Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-23
THE COMING GENERATION
What Shall We Do With the Chill.
dren-TvO Different Pictures-ROse
Terry on Boys.

How many homes does the stranger enter
that are made wretched to her by the little hope
fuls there, that have about as full sway as II the
father and mother were ciphers, and they were
the masters and mistresses of the house, as In
fact they are. They are at the door as she en-
tiers, they on the back OF her chair as she sits
down, on her knees in her pockets, her muff,
her reticue; the sticky little fingers are daubing
her clothes, the noisy little tongues are asking
every sort Of question; she stumbes over lib
eral scattering of their toys from one end Of the
house to the other; doors slam. furniture I'D
sets, voices shout in glee or below in wrath.
rude remarks make her ears tingle, impertinent
ones make her fingers itch she cannot hear her
own voice for their camOr; she cannot think
her own thoughts for their Interruptions; she
hardly dare call her soul her own till the front
door closes behind her. and she feels as If she
were escaping from pandemonium.
The people who are responsible for these chill
dren seem to have some such idea about them
as peaSantry have often held about natural fools
that they are something sacred. and must not
be hindered or restrained. And even when this
sentiment is not felt and acted upon to its full.
est extent. the children are made the topics for
entertainment; the guest is RECALLED with Char
ley's last bright saving and jules last bright
action, by Neddys traits and Kitty's ailments
till she wonders what there can be good and
bright In children born of such simpletons.
| and halls the house she enters where there are
none Of these well-sprngs Of joy. or where. If
there are, they are brought up according to Rose
Terry Cookies advice for boys, in a barrel to be
fed and educated through the bung-hole
How different Is the atmosphere of that home
where the father and mother maintain their
own individuality, and the children, instead Of
being thrust forward that the whole world NAV
take example from them, are kept sufficiently in
the background for the world to show them. on
the other hand, by what to take example them
| Selves where. to speak fgurativeiy. it being re-
cognized that they are not the plant ITSELF but
only the blossoms on the stems, the plant is
allowed opportunity to grow and develop, and
enjoy Its own sunshine and lift its blossoms
with 1t, not above i'll
NOTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL.
There is nothing m the world so beautiful as
| group OF children round any hearth. poor or
rich. 1t is beauty that appeals to the same
sentiments as beautiful landscapes and Deauti-
full flowers do, in all the lovelness Of lines and
colOrs and to the higher and holier ones be-
sides, In the affectiOnal nature, and in the con-
seriousness Of that immortal spark animating
each of the little creatures. But let those little
creatures leave the place of children and thrust
| themselves forward into that Of grown people,
| indicate by their behavior rather an impish de-
velopment than childish one any way taking
hold OF that share of life and the world which
belongs to their elders before their elders are
done with It, like too eager heirs laying prema-
ture hold or an Inheritance, and then much Of
the beauty and charm Of childhood vanishes,
and one feels that those blossoms will bear a
gnarled fruit, and that the bloom will be rubbed
on that fruit while it is yet green and sour and
bitter
Every mother feels that she can manage her
parcel or children, as every hen can scratch for
her brood OF chickens And perhaps she could
If she took as much pains as the hen and gave
herself no other thought or occupation as Mrs.
Partlett does. But people live in the world.
OhipQd yx-in 70
give limited portion Of themselves to that
world, to the demands of friends and enemies,
creditors and debtors, that Isl and how to accom-
modate this necessity to the proper care and
matter, but might be called really an art in it.
self. How to restrain these little people with
out REFRESHING them, how to deny them without
expressing them, how to develop them without
tearing open the flower and laying the heart
bare too soon to the sun, how to give them full
play, and yet rob no one else of lberty-all that
requires thought and exertion and expression,
and If one has not the first and the last of these
things, then one must be willing to profit by
the advice and example of those that have, and
humility and patience must also be called into
requisftiOn. 1;a-
PURE AND PERFECT FAMILY LIFE
is the best thing that the disposer OF all affairs
has given to His peOple; but it is not perfect
family life where half the family are allowed to
override the other half, and that the half Of
least discretion, where the whims of the chill
dren are consulted, to the injury Of the needs
of the elders, and the sphere of their pleasure
Is allowed to eclipse the sphere of the others
comforts. But where the opposite course is
maintained, and the children secure in every
comfort and requirement, are given Just that
liberty which is given to the full-grown
citlzen-liberty exactly so far as 1t does
not impinge upon the liberty OF an
other citizen. as it will not impinge
on the liberty Of the citizen that
they are to becOme-then the result is likely to
be blessing to the world itself, as well as TO
the particular home circle where such treatment
is maintained. And the beauty Of those soft
cheeks and lips, those dimpes. those flying
locks and starry eyes, those kisses. those smiles,
those tears, those dear voices is supplemented
by something precious as all the rest in the
knowledge of what the result of all this will be
when the darlings take their place as the next
generation.