Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-07
THOSE NOISY BOYS.
What Mothers Loving Companionship
Can Do in Training Them.
I" Don't theY iust need kiIling.n

49,
What Mothers Loving Companionship
Can Do in Training Them.
Don't they just need killing"
| think the lady of uncertain age stand
ing on the stoop, who uttered the exclama-
ton, was victim of neuralgia, or of irrita-
j; BILE nerves. The half dozen boys somer-
saulting and otherwise gyrating in front of
the stoop were somewhat noisy, it must be
admitted but the sight of their pranks
should have been enough to have set the
'disgruntled' observer laughing instead of
growing.
"Oh, boys will be boys" responded the
MISUNDERSTANDING woman, with gray hair
but the most amiable of faces, who was the
other occupant of the stoop.
= Yes, but is it necessary for them to
shout like sayages ?" calculated the first
speaker. They are public nuisances. I'd
like to see the police take them, every one,
to the lock-up.'
wonder if the woman so offended by
the merry voices of the boys at play had
enjoyed the memory OF little brothers
making home gleeful with their childish
antics and jokes. Certain | was that she
had never been mother, and had not in
possession faded jacket, a pair of worn
small boots, q battered school book-relics
of childhood that was all innocence and
fOndneSS and buOyancy.
| love the boys, whether of country or
town, and | want to say word in their be-
half-in behalf, too, of making home hap
Ply for them in behalf of affordng them
pleasures that will make the recollections
of childhood and home and mother sweet
retrospection.
George Macdonald says "If ] can put
some touches of a rosy sunset into the life
of any man or woman, then | feel that |
walk with God" May | be permitted to
paraphrase: That one who puts some
| touches of rosy sunrise into the life of any
boy or girl has done heavenly deed.
l have an unpleasant remembrance of
having stopped in a farmers family one
| summer where there was boy of IA years.
One morning, as | sat in the dining room,
Jimmy came bounding into the kitchen,
where his mother was at work, and ex-
citedly said: "Oh, mother Barnum is
coming to town next week; can't L go? l
do want to see Jumbo and the rest of the
animals so bad. You will beg father to let
me go won't you, mother? | will pick
berries to get the money, and l will work
SO hard to make up for lost time"
Now, Jimmy" replied the mother in
an unsympathetic tone, Il RELY didn't
think you was so unreasonable. Jist
to think of givin' up whole day at this
DuSy lliHe 10 80 10 CIRCUS; ana lnen the
fare; how much is it?'
Fifty cents" answered Jimmy.
Fifty cents whole half dollar jist as
good as throwed away"
I" But. mother" urged the boy 81 never
went to circus | never went anywhere.
I've stayed right here all my life, and
worked so hard. Oh, if | could go just
this one time
well, | am over forty year, and I've
never been to a circus yit, and I've got
along Just as well No. I'm not goin to
say word to your father about your
goin'; you're deal better off to stay at
home"
The boy turned, and left the house with
slow step. | watched him from my win
dow. What disappointed, stony look his
face wore His was naturally an exuber-
ant nature, that would have actively en-
ioyed few simple pleasures and have been
the better for their indulgence. felt that
he would know only delight when he
should be released from such home, and
that there would be no charms of re-
membrance to incline him often to return
to it.
A little later, while visiting the home of
friend, | enjoyed, by contrast, the obser-
walton of mothers loving companionship
with her boys. There were five, ranging
from four to sixteen years. The fathers
duties required almost continual absence
from home even through the evening
hours, so that the training of the boys de-
volved on the mother. When the shadows
brought the family indoors, all gathered
about large center table beneath a bright
hanging lamp. Now, bows" said the
mother, what shall we do this evening""
oh, we must sing" spoke up little
fellow.
Tho four o+lors soo,,,,l u A. - ,,..:-
and the mother went to the organ. They
had inherited her love of music, and even
the youngest joined in the singing, the
eldest at times accompanying her with his
viola.
This entertainment ended, the three
younger boys were sent to bed, the two
elder joining us in an interesting game.
When at length the mother and | were left
alone, l asked, DO you give up all your
evenings to them like this?"
oh, yes. she replied. If some effort
was not made to make their evenings
pleasant at home, they might soon be out
with undesirable companions. Sometimes
am puzzled to invent ways for entertain,
ing them. l do want to make them con-
tented here. l want them to be true men,
and now when they are impossible is the
time to lay the foundation, and to prepare
them for resisting the evil influences they
must meet hereafter
| loved to contemplate the affection and
sympathy existing between the mother and
her boys the patience and consideration on
her part and their perfect submission to
her decisions, showing that they regarded
her as their best friend and wisest counsel
Tor. She was never arbitrary with them,
the pleasure of each and all was consulted
with the Difference that would have been
extended to a stranger.
Mothers who have boys, you will awake
some morning to find a face missing, an
empty chair at the table, and with pain
full sense you will realize that one of them
has gone, that time has transformed the
erstwhile noisy, jacketed boy into man of
the world, gone to battle with the stern
problems of life. The hours of companion
ship with your boys are golden if you do
not realize it now you surely will when
their places are vacant at your freside.
You may well afford TO be patient with
your noisy boys, and seek to afford them
enjoyments at home, which will awaken
pleasant remembrances only when they are
gone from you, and so incline their foot
steps to often return to the old home and
mother.-[ Nellie Burns in Cosmopolitan.