The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1882-01-19
Childish DiSreSDect.

This is the fault that some persons
would punish with especial severity,
and such persons are apt to Judge su-
pcrticially, or more by child's words
than by its meaning or motive Very
young children often speak disrespcct-
fully without any idea that they are do
ing wrong. They are natural demo-
Gratis not in modern political sense).
and they have an innate sense of
equality.' eff YOU won't be saucv
to me. | won't be saucy to YOU" said
lrtlc Fanny when her mother reproved
her for sauciness. Fanny's mother,
perhaps, had never thought that pa
rent could be guilty of saucincss, but
often think of the child's remark when
children speak disrespectfully to their
parents. | can usually see that they
have brought it upon themselves that
more patience and gentleness on the
parents part would have prevented the
hasty reply.
Parents certainly should treat their
children with respect. Not as though
the children were their superiors, but
as though they had rights which all
were bound to respect, and feelings
which the parents should regard, and
tastes and preferences worthy of rea-
sonable consideration. Children so
treated will not be tempted to serious
impudence. l do not say that they
will never speak words that sound
saucy. The only way to prevent that,
is to bring them up in a state of con-
slant fear, SO that they never speak at
all except in well-considered words
If children feel free and easy and con-
tidential with their parents, they will
be apt to address them sometimes very
much as they do their playmates of
their own age, and sometimes this will
seem disrespectful when no disrespect
is intended. Of course we should try
to teach them good manners, and this
includes gentle and respectful behavior,
but if we send them to school, or allow
them to play with their little neighbors,
they will probably pick up expressions
that we cannot admire, and use them
in the family. Few children of natural
independence or spontancty have
never said Il WON'T to their parents.
But often this means nothing more
than an expression of preference
too vehement expression, which should
certainly be modified. But the child
expresses the momentary feeling. and
Immediately repents, and intends no
disobedience.
You remember the Bible story about
the two who were hidden to 60 work in
the vineyard. One said: Il 90, SIR
and went not. The other said: 81 90
not,' and afterwards repented and
went l am sometimes reminded of
this by the children's conduct Who
are we that we should sit in Judgment
of the children and condemn them? If
we are the chidren's parents we are
part of the "od stock whence the
children, with their various dispositions,
have sprung Ii the disposition is what
is called "bad,' did the child delber-
ately choose it? Did it even ask for.
you as It's parents9 Did YOU not bring
it into the midst of LIES grave respon-
sibilities without asking its consent or
consulting its preferences? It is GER
tain. then, that the child has a right to
great patience and forbearance from
those whose duty it is to give it support
and education.
Most of us commit the same faults
that we deplore and try to correct i'll our
children. Probably we have learned
more prudence than they, but few of lis
are always courteous in our treatment
of others.
l hope no one supposes me to be max
ing aplea for sauciness. disapprove
of it heartily. but think that duplicity
is fault that has a deeper root and
more dangerous tendency. Some chill
dren OF the most respectful deneanor
toward parents and teacher, turn out to