Ellsworth American., 1883-08-02
Tempting the Little Ones.

81 declare I've no patience with such
folks" said Aunt Martha, tossing upon the
table child's magazine she had been look
ING over IN few moments rest at the close
of busy afternoon Of sewing For, though
she was visiting, the good old lady spent no
idle time, but had insisted on helping
her nice. 10 look over the children's partly
worn clothes and put them in complete re-
pair for the winter, now fast approaching.
Yer, welcome had been this aid 10 the busy
mother. and still more so the genial pres
enc. aud kind, strong, sensible. yet sprlght-
Is and entertaining talk Of the iarorite
auntie.
Mrs. Lockwood glanced at the magazine,
and seeing il was one Of the chlldrens was
rather surprised.
.Why, what do YOU mean Auntie p
"There's short story III that number,
said to be true one-more's the pity-and
written for children, without an intimatlon
| that the mothers proceedings was other
! than lust and wise. But read it yourself.
| Jennv-it's only two or three pages-and
| tell me what you think of it.
..Amy's Naughty Act was the title and
| in briefest outline it ran thus
/ .She was but FIVE years old-a merry, gen
erous, loving little girl, sunbeam IN her
/ home. ALWAYS ready to share with Others any
dainty given 10 her. to do any errand or ser
vice of which she was capable. One day
her mother sent by her tiny hands custard
Die to an invalid neighbor. She started,
pleased to do kind act, and with no selfish
thought. But the odor of the pie was tempt
ing and she wanted TO see 1t. She lifted the
napkin 1t looked SO nice, and as she SAID
smelled SO of cinnamon and lemon and
cream and everything that she just touched
the tip of her finger to the centre OF IT, IL
is easy to guess the rest She tasted little
more and little more, till an ugly hole was
made in the pie. Then she began to think
that it did not look just right, concluded not
TO take any more, and carried IT into the
house. The invalid sent message of thanks
to her mother, but did not leave her chair"
The story was told, of course, to illustrate
! the beginning of temptation, and so far So
good. But the conduct of the mother in
this real occurrence was what reused Aunt
Martha's Indignation. :.
The writer goes on and tells how the lit
tie child for DAYS afterwards was merry as
cricket, playing as usual, and not seeming &c
, be at all troubled by an uneasy conscience
: Then that the mother informed, and
, though the little one owned 1t all, witi
streaming tears-promsed never, never to
do the like again. and pleaded in anguish O
/ trembling terror for forgiveness. she was Sc
D yerely whipped-so severely that she coul'
never forget it even when grown to woman
I hood.
"What do YOU think Of it Jenny ~ aske'
n auntie. as Mrs. Lockwood laid down tn
: magazine.
e .Very hard on the little child she an
swered 81 don't see the need OF any pun
!, ishment at all when she was so grieved an
d repentant The discovery itself was enough
with tine shame it brought.
Is "Surelv-and even if otherwlse-h IN
IS child had been older, had deliberately stole
e the pie. greedily devoured it and then told
\. series OF lies to screen herself, what mor
could the mother have donep Even IN
Z case like that, you know hold that ditfe
10 ent punishment is ALWAYS better but fro'
,s the old standpoint. as people thought geI
4. Grafton or two back, taking Solomon lltera
il Is and counting him infaIlible- albeit h
own success in family government, as hi
j." been justly said. was not encouragingme's
I'd then. what more could she have done y
of "Nothing beyond 1t, auntle. certain
#. and could not SO punish a child for a Sc
ious offense. much less thing like tha
ut which, it seems to me, any little child wou
do"
,l- ..Sure enough; and don't you see Z
a mother was first in fault. 10 any healt
of little child the temptation would be utter
ed irresistible. She should never have se
dy such an errand BY those baby hands"
$50 il seems to me, auntie. should u
"a d.ss v d Ting lks tAaA-paaaiaAi : sh