The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-08-27
"Don't Tell Mother. !,

Not long since we passed two it'll
girls, perhaps eight or nine years old
Their arms were thrown around eacl
other in simple, loving, unaffecte,
manner that quite enchanted us. BIZ
the first words we heard them utter dis
PEELED the charm and left very painfu
impression. f'
I'm tell you something that l an
gong to do, May, if you will promis,
not to tell mother word about it,
Ii at that early age bows or girls he
gin to have secrets from their narents
especially from the mother, it does mo-
require prophets skill to form toll
eraoiy correct judgment of what the
character will be, and the result.
sprlnglng from such tendencies when
tney arrive at mature age. A DISPOSE.
tion 10 deceive is bad enough, but when
little child arranges to conceal her &C.
nons from her mother the outlook is
sad indeed.
Whatever may be taught or believed
about natural deprayity It would be very
diiiicuit to imagine that little child
naturally inclines to conceal its actions
from the mother, who for the few earli-
est years at least must, almost of neces-
SHY, De with it more than any other
one. In such cases it is impossible not
70 feel that the parents must be held. in
part, accountable. cr-strictness in
governing children too often proves a
temptation to deceive and conceal.
Wncn child first understands that it is
under surveillance and all its acts criti-
cised or censured it becomes uncom-
Portable, and soon feels frightened, and
seeks to escape from the thraldom by
prevarication or deceit. To DENY, con-
ceai, invent or give an excuse that to
youthful mind appears plausible, if
not unanswerabie, opens in their child
ish judgment the readiest wav of es-
cape from blame or punishment. Let
any one enter on that way and conceal
ment, deceit and excuses become easy.
1t will not be long before this course
VIII be taken not merely to avoid pun
ishment or reproof but to secure some
pleasure known to have been forbidden.
Young parents often enter upon their
new duties with very high ideas. They
have theories which, if strictly followed
out, will place their nonpareii far above
all other babies and bring it into matu-
r,ity a bright and shining light, only
little lower than the angels. And in its
rare development it is expected that
the parents theory will be glorifed. 1t
IS vain for parents who have had sew
eral experiences and many new theories
10 try to convince the young matrons
that there never was q mode of train |
ing children that would be suitable for
all dispositions, or that fully realized the |
bright expectations in which thew first |
tried TO bring them into daily practice.
Some begin with the idea that i'm
Phcit, unquestioning, instantaneous
obedience must be insisted on, and any
hesitation or deviation must be met at
once by severe punishment. Children
brought up under such system are the
ones most likely to deceive and conceal.
Those parents who are thoroughly good
ana act in the most conscientious man.
ner' in their hearts believing that their
theory. I" though for the present not
Joyous but grievous," win in the end
work out the peaceable fruits of right
cousness, are the ones who in ripper
years, taught by that rough schoolmas.
Ier. experience, greatly modify if not en- .
iirely change their mode of bringing ND
heir younger children. Indeed, find (,
ng that strict discipline and rigorous
oversight have not entirely perfected ,
heir first children they are in great :
LANCER OF swinging clear over to the op. :
,osite side, and do their last children rs :
much or more harm by being too le- :
lient Acknowledgements their first received J
Nv needless seyeritv
Poorchildren! II parents could only /,
now exactly what spirits they had ,
o deal with, if they had wis !,
Iom to guide and govern through !
owe ana gentleness, how much less h
emptation to deceit and concealment =
how much more happiness both for +
arents and children. :,
Wholesale license and INDULGENCE do r
OF make the happiest child-life, but =
nth all its evils we doubt if it is morally o
s injurious as over-governing and Sc O
Gritty. But whatever mode of training q
hildren may be adopted, that is best d
hitch is so modified as to teach all. Ii
the girls, that the mother :
the sagest and wisest confidautc.
hildren will make mistakes. but no
reat harm will follow If they have no
,crets from their mother; and thew :,
i'll not be tempted to hide blunder Il O.,
ley know she will not rebukc sharply s
ut with loving kindness. A girl viii q,
ot do anything very wrong who has no q,
crets from her mother. Every girl ri
ands on slippery, unsafe ground tho AZ
oment she thinks or says "Don't tell h,
other" The fewer secrets girls or su
'ys have the safer they are. If there hi
ould be few which may seem impor- or
mt and unavoidable let the child test ~ ~
Q real necessity of encumbering her r.
If with them by taking the mother in M
rtnership. No companionship should of
tolerated, no letter written, that she re
ny not know of. -; H
Secrets, mysteries, are bad things for of
y one, boy or girl, man or woman, in,
much worse for girl or woman. err;
wish we could show the young how sh