St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-09-18

lad, 80 as to have easy start in the con-
versation, and then let him proceed to
hOnhlize upon the idle career begun by
the flashy tale he had read. Such
narrative he would have hundred
chances to repeat in some Christian
family; and the expressions of pity
would be all that he could demand
the home audiences would openly con-
demn the vicious wanderer; would de-
nounce the newspaper containing such
indictments to wickedness, and rail at
the dime e-nOvels about sailors, and pi-
rates, and Indians, and Texas rangers,
would sympathize with the poor boys
mother, and would grow solemn with
picturing the end to which such Great
uies would come at the last. But at
the iuncture of the conversation, let an
intimatiOn be made as to the exposure
of all young people; perhaps these
boys in the street; possibly those liv-
ing in this house ; be as delicate and
gentle rs one can be, for it is doubtful
whether it will not require good deal
of din. .omacy to get the thought out in
fuf,. ~ is likely that the speaker will
only receive the answer that shows
veXatiOn: "Oh that does not concern
us; our children never meet such mag
aZines never touch such books never
see one of the papers you mention.
Why, what do you think of us here9
Our boys are honest and good; our
girls are careful and decorOus."
Now, it is hard to press the point
even in an article such as am writing.
Is it possible, that our boys, our own
dear, affectionate boys, can be bad
bOysP Indeed, they can and those
very boys parents can be so blind as
not to see it all the time. Is it al
together out of our own observation,
that fathers and mothers are actually
less likely than any one else to know
their childrcn's faults Have we not
seen some disgraceful wrong commit
ted by neighbOr's young people,
about Which the whole town talk
The father, we are certain, would stop
the folly fiercely and suddenly, if it
came to his knowledge; but generous
friends say, "Oh! do not mention it :;
for the thought of such things as this
would break the hearts of these parents
with modification"
: Just now, the land is alive with the
scandal of two disastrous failures in
business: the son of an old clergyman,
once devoted missionary i'll the east
the son of an old soldier, once the
president of the United States; and it
| is telegraphed across the sea, that so
t great has been the crime that the men
f ought to be punished with n deep and
| salutary retribution, for they have de-
; bauched the honor and credit of the
world. And with our whole hearts full
: of sympathy, we accept the cry of the
2 parents uttered in their pain: awe
, knew nothing of this" Meantime, is
it a wise thing to so on in blind conf
= dence, and trust the wild wilfulness OF
] boy who is bright enough to be
t wicked?
Let moments attention be giveT
b to a single incident. 1t occurred IL
- the experience of one for whom | an
!, thoroughly willing to vouch by name
: A lady was visiting in the family of {
:, friend where a group of lovely children
n gathered around the board. One day
d as she was sitting at her window, she
: heard a sweet, childish voice in til,
If garden, as if some one were reading
e aloud. On looking out, she saw ;
:. group of young girls and boys gathered
7, around one of their number, Il lad o
t. perhaps ten years old, who was anus
! ing them with story paper. Th'
e lady was particularly struck with TIN
= spectacle; it was one of those home
IS pictures which should have attracted
: an artists pencil. Three or four wer
It intently and eagerly listening, as
1i drinking i'll every sentence with aler
h enthusiasm. 1t was beautiful so re
fined almost literary so much pref
IS cradle to those rude sports of blind
d man's-buff so much decenter thai
he those forfeit games which children ap
a pear to run to She thought she wOult
IN congratulate her friend on the admira
d. BILE tastes and discipline of her yOun
4 family.
ID She felt glad to encourage the habit
l. 1t was repeated the next day; she wen
N out to speak to the little group. A
We she arrived, a word suddenly met he
II. ear that caused attention. With in
Dc tense dismay, she found they wer
III reading, from Observation-Disclosures pa
rn per, tale of the most shocking an
rn immoral character. Instantly callin
le the lad out from the rest, she truste
DC to his candor. and explained the vile
b. ness of the fiction; he put on an air {
Ill bravadO, and pronounced the stor
tn "bullv." And then he said he was
as .'subscriber," and had the papers ever
!" week, anu Ilc SlIIS Lhou Uii0'h Ju9'
well as the boys.
in OF course, the mother was told; fe
v vexed about the discovery; tried
s. stop the whole thing; found the boy
e. i'll league with a book seller in tow
ce made everybody promise to stop; WI
nd deceived and cheated by her own bC
ed for weeks afterward, for he kept {
us buying and reading just as before,
her shame and pain.
e. Is it too much to say that Dav
would have had better time, in Il
end, if he had looked up AbsalOm
little more.-[Dr. c. S. Robinson, in
s. Times