Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-01-20
A Plea for the Young Folks.

A Plea for the Young Folks.
Do you think it necessary to be
bound out to an uncle to be de-
prived of every childish delight?
[ know of children whose lives are
just as destitute of every earthly priv
ilege which constitutes a child's happi-
ness as g. hens mouth is of teeth,
and yet they live with their parents.
| think the influences that are thrown
around US while children make or mar
our lives to great extent. Who can
bring to mind a sadder picture than
O. neglected childhood? When child
feels as if no one cared for him or her,
then, indeed, it seems as if life's bur-
dens were too great to bear. Children
ofttimes are driven by cruel neglect
to commit desperate deeds. Who can
fathom the depths of sin into which
such children may enter! Parents,
lies in our hands for good or evil, as
scepter with Justice and loving kind
ness, that there may be no vain re-
grets, no wishing | had done different
~. When / was q girl Of about II
years, [ became acquainted with O.
young man whom we will call Percy A.
[ was somewhat surprised one after
noon when he called on me and brought
a written invitation from his mother
and sister forme to spend thefollowing
week with them, stating that there
would be q donation party held at
their house during that time for the
minister, and that they desired my
company very much. I felt highly
honored, for hadn't [ admired the
horses and carriage OF Percy AS father
as I had seen him drive by. And
hadn't I imagined what q lovely home
theirs must be, and compared it with
my humble surroundings. | went &C
cording to invitation, but had not
been there two hours before Ifelt COM
pletely chilled through. Not word
was spoken in the presence Of father,
as the head of the house was called,
except in monosyllables. | tried to
converse with them, but all to no pur-
pose. Father did all the talking for
the family. began to look about for
something to read to pass away time,
but not a book was to be seen; only
two newspapers, one the county pa
per, the other the New York Tribune.
Not a youths paper nor an innocent
game of any kind to pass away the
long winter evenings. Percy told me
while there that | was the only friend
he had ever been allowed to invite, so
[ found out it was through bis ertreat-
les that / was there. The donation
party came and went The next
morning the cakes that were left were
put in a closet adjoining the sitting
room. Percy had occasion to 60 in
there, when his father called out:
"Young man, you needn't go
in there and steal the can
dies off of mothers cakes"
Just imagine what that young mans
feelings were, to be accused of stealing
in the presence OF stranger. But per-
haps the fine edge of constituencies had
been worn off by previous attacks. |
could remain no longer. | excused
myself as best I could and returned
home. Every member Of the family
land they were numerous) gathered
around me to inquire if / had a good
time, and to tell me OF all that had
in my absence. ] had never
before fully understood the true mean
ing of those lines written by John
Howard Payne while journeying in %
foreign land-"There' no place like
home" 1 felt as if I had stepped
from Minnesota down into Florida,
the change of climate was so great. [
had been silent so long that / began
singing s'Home, Sweet Home" One
after another joined In, father and
mother and the rest. That band of
happy children who sung that winter
night are separated far and wide
Last summer God called the oldest
home. Heaven has more attraction
for the rest than ever before. She is
only waiting for the coming of that
singing band. We'miss her sweet pres
ence, but her blessed influence still lives
to guide our hayward feet into the
delightful haven of rest, the heavenly
home.-Apnt Faith in Chicago Inter
Ocean.