St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-06-12
A Mothers Mistake.

]
! The other day, at an Arkausaw health
resort, II pale woman, leading fretful,
''hangback" boy, entered the dining
room. Nearly every man looked mp,
although the woman and the boy made
no noise, for men possess strange
intuition concerning spoiled children,
and seem to feel the soundless foot
steps of one. The boy was deposited
in the "high chair and the woman,
IN WEAKNESS of expression, showing
the loss of sleep and the midnight
march around the room, smoothed
back the Youngsters hair, 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"
taking up his plate and throwing off
a piece of meat.
"What do You want, then ?"
"Want some 'zerves."
"YOu should not eat preserves the
first thing. Want mamma to break
your egg in "A glass p
"1 eSSum.
She arranged the egg, being very
careful to use the proper amount of
salt and butter
81 don't want it," showing it away.
Eat the egg, son"
81 don't want it," upsetting the glass.
IL ought to spank You for that"
Il should say So" muttered drum
mer.
''l'd like to get my hands on him."
an old maid said in an undertone.
while another woman aud another man
knit their brOws in severe disapproval
of the mothers course.
"Don't you want nice biscuit with
sugar on it p asked the mother.
.'Yes."
She gave him the biscuit. after
careful preparation, and he threw it
on the floor.
"Never mind, Pm going to tell your
pa. You're bad boy
"No, | amt" striking the table with
his knife.
''I'm going to tell your pa how you
have acted, and he'll whip you"
"NO he won't" sticking his fork
through the tablecloth.
"DOn't you want some of mammals
potatoes p
"Yes.n
She put Il 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 ali.
~ know what you want, and I'll
give it to you, if You don't behave
Yourself" said the mother, blushing.
81 want to get down."
She helped him down.
81 want to get up"
She helped him up and asked what
he wanted.
81 want some of your Coffee
She gave him her cup, and, showing
it away, he cried
Don't want that. Want my coffee"
''If you don't hush I'll take you
away from the table"
"No 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 up
his head and looked like cub bear.
Madam" said the old maid, "why
don't yOu whip that boy ~
The poor woman looked up, blushed
and replied:
''Oh, am afraid. | whipped one
before this one was born. | whipped
him one evening, and that night he
died. | have: been miserable ever
since," and she smoothed back the
petulant boys hair, and bestowed on
him look of indescribable tenderness.
An old lady, who had taken no
notice of the performance, looked up
and said:
81 think that you are doing your son
an injustice. To allow child to
pursue such an unrestrained course
cannot help but be an injury to him,
and your indulgence, permit me to say,
| is mistaken kindness. | corrected my
elder son. | whipped him because |
knew that 1t was necessary. Like the
child of whom you speak, he died.
resolved never again to force Obedi-
ence, and when | was blessed-or
cursed" she added-''with another
son | vowed that he should never feel
| the hand of correction. My experience
with him was very nearly the same as
that which you are having. | allowed
! him to dispute my word in his infancy
and after he grew up | had no control
over him Many night did he start
from sleep and tell me to shut my
mouth, finding me in prayer at his
bedside. He died"-the old Iady's face
was bowed over the table. ale died,
but the marks of mothers correction
weIe not on him. The law-had at
tempted - the correction. He was
hanged"
After moments silence, the old
lady continued:
g If | could speak to all mothers |
would say, DO not be blinded by a
false idea. Love, love in which iudg-
ment finds il place, tells you to educate
your child TO respect you, for an early
disrespect of mother ends in the awful
disregard of all respect, of honesty, o
human life. Texas Siftings.