The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-10-30
A Fathers Advice,

Well, my boy, you are almost four
teen. Your voice is not as sweet a.
it used to be when l kissed your laugh
ing, lips and trolted you on my knee,
and it touches the old mans heart tc
hear you joke about a razor, but you
shavers must shave sometime.
1t is so angelic and harmless to, be
little. l can remember the first time
| saw you. Your eyes were big and
blue, you had the cunningest little
pug nose, and such chubby hands and
feet all covered with dimples-and
how those old women did act! And
mamma, (she is dead now cried and
laughed at the same time because ]
vas SO proud of you.
All, well, it does make ono fee.
young again to go back over fourteen
years. l G to see the very pillow
on which l carried you about thai
room, dancing and whlstling to KEEP
from crying myself. We were all sc
thankful, for you would be such mate
for bouncing Bob that the angels had
sent us three years before. o, but he
was a noble lad-great high forehead
long curly hair-there you are crying
now! Yes, put your arms around my
neck and kiss me a you both used tc
then. Our hearts broke when he
died, but it may be he is waititg for us
in Heaven. l hope mamma and all OF
us will meet there sometime. But il
is hard-hard!
That is right, get me my old fiddle
and l will play Il tune-something tc
drive away gloom,
There, now, hang it up, for l want
to tell you something for your good.
Just sit on the piano stool and / will
take the old rocker that used to be
mammals.
In the first place, l want to give you
some golden rules of life which l have
written down-that is-headings. 1t
is a fathers blessing mixed up with
advice, and l know (although you are
a rollicking chap-just as l once WASH
you won't laugh at me.
To ever be successful you have got
to have good health, the same as you
have now, and you never can have that
if you disobey natures laws. You
You must eat like a gentleman, drink
like a gentleman, be a gentleman,
body and soul, and that cover the
ground.
Of course it is best TO study physiol.
ogy and all that; but above pickles OF
boiled dinner, meat or vegetables, hot
baths or cold ones, is being gentleman,
Keep pure and noble in thought and
body. In this respect take example
from innocent girls and good womer
rather than rough boys and roughel
men.
You must have pluck and goa,
hea%ditiveness, Old fellow. Learn tx
swim and skate, stand on your head
and turn somersaults in the play
ground, jump the pony owe 4 ten raj
fence OF race him-except on Sunday
lead or follow in athletic sports OF
whatever else you do. but be a gentle.
man. Take off your hat to the ladies,
learn to talk properly, touch to,
bacco or bad drinks. don't swear or lie,
OF be coarse and vulg ar like so many
boys; but grow up hearty and straight
like a young maple.
Always respect old age. Respect
purity and religion. Stand by the
weaker boys and the girls-if need be,
fight for them! Yes, l would pitch in
if the other chap were twice my size,
for somehow God tells you to help the
under boy in the fight. and a little he
70 can always whip a big bully.
Then, my boy, you must study.
You will soon be a man-even now YOU
are almost up to my shoulder. o! the
glory and the wonder of thirteen
years But what will you be at TWEEN
ty Either a wreck or a man-that is
a gentleman. Your head will be full
of knowledge or of ignorance. You
will be up in the world or-O! boy, let
it not be in the gutter?
Have ambition, pride, courage, faith,
hope and determination. Always
stand by the right and defy wrong.
Dress well, be upright, truthful, gal
liant and jolly. Cheer the Respondent.
help the unfortunate, lift up the lowly,
and never be naughty, arrogant OF
vain. You want to always act SO you
will be proud of yourself. That is a
first class rule for everybody.
OF ours your old dad don't expect
to live forever, and he wants to see
you take the right start and then &C
ahead. 1t don't much matter whether
you go into the professions, become a
farmer or learn a trade, only if you
grow into a true mana gentleman.
But let us have another of those old.
fashioned tunes, now, and then l will
go down to the bank, for they are
waiting for ne. l ought never tc
have been president, for | am getting
too old and lazy. Besides you and
have got money enough for this world,
and we shan'G need any afterwards
WolUcrtne Cyclone.