap-
peared more so if you had said to child so
young, "John, my son, do not put your fingers
into the flame of the candle, it will burn
them" And your experiment has taught
you the absolute impossibility of governing
children of very tender years by prescribed
rules"
81 am half inclined to your opinion" said
Butler. "Elizas discipline has performed
several good Offices. 1t has relieved US Of
Johns insuferable noise; it has taught him
to control his temper at its first appearance,
and it learned him the meaning of word
Chush) which will often supply the place OF
correction, and always forewarn him of de-
sires unlawful"
Long before the second son arrived at
reasonable age, Gilbert abdicated, unreserv'
edly, in favor Of his wife; contenting him
self with the subordinate station of her minis
terial officer, in which he executed her orders
in cases requiring more physical strength than
she possessed.
IdSSluS OfeI luS PSA'ous
now introduce the reader to this family, at
ter most of the children had reached the
cage Of reason" In contemplating the scene
which | am about to sketch, he will be pleased
, to turn his thoughts, occasionally, to Gilbert:
principles of good government.
Sarah was about two years and half ole
when Gilbert invited me to breakfast witt
him, one Decen.b Der morning, near the Christ
mas holidays. 1t was the morning appointed
for his second killing Of hogs, which, as th'
Southern reader knows, is sort of carniva
in Georgia. l went, and found all the chill
dren at home, and Gilbert's mother added t
the family circle. John and Anna hat
reached the age when they were permitted tt
take seats at the first table, though upol
this occasion John being engaged about tn
pork, did not avail himself Of his privilege
The rest of the children were taught to wal
for the second table. Breakfast was announ
ced, and after the adults and Anna had des
patched their meal the children were sum
moned. As they were hidden, and ther
were some preparatory arrangements to b
made, they all gathered around the fire
clamorous with the events of morning.
"By Jockey" said William, "didn't tina