St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-06-14
a Mothers Mistake.

| PtttICACC-IldLl al OlIlGI CotnDlUCu
cies. The other day, at an Arkansaw
health resort, @ pale woman, leading
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 q 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 q
WEAKNESS 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
t'You must not talk that way
"Yes, / will. I dom want that" TAX
ingup his plate and throwing off a piece
of meat
What do you want then?"
''Want some serves
''You should not eat preserves the
first thing. Want mamma to break
egg in CLASP"
"Yessum.'
She arranged the egg, being yery
careful to use the proper amount Of salt
and butter.
:. Il don't want it, showing it away.
''Eat the egg, son. .
81 don't want it," upsetting the glass.
81 ought to spank you for that"
81 should say SO" muttered drum
mer.
sid 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.'S
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 table cloth.
Don't you want some of mammals
potatoesp''
Yes" 3sE
She put a 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 dom behave your
self, = said the mother, hlushing.
g want to get down."
She helped him down.
81 want to get up"
She helped him up, and asked him
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 cof-
fee
eff 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, I am. -
ssNo 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?' g
The poor woman looked up, blushed
and replied: 'sOh, / am afraid.
whipped one boy before this one was
born. whipped him one evening, and
that night he died. l have been miser-
able ever SINCE" and she smoothed
back the petulant boys hair and be-
slowed on him look of indescribable
tenderness. a
An old lady, who had taken no mo-
tice of the performance, looked up and
said:
Il think that you are doing your son
an injustice. To allow q child to pur-
sue such an unrestrained course can not
help but be an injury to him, and your
permit me to say, is mis-
taken kindness. | corrected my elder
son. | Whipped him because knew it
was necessary. Like the child of whom
you speak, he died. I resolved never
again to enforce obedience, and when
was blessed -or cursed, z she added,
sswith another son, l vowed that he
should never feel the hand of correc-
ton. My experience with him was
very nearly the same as that which YOU
are having. / allowed him to dispute
nv word in his infancy, and after he
grew up had no control over him.
Many night did he start from s'eep
and tell me to shut my mouth, finding
me in prayer at his bedside. He died"
the old lady's face was bowed over
the table. ale died, but the marks of
a mothers correction were not on him.
The law-had attempted--the correc-
ion. He was hanged"
After moments silence the old lady
continued:
..If I could speak to all mothers /