Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-07-22
The Boy Next Door.
by MRS. MARGARET L. sANGsTER.

by MRS. MARGARET L. sANGSTER.
Next to his big brother, for whom
our boy entertains feeling of bound
less admiration, the person who has the
most to do with educating him is the
boy next door. We deny ourselves not
only luXuries, but conveniences, that
we may place our boy in the best school
attainable a; we are careful and assidu-
Gus with regard to his diet and bis
clothing, and the ventilation Of his bed
room; yet we are often strangely indif-
ferent rs TO the influence upon him Of
his familiar friend and playmate. The
boy next door stands for the associate
who sits beside him in the classroom,
who shares his luncheon at the noon re-
cess, with whom he walks to and from
school. What do we know about the
home atmosphere from which this boy
comes,o of the principles and code of man
ners which obtain in his fathers house9
Is be, like our boy, accustomed to hear
the Bible quoted as the rule of daily
Lying, and to see all mooted points
brought rigidly to the test, "What
would Jesus bid us do 20
1t is q great advantage to our little
man if he has brother to whom he
may look Loyalty and trustfully, and
whose good example ou.weighs a
myriad precepts. But suppose he him.
self is just now the only, or the biggest
boy in the home; or, suppose the broth
ers are so far his seniors in age as 10 be
removed from much sympathy with his
pursuits a.? l remember to have heard
an eminent physician say that. in his
opinion, half the difficulties in family
training would be surmounted, if only
parents started their eldest children
right. "Let the first boy in the home
be truthful and obedient, "he said, land
the rest will naturally follow his lead"
In the main, my friends observation
has been proved correct. Still, it is
neither possible nor desirable to conline
our little men to the home companion
ship, excluding every other, for child
hoods world should be an introduction
to the larger world beyond it, the world
of thought, enterprise, and action.
When, not long ago, heard father
nr.l- hot hn al,
ronment of child who had grown up
to the age of sixteen in hotels and
boarding-houses, because he noticed a
touch cf forwardness. a certain loud
ness Of tone about the child'S manner,
unbeneliting youth and refinement, |
felt like saying. "My dear sir, you are
just sixteen years too late in your refor-
nation. No quiet household life now
will renew the bloom which the public
ity of your previous arrangement has
rubbed from the child's mind and man
ner." None of us can afford to post
pone attention to our children's friend
ships, for. whether or not we accept it
as fact, we shall find on examination
that the friendships Of childhood often
give bent to character and affect the
entire life.
One of the sweetest, wisest, ,and most
successful mothers of my acquaintance,
makes it a point, always, of knowing
the mothers of her children's school
friends, and of maintaining some sort
of social intercourse with them. Not
necessarily on the plane of social equal
ity, but in order that she may be assur-
ed that no injury to her children's NOR
ais shall come through intimacy with
those of whom she knows nothing.
| believe in having the boys play
hours under tender mother-brooding, if
not under minute mOther-inspection.
To insure quiatude and order in the
house, to keep carpets from wearing
and paint from stain, many boys are al
lowed to go where they choose for rec
reation, the mother calmly satisfied if
only they are ont of her way. Shall l
ever forget the plaintive despair of one
little fellow, aged six, who came up
stairs, his copper-toed boots emphasize
ing his desperation at every step.
81 haye been in the library, and ma
ma dosen't want me; l have been in the
nursery, and Mary won't haye me; l
have been in the kitchen, and cook has
driven me out there is no place in the
house for me. L know what I'll do, I'll
90 into the street." And into the
street he went, to find what company
he could. And the mother. lounging
by the fire with a novel, or matching
silks in her embroidery. was content to
let him 60.