The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-09-24
CuuLDIsENS' MOODS.

IF | had never had but my three older
children" remarked lady to me not
long since, Il could not have under
stood half the difficulties and diScOur-
agemcnts of many other mothers i'm
bringing up children. remember at
one time how | prided myself on my
superior management when contrasted
certain unruly youngsters with my own
three gentle little ones. 1t seemed to
me entirely the mothers fault. rs to her
falls mostly the training of the young
child, if it grew up lawless and disobe-
dent. But when my two boys came. it
was like IN invasion of Cloths and Van
dals. Pet theories and lOng-cstablished
nursery laws were boldly set =. defiance,
and when, with the frequent help OF the
strong paternal authority, they were
safely brought out of their young colt
hood, was Il wiser, as well as a more
charitable woman in my judgment of
others. | am now inclined to think that
good children, like poets are born,
not made; that is, that more depends
upon the Unborn qualities than paternal
training"
"Rut what would your boys have been
without the training? What do they
show rs the result?'
"Why, they are splendid fellows!"
was the proud response, land well worth
all the trouble they gave us; but oh, "
with a merry laugh, 'they were really
terrible children"
So it often happens that in the same
family will he found children of strange
ly opposite physique, temperament and
character. The same rules can not be
brought to bear on all alike. The sloth-
full, indOlcnt child must be urged, COM
PEELED To the necessary eXcrtiOn, the too
eager one restrained and held i'm check
and what infinite tact and discrimina-
ton, rs well rs iirmnesS, tenderness and
patience are required to mould and train
these diverse natures.
AS an illustration OF some of these
difficulties, a certain family comes to
mind There are four children, each
entirely different from the other, and
yet with strong family characteristics
running through them all. The eldest
is a delicate boy, quiet, gentle and SEN
sitivc to a degree. Is II lutte child he
would grow white and faint at the sight
of drop Of blood from pin prick. We
older people can hardly realize the sus-
ceptibility of such Il fine organization to
all disturbing influences. AS an in
stance: One morning there seemed to
be an electrical condition of the domes-
tic atmosphere that assembled from the
basement until it pcrvaded the whole
house. Mistress and maids were out of
sorts. Finally il reached the nursery
and Jamie soon gave signs of the in
lection. At first it WAS a troubled look
on his face, then little whimper, and
finally the iitful, petulant cry, settling
into an uncomfortable wall that would
not be quictcd; and all without any ap-
parent cause. The mother, with nerves
all unstrlng, was pOwerleSs to sOOthc
her boy; the nurse equally so, and ut
last, when he seemed almost on the
verge of commissions, a visitor of whom
he was very fond, took him screaming
and struggling in her arms. and carried
him without a word into the cool, dark
ened parlor, where she sat down and
held him firmly but silently until his
screams ceased and only a long-drawn
sob told of the storm that had shaken
his tender soul At last when he lay
quiet and exhausted in her arms, she
said gently, What made my little boy
cry SOP"
IL don't know" hiding his face.
"Well, do"
lie lifted his eyes enquiringly. what
was it?" he asked.
1T was an evil spirit "
Where was it?"
ut was there" laying her hand on
his heart. And il made Jamie very
naughty"
"How do you know?'
81 saw it in Jamic's eyes
He lay n moment considering, then
drew himself up with wide-open eyes.
lis il there nOw?"
''lt is just going away, but it is there
a Lttlc bH"
when it is all gone you will be so
glad you will hare to tangh,-then /
shall know"
Down went the head again, almost
under her arm; then suddenly he sat
upright and gave little laugh-rather
uncertainty ut first, but with very
determined air.
Nov is it gomez"
A close examination followed of eyes.
mouth and throat, and by the time it
ended Jamie was laughing gleefully
over the discontinue of the dad little
spirit" that made him cry. Clearly, it
was an evil spirit which could only have
been exercised in quiet and peaceful
arms holding him that Gained the
quivering frame. How often do we,
children of a larger growth, need the
Everlasting Arms and the stiffness Of
His peace to soothe the tumult of our
souls.
Lily, a younger sister of Jamie. has
much the same delicate physique. but Is
entirely different in many other respects.
Fragile rs her snowy prototype, she
seemed i'm her babyhood almost too deli
cate to bear the rude winds of this
world, and the mother-hcart held her
very closely and tenderly at all times.
So, perhaps the little one grew Over-ex-
acting and ovcr-scnsitive to any fancicd
hurt or neglect. Anyway she was given
| to moods" which came, even under
the most cheerful conditions Here is
an instance: Lily rises in the morning
slowly, reluctantly; eats but little break
fast, and climbs the stairs afterward
with weary, dragging feet.
No, she does not want to go out and
play with Charley; it is too cold.
Charley calls her baby" and runs
off with a whoop and bang. The
mother is busy in her own room. Nurse
has gone down stairs, and Lily sits, a
very small "maiden all forlorn," alone,
melancholy, deserted. Vain are all the
alluremenis of playhouse, picture books
or dolls. Way down in the depths OF
her childish heart is tiny grievance,
and she is nursing it to keep it warm,
until il shall have gained strength to
break forth into wall and lamentation.
The mother rocking her baby in the
next room hears deep drawn sigh and
peeps in the nursery. ooh, here is my
Lily," she cries in most beguiling tones.
IL know she wants TO come and help
mamma" Lily shakes her dropping