Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-06-06
A Mothers mistake.

Inc spolled boy IN the boarding mouse
comes nearer overthrowing the monu-
ment of that constantly tested virtue
patience--than all other combined agen-
cies- The other day. at an Arkansaw
health resort, q pale woman, leading a
fretful ''hang back" boy. entered the
dining-room. Nearly every man looked
up. although the woman and the boy
made no noise, for men possess a strange
intuition concerning spoiled children.
and seem to feel the soundless footsteps
of one.> The boy was deposited in the
thigh chair" and the woman in a
t.weariness of expression, showing the
loss Of sleep and the midnight march
around the room, smoothed back the
youngsters nair and asked what he
would have.
Don't want nothin' )" trying to shove
his chair from the table.
"Why. son, you said you wanted
something to eat"
''No. didn't"
"You must not talk that way"
Eyes, will. / don't want that" tax
ing up his plate and throwing off piece
of meat.
"What do you want thenp"
"Want some serves"
"You should not eat preserves the
first thing. Want mamma to break
egg in a CLASP"
'YesSum."
She arranged the egg, being very
careful to use the proper amount of salt
and butter.
Il don't want it." showing it away.
Eat the egg. son."
al don't want it," upsetting the glass.
~ ought to spank you for that.
81 should say so" muttered a drum
mer.
"Pd like to get my hands on him, -
an old maid said in an undertone, while
another woman and another man knit
! their brows in severe disapproval of the
mothers course.
Don't you want a nice biscuit with
sugar on it, asked the mother.
YES"
She gave him the biscuit, after care
full preparation, and he threw it on the
| floor.
Never mind. I'm going to tell your
pa You are bad boy"
"No, l amt" striking the table with
his knife.
I'm going to tell your pa how you
have acted and he'll whip you"
mo, he won't" sticking his fork
through the table cloth.
Don't you want some of mammals
potatoes?"
Yes"
She put piece of potato on his plate
and he brushed it off and threw it on
the floor. The drummer groaned and
the old maid shifted the air
II know what you want, and I'll
give it to you. if you don't behave your
self, )" said the mother, blushing.
Il want to get down."
She helped him down.
Z" want To get up"
She helped him up, and asked him
what he wanted.
Il want some of your coffee"
She gave him her cup, and showing il
away, he cried:
Don't want that. Want my cot
fee."
IF you don't hush, I'll take you
away from the table,
mo you won't" and he threw back
his head and kicked the under side Of
the table.
I'm going to tell your father; sure
| as you live, am.
mo you won't" and he threw ur
his head and looked Ike cub bear.
Madam said the old maid, ..why
don't you whip that boy?"
The poor woman looked up, blusheG
and replied: ''Oh, / am afraid.
whipped one boy before this one was
born. whipped him one evening, anG
that night he died. / have been miser
able ever SINCE" and she smoothed
back the petulant boys hair and be-
slowed on him look of indescribabls
tenderness.
An old lady, who had taken no no
tice Of the performance, looked up and
said:
Il think that you are doing your Sol
an injustice. To allow a child to pur
sue such an unrestrained course can no
help but be an injury to him, and YOU
indulgence, permit me to say, is mis-
taken kindness. 1 corrected my eide
son. l whipped him because I knew j
was necessary. Like the child of whom
you speak, he died. l resolved neve
again to enforce obedience, and whel
was blessed-or cursed" she added
with another son, / vowed that b,
should never feel the hand of correc
ton. My experience with him wa
very nearly the same as that which yol
are having. / allowed him to disput.
my word in his infancy, and after h
grew up had no control over him
Many night did he start from s'eel
and tell me TO shut nv mouth, findin!
me in prayer at his bedside. He died
the old ladys face was bowed owe
the table. He died, but the marks O
a mothers correction were not ON him
The law-had l. attempted--the correc
ton. He was hanged"
After moments silence the old lad
continued:
IF could speak to all mothers
would say: DO not be blinded by
false idea Love, love in which judg
ment finds place. tells you to educat
your child to respect you, for an earl
disregard of mother ends in the awfu
disregard of all respect, of honesty. O
human life. '"--Opie Read, in Terra
Sytinqs.
Why lie Came Back.
Farmer John" Why, hello, George
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