St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-19
Th1n-Skinned People.

The large family of my friend, Mrs.
.Lathrop, includes four boys. The
mother is one Of the fondest, sweetest
of mothers; the father is gentle and
firm. During my brief visit had fire.
guent occasion to admire the rare and
tender methods by which seven active,
healthy children were not only con
troIled, but actually made to contribute
to the happiness of their elders.
One evening we sat upon the piazza
overlooking the lawn, where the father,
surrounded by the boys, was regulat-
ing the movements of fountain. We
saw the father, accompanied by three
of the boys, turn toward the garden,
while the fourth dejectedly approached
the house. The mother, in an anxious
tone, inquired why he did not go with
the others.
Gather didn't ask me-" was the al
most fearful reply. .....
"He wants yOu, run, Benny they
all want you" ...... ...
The child's face frightened, and the
haste he made to obey her commands
to rejoin the group indicated lighter
heart.
"Benny is very sensitive" said my
friend, in explanation of the scene.
ale thinks nobody ever wants him."
said one of the little girls.
"Oh,r | thought, with an involuntary
sigh, "he is one of those uncOmfOrta-
BILE, thin skinned people, of whom the
world has already too many"
During my visit had frequent OPP
TO notice Benny's peculiari-
ty.
''Benny is crying in the library, and
doesn't want to play with u.s." l heard
one say, and the mother hastened to
inquire into the cause of Benny's IN
happiness.
"Ask Benny to go with YOU"
heard her say, more than once, when
she gave permission for some little ex
cursioh.
Brothers and sisters were learning
to be observant of Benny's moods.
1--WE didn't mean anything; come and
play" / heard them say to the boy, as
he sat moodily Oh the piazza. He was
usually willing to be appeased, |
noticed. Only wise and tender train |
ng could have made those merry, aC-
tive children so gentle and considerable; |
it seemed to me unjust that their pleas |
IRE should be so often dampened by
The whims of this one sensitive" mem
Der of the family, who seemed in per-
fect health, and whose one fault over
Swallowed many virtues. | foresaw |
Benny's future the pricks and wounds
ne would receive during his school
lays the deeper ones if boarding |
school should be his fate. Every joke |
would have a vulnerable point, and |
Zach peculiarly of person or charac-
er would be conductor of the cur
'ent that would make his sensitive
soul culver with pain. He will think |
he whole world ''dOwn upon him ~ he
nay withdraw himself from society
md become morose, unhappy man,
IT society may patiently endure him
md his "feelings," if his portion of
his worlds goods be sufficient to make
lmends for disagreeable qualities.
some will insist that this is a matter
# temperament, and therefore inevi-
able. Is there no remedy for Benny
nd thousands of others who cast
hadows ever our hearts and drive
unshine from the home circle &? 1T
benny can be taught to give no ex-
'ression to these feelings, his family
nd friends will cease to suffer, and
lis own trials will be greatly lessened.
Among his elders this trait is simply
aggressive selisbness
t is like putting ones self up as a tar
ct, and wildly catching every arrow
hat cuts the air. Such people take {
luch pleasure in their constituencies
ne exactiOns they demand are not al
Igether useless, if we are taught to .
uard our lips and regulate our con /
uct so that none shall be panied by
areless words. Few deliberately seek =.
, wound our feelings, and we can !
isily avoid such, ward off the t
'rokes By wearing an impenetrable Y
rmor of good nature and kindliness. !
seems cruelty to withhold sympa- r
" from children, and a judicious 9