Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-06-07
Repression and Fnult.FInding,

Repression anu fnult-FlndtnS.
Lie for some children is one perpetual
don't" Our sympsthies were recentv
enlisted for Freddy, little fellow of five,
who had been kept within doors during q
long storm. His mother, gentle WON
an, sat quietly sewing, rs she chatted
with friend. Don't do that, Freddie"
she said, as the child's whip handle heat
a slight tattoo on the carpet. The whip
dropped. A block castle rose-and fell
with crash. Don't make that noise,
Freddy" The boy turned to the window.
the restless fingers making vague pictures
on the damp pane. Don't mark the win
dow, Freddie. interposed the mother;
and, Don't 20 into the hail." she added.
as he opened the door to escape. The
"dont's" continued at brief intervals. At
length the small man. seating himself
with patheiically resigned air, remained
perfectly still for about minute. Then
with long-drawn sigh, he asked, "Mam-
ma, is there anything that can do?"
Sometimes don't" seems mere me-
chanical utterance, unheeded by the child
unenforced by the parent Don't do
that, my dear" and the little girl, toss-
ing over the fine engravings on friends
table, pauses an instant. The mother
goes on talking with her friend, the child
resumes her occupation, and no notice is
taken Of it, except, after while, prohibi-
tion is carelessly repeated, only to lie ig.
nored. A forgetful mother makes a for
getful child. Authority is weakened by
reiterated commands.
In 5tu las
ly sharp and short. Activity is the nor
nal state of every healthy child; and half
the reproofs be receives are really because
he has no sufficient vent for his overflow
ing vitality. Excessive restraint irrtates
and continual watching worries child
his training must be efficient; but it should
not so pursue his minutest acts as to keep
him in constant fear and fret, or lead him
to depend no his mothers don't" rs a
guide. Broader instruction is needed
and wide distinction should be made
between thoughtful care and harassing
watchfulness.
Let the children learn by experience in
the loving atmosphere at home without
fear of harsh criticism or fault-inding
Home is the place for experiment and
failure as well as for success, for sympathy
and encouragement quite as much as for
discipline. Guide their unsteady feet, but
sometimes let them 20 alone, even though
they may fall. Then pick up the STUN
blers; but beware of blaming them or
laughing at their childish mistakes. A
thoughtless laugh may rankle in the heart
OF sensitive child for mOnths-may
never be wholly forgotten.
Parents sheuly carefully distinguish be-
tween willful disobedience and accidents,
or faults, resulting from activity, ignor-
ance, and natural desire for investiga.
ton.
Little four years old Harry while play
ing in the yard one summer day was
stung by a bee. A couple of months
afterwards, noticing at breakfast the use
OF mustard by the family, he asked for
some.
lyon would not like it," said his moth
er, never thinking that such reason sci.
dom satisfies child.
"Yes shall, replied Harry; James
ian elder brother) likes it,"
sob, no; you would not like it,"
But the boy persisted that he should like
it. So his mother, wisely or unwisely,
put some mustard on his plate, intending
to let him try little in the usual way
But as she turned to replace the mustard
pot in the caster, Harry put the whole
quantity into his mouth without pit of
anything else! Half frightened the
mother saw him bravely struggling
to master tho pungent mouthful. Firm as
a rock he sat, winking desperately, as big
tears gathered in his eyes, but never
uttering sound. and resoutely swallow
ing the whole of 1t.
A few minutes afterwards the fellow
blavely propounded tho following ques-
tion; james, which had you rather do,
eat all thst Indicating the mustard pot
with his HANDY or have a bumblebee
sting YOU in the carp"
In ILarry's mind mustard has ever since
been associated with the sting of a hee :;
and mustard taught him some good les
sons.
If a child by permission or accident
makes any such experiment sympathy
in the result should not he withheld. lie
should not be blamed or laughed at, but
tenderly helped. Moreover. lIarry's
bravery was worthy of commentator.
A boy who can patiently bear the pain he
brings upon himself by his mistakes
shows at least one noble and manlvtrait of
character.
There is no surcr way TO check conf
dental intercourse between parent and
child, and to retard the development Of
his best faculties. than to create an atmos.
phere of blame about him. lie will grow
unhappy and discouraged, il not dsobe-
dent and reckless. Far better let some
childish wrong-doing passed unreproved
than TO make your boy feel that he never
quite pleases you. Wise commentator
will not foster vanity or self-consciousnes
A loving word, an appreciative smile, any
sympathetic recognition Of real effort is
generally more helpful than many re-
proofs for failures. Check evil propensi-
lies by developing good ones. rather than
by waging fierce, direct war of extermina-
tion. The result of such training may
not be SO soon apparent, but in the end
your child's character will be broader and
stronger. Wait for the moral nature to
grow-and be patient, as God is patient
with his children.
SUNDAY IN RUsSIA.-In Russia Sunday
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