Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-06-29
Childhood Troubles.


are as real-as hard for them to bear
patiently-as those which cloud our
brows, make us impatient, and rob us
of rest or self control. The pain they
bring the young, fortunately, is not as
lasting, else they could not endure it.
The childish heart is as yet full of hope,
and its sources of enjoyment so simple
and so easily supplied that the present
pain can be more speedily soothed, by
anticipations of coming pleasures, than
it can be in more mature life. Still the
darkness and disappointments that Of
ten come to the little folks bring, for
the time, as acute pain as older peo-
pie can feel, and worse in this respect
that the child's heart has not yet
learned the secret of quiet, patient en-
durance.
A child. it is true, finds its pleasures
and makes its plans on a small scale ;
its hopes and anticipations are usually
conferred on what its elders consider
trifles. But to the young their plans
and pleasures all seem of the utmost i'm
portance, and they can not understand
the Indifference shown by their parents
or elder brothers and sisters. They
cling to their fancies as earnestly as
men do to the great schemes which they
labor night and day to perfect. The
child values bis small possessions as
highly as men do the millions they have
gained by hardships, self-denials and
ceaseless labor. Then the 6 children Of
larger growth" who have battled for
years to ward off reverses and disap-
pointments, to place the wealth so
hardly earned on sure foundations, have
had time to learn by many sad expert
ences that there is always an element OF
uncertainty in every plan or scheme
that human wisdom or foresight can
weave together, and therefore, though
hoping for success, they recognize the
danger, and are more or less prepared
for the failure.
Not so the young. 1t takes many and
grievous disappointments to teach them
to look for shadows over their bright
hopes and rose-hued expectations. For
this reason, when such losses come to
their young, undisciplined hearts, and
the brightness of their anticipation goes
out in darkness, the sense of loss is far
more acute than older hearts will feel
when their most important projects
come to naught.
Children often suffer real injustice,
and are quite as keenly alive to the feel
ing that it is cruel and unjust as their
elders can be. The parent, teacher Or
playmate who is responsible for the
wrong and the sharp suffering it brings,
of course, it is to be hoped, has no in
tention to act hastily or unkindly. But
what to the little one is of untold impor-
lance seems so trivial that parents do
not feel it is worth while to investigate
and ascertain the true state of the case.
So in hasty, off-hand manner they ST.
lence the complaints of the child, and
decide the case in a way that will cause
il intense pain and plant the first seeds
of distrust. Their confidence is shaken
In the wisdom of those who should
watch untiringly to secure the most
perfect development of the best quail
ties in those young minds which are SO
dependent on their care and prudence
for the wise use of the authority vested
in them. +,
Iparents could understand how much
the future of their children depends
upon their thoughtful care, on their
habits and manner of training their lit
tie ones when young, they would feel
the great necessity of weighing well
their words and acts; they would bear
in mind that their own convenience,
Importance than the comfort and happi-
ness of their young children. No
innocent pleasure and enjoyment should
be sacrificed to the too common plea
that it is announcement" Do parents
imagine that they can enjoy the bless
ings of seeing their little ones grow up
around them without making many
sacrifices of their own present ease and
convenience They should rather
count any sacrifice for the innocent
amusement and healthy development of
happy, loving natures in their children
as all joy; for by judicious indulgence
and tender sympathy in the small
pleasures and rights of the little ones
they may safely look forward to the
time whey their lads and lassies will
cluster around them, in full maturity,
the crown and rejoicing of their
parents. Then, as loving sons and
daughters, they will repay by the tender,
watchful care of their parents deciin-
ing years all the self-sacrifice, the ten
derness and indulgent sympathy be-
slowed upon their childhood.
We do not believe in that indulgence
which has no limit and exercises no
control, and think that, perhaps, while
wishing to exercise proper restraint aud
truly seeking the best good of their
children, there may be as many parents
who over govern as there are who deny
the little ones perfectly safe and harm
less pleasures, for no reason whatever,
but that by allowing them the mother
will find it inconvenieat or likely to ctr-
tail some of her own oltside enjoymen:s.
Yet the first desire that everything
they do should be for the best good of
their loved ones; the second act from
purely selfish motives.
No mother need be q slave to her
children, or give all her time and
thought to their pleasures and amuse-
ment. 1t requires but little to make
them supremely happy. Loving words,
gentle smiles, ''stooping''-if so one
chooses to term ito notice and maai-
fest pleasure and interest in all that
pleases and interest them, listening to
their childish remarks for short TIME,
will make them very happy for houes.
If at times it is necessary to refuse
some childish request, it can be dcne