The state journal., 1884-09-06
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A MOTHERS MISTAKE,


cies. The other day, at an Arkansas
health resort, q pale woman, leading a
fretful, chang 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 depositedin the ''high
chair and the woman. in a 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, dear, 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 piece Of
meat.
what do you want, then2'
"Want some zerves."
''YOu should not eat preserves the first
thing. Do you want mamma to break your
egg in a glass p
''Yessum."
She arranged the egg, being very care
full to use the proper amount of salt and
butter.
81 don't want it, showing it away.
eat the egg, son. -
Il don't want it, upsetting the glass.
81 ought to spank you for that.
81 should say so, mutterCd drum
mer.
'1'd 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,"
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
Pm going to tell your pa how you
have acted and he'll whip you.
'No. he won't" sticking 'his fork
through the table-cloth.
Don't you wantsomc of mammals po.
tatoes?"
eyes"
She put piece of potato on his plate,
and he brushed it offand threw it on the
floor. The drummer groaned, and the
old maid shifted the air.
81 know what you want and I'll give
it to you, if you do not behave yourself"
said the mother blushing.
Il want to get down.
She helped him down.
II want to get up
She helped him up and asked him what
he would have
II want some of your coffee"
She gave him her cup, and showing it
away, he cried Don't want that. Want
my coffee. -
eff you don't hush III take you away
from the table,
"Tm going to tell your father. as sure
as you live, am
mo you won't" and he threw up his
head and looked like cub bear.
Madam, why don't you whip that
bOy?" said the old maid.
The poor woman looked at her, bluShed
and replied: ooh, | am afraid l whip
ped one before this one was born. l
whipped him one evening, and that night
he died. l have been miserable ever
since" and she snoothed back the pctu
liant boys hair, and bestowed upon 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 q chilG to pursue
such a course cannot but be an injury to
him, and your indulgence, permit me to
say, is mistaken kindness. | corrected
my elder son. l Whipped him because l
knew it was necessary. Like the child
of whom you speak, he died. | resolved
never again to force obedience, and when
| was blessed-or cursed-with another
son | vowed that he should never feel the
hand of correction. My experience with
him was very nearly the same as you are
having. l allow him to dispute my word
: IN his infancy, and after he grew up l
had no control over him. Many q night
did he start from sleep and tell me to shut
my mouth, finding me in prayer by his
bedside. He died d"-the old lady's face
but the marks of mothers correction
were not on him. The law-had-at-
tempted-cOrrectiOn. He was hanged.
After moments silence, the old lady
continues:
"IfI could speak to all mothers l
would say, DO not be blinded by false
idea. Love, love in which judgment
finds place, tells you how to educate
your child to respect you, for an early
disrespect of mother ends in the awful
disregard of all respect, of honesty, of
human life. "