The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1885-08-08
MARK TWAIN'S WIFE.
The tln,1orisl Talks Seriously ofFamily
Government.
From the Christian Union. !

- '''''' Wv VII H>titt Ailttils
Fo. whippinss are not given in our
house FOR revenge; they are not given
Tor spite, nor oven in anger; they are
given partly forpunishmcnt, hut main
~ by way of impressive reminder, aud
protector against Il repetition of the
ottense. The interval between the pro-
mise of Il whipping and its iniliction Is
usually an hour or two. BY that time
both parties are calm, and the one ia
judicial, the other receptive. The
child never goes from the scene OF
punishment until it has been loved
back into a happy -hcartedncss and II
joyful spirit. The spanking is never "A
cruel one, but is always an honest one,
1t hurts. II it hurts the child, imagine
how it must hurt the mother. Her
spirit Is serene. tranquil. She has not
the support which is afforded by anger.
Every blow she strikes the child
bruises her own heart. The mother OF
my children adores them there Is no
milder term for 1t and they worship
her, they even worship anything which
the touch of her hand has made sacrcd.
They know her for the best and trucst
friend they have ever had, or ever
shall have; they know her for one who
never did them any wrong, and who
cannot do them r0ng; who never
told them lie, nor the shadow of one.
who never deceived them by even nm
ambiguous gesture, who never gave
them an unreasonable command, nor
over contcnted herself with anythinr
short of perfect obedience who has
always treated them AS politely and
considerably as she would the oldest
and best in the land, and has always
required OF them gentle speech and
courteous conduct toward all, OF what
over degree, with whoIn they Glanced
to come in contact; and they know her
tor one whose promise, whether of
reward or punishment, Is gold, and
always worth its face to the utmost
tarthing. In II word, they know her,
and know her, for the best and dear,
est mother that livcs-and by n long,
long way the wisest. You perceive
that l have never got down to where
the mother in the talo really asks her
question. For the reason thut l cannot
realize the situation. Tho spectacle of
that treachcrously reared boy, and thn,
wordy, -pamby father, and that
weak, namby pamby mother. is
enough to mako one ashemed of his
species. And, If could cry, l would
cry for the fate of that poor little boy
"a fate which has cruelty placed him
in the hands and at tho mercy OF n pair
of grown up children, to have his dis.
position ruined, to come up unroy.
crncd, and be nuisance to himself
and everybody about him, in the pro.
cess, instead of being tho soTncc OF care,
the disscminntor of happiness, the
glory of honor and joy OF tho house, tho
Wclcomc7' face in all the world to them
ihhi gave him heing---as hc ought 10
DC, was sent to be, aud would bc but
Tor the hard fortune that nuns him into
lhr clu'chc8 Of these paltcring incapu,
bios. Ia all my !ifc havn never made
n single reference ~ my wife in nrini
before, rs fn" as ! can rcmcmbcr cv.
ccpt once in the drdica,ion of n bno,,
and so, otter these fifteen vc,rs nr
silence, perhaps ! may unscs NV Inns
this one time without improlric,v nr
indrlicacy. / will send thia nor,,
script to the press without her ki,,w,
ledge, and without asking her to edit /.
This will save il from getting jammcd
into tho stove
MARK TWAIN.