The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-11-28

PEELED to obey, and sometimes compelled
by fear of punishment"
The deacon nodded his head in sort
Of silent Hear hear
"But, surely" continued Jennie, " there
are other forms of fear that will do quite
as we'll and are less brutalizing than whip
ping. have heard little Jennie cry as ii
her heart would break because told her
she was naughty girl. Indeed l think
she would rather take whipping from
any one else than Naughty girl from
me-"
"She must be very sensitive child"
said Mrs. Geer.
"I think she u.s." said Jenny; "but
then rarely say that to her. 1t is my
last resort"
"That don't do no good with my boys"
said Mr.. Hardcap. "I've tried that. l
have scolded 'em from morning till night,
and it didn't do no good"
"And has the whipping done them
much good, Mr.. Hardcsp ?" inquired the
deacon.
"Well, no, deacon" said Mr.. Hardcap
"to tell the truth, it hasn't; and don't
know what to do. I'm at my wits ends"
"He hadn't far to go to get there" said
the deacon's wife to me in furtive
whisper.
al wish you would expound your text
little more fully" said the parson.
"Well," said the deacon, "what sup
pose the Good Book means is, that we
ought all to look forward, see what we
want our children to become, and train
them for that; and we never ought to al
low either their present pleasure nor our
present pleasure to interfere. For in
stance: if my boy is to be useful citizen
of this grand Empire state, he must
learn to obey; he must be law-abiding
citizen he must know how to have a
strong will, and yet yield it to the will of
others. And now is the time for him to
learn. that lesson. The mother who let's
her boy disobey because she can't bear to
compel him to obey, is training him to be
law-breaker, or at least leaving him to
learn in the Office, or in the counting
room, or in the school-room, of hard, un-
sympathetic teachers, what she ought to
have taught him herself. So, again, l
want my boy to be brave, courageous and
self-denying to be able to bear all his
share of the burdens of life, and rather
more; to be heroic whenever chance for
herosm offers itself, as chances do to
every one sooner or later. But if take
all the burdens off from him, throw on
him no responsibilities, stand between
him and all disappointments, cuddle him
whenever he is hurt in mind or body. am
training him to be coward, not hero
to be burden to others, not to carry for
others their burdens. / want my daugh.
ter to be good housekeeper to learn
how to darn the stockings, and to make
the beds, and to sweep and dust the par.
lor, and to cook good breakfast. And
want her not only to know how to do it, but
to have habit of doing it. And would
rather have her practice with her bad cof
fee on me than practice on her husband
after she gets married. A bad cup OF
coffee dreadful interference with the
honeymoon. Look ahead, gentlemen
look ahead; imagine your son in business
and in home of his own at twenty We
and your daughter young wife and
mother. What sort of men and women
do you want them to be Get that clearly
in your mind, and make your home 8
training.school for that, and you'll do bet
ter by your children than most of us do
And, Mr.. Hardcap, do l understand yor
10 say tnat you are really at your Wits
ends about your children 2"
81 am that, Deacon" said Hardcap.
"And may l give you bit of unasked
:: for advice 2"
81 wish you would, Deacon" said Mr.
Hardcap, with unwonted humility. But
somehow, no one ever resents the deacon /
advice.
Try your wife's wits for year."
Mr.. Hardcap looked surprised at the
deacon, and then with perplexed expires
sion from under his shaggy eyebrows a
his wife, as though it were new idea t.
, him-and guess it was-that wives hav
any wits. But Mr.. Hardcap's is slow
; moving mind, and he did not look Vi
/ soon enough to see the quick glance o
! gratitude with which poor, timid Mrs
; Hardcap expressed her thanks to tn
deacon.-Laicus in Christian Union.