Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-06-05
A Mothers Mistake.

A Mothers Mistake.
The spoiled boy in the boarding house
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, a 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 strange
intuition concerning spoiled children,
and seem to feel the soundless footsteps
of one. The boy was deposited in 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 nair and asked what he
would nave.
don't want nothin'," trying to shove
his chair from the table.
"Why, son, you said you wanted
something to eat"
''No, l 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 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 very
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"
II should say so," muttered a drum
mer.
"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 a bad boy.'
'No, l ain't,' striking the table with
his knife.
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.
II want to get down."
She helped him down.
IL 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 cof
fee.''
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, l am
"No 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, I am afraid. u
whipped one boy before this one was
born. whipped linn 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.
An old lady, who had taken no no
tice OF the performance, looked up and
said:
81 think that you are doing your sor
an injustice. To allow child to pur.
sue such an unrestrained course can not
help but be an injury to him, and your
indulgence, permit me to say, is mis-
taken kindness. 1 corrected my elder
son. l Whipped him because knew it
was necessary. Like the child of whom
you speak, he died. l resolved never
again to enforce obedience, and when
l was blessed-or cursed" she added.
with another son, 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. l allowed him to dispute
my word in his infancy, and after he
grew up had no control over him.
Many a night did he start from sleep
and tell me to shut nv mouth, finding
me in prayer at his bedside. He died.
the old lady's face was bowed over
the table. ''He died, but the marks of
q mothers correction were not on him.
The law-had -attempted--thec orrec-
ton. He was hanged"
After q moment's silence the old lady
continued:
IF I could speak to all mothers |
would say: DO not be blinded BY a |
false idea. Love, love in which judg-
ment finds place. tells you to educate
your child to respect you, for an early
disregard of mother ends in the awful |
disregard of all respect of honesty, Of |
human life. '"-0pss Read, IN 2szo.