Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-02-07
Tn: Father ii siomc.

'ii':'; Father ii sio:ac.
Some fathers fail TO gain their
chil,.ren'S confidence By an appar-
ent lack of sympathy. On the 9th
or hand, few young people ever
take the trouble to put themselves
III their fathers place-to imagine
how he must feel this or that be
llavior, how Il disrcSrcctIul word or
lock insults him, or how a volun
tarv confidence is priced him.
There are many things, no
doubt, which boys and girls do not
care to speak of before their faith
er; but they do not know how hurt
.'plter familias" feels when con
verSaton is stopped upon his en-
tering the room, when he is made
to feel that he is not one OF the
circle-that he is Il power to be re-
spected and propitiated. but no
III are. Very often Il man has him
sell to blame orthiS state oftllingS,
but not always. Often it is mere
love of secrecy which make girls
especially exclude their father as
much as possible troma knowledge
of their doingS. their fears aud
hopes. With some this reticencc
must be necessary. Condolences
would only be mot with suspicion.
or blame orridicule. But most men
have Il tender spot in their hearts.
even Tor the weakness and foolish
hess of their own flesh" and feel
panied when they are silently con-
denied As unworthy of confidence.
Paiel, lamiliaS may be too proud to
show that he feels hurt. He may
wrap himself UP in dignity aud at-
feet Il contempt for the tritling con
Germs of the girls; he may even re-
ucl the first advances, but his heart
may be eXclaiming bitterly against
the coldncSS and hardness which
excludes him from the knowledge
al his daughters mind and heart
which is given to half Il dozen
school girl friends. a girl owes
much to her father. even ii he IL,
not been all TO her that a parcir
ought to Ge. He las had 10 work
hard, very probably. that her h.e.,,
and butter might be secure. He
has borne cares. an1ietieS, Stru%.
@icS. temptations, al whicli she can
hut guc>S-ot which she can form
no real conception. II he is hard
and unSympathelic some allowance
for the nervous irritation OF an
ovcrworked Or anxious man may be
made. And a girl never, We be-
licve. has any conception how prec.
ions she is in her fathers eyes,
Rough words and cold or angry
looks may seem to d.Sprove it, but
is true nevertheless. More even in
Il sense, than his wife, she appeals
To his protective care. He may
Scold or Slight her; but let any real
harm threaten her and she Will see
that 10 touch her is TO touch the APP.
pie of his eye. The day comes, no
doubt. when her allegiance and
sympathy are transferred to moth-
e., in right of a sill higher claim.
There is little wonder if poor pater
tamilaS looks aSkance Oh him at
first and is slow to admit that he is
the one at whose coming his reign
must end. 1t is the way Of nature.
and it must be so. But it is hard.
= father ctten loses more Oh his
daughters marriage than her moth
er does. "AIv daughters my daush
ter all her life" But fathers
right changes entirely when the
ring is put OH the finger. Till the
fairy prince comes. thcn. let patcr
iamiliaS he considered and defer.
5cd 10. and if necessary, humored.
Let linn not be made to feel that
hare duty is to be paid to hin. Let
him not feel himself a stranger i'll
Ills own house. For many little
sacrifice. many a gentle or patient
word. unnoticed, unacknowledged
at the time. and soon forgotten by
Ter who renders it. lives in the
llcmory OF him who receives it
Waverly.