Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-10-01
THEY FOUGHT.

Tonight we saw two boys 10 isonl oi
the post-oilicc, where loalcrs 60 often
congregate, pounding each other, appar-
emily TO please a number OF idle spec
tators who chccrod them on. One was
Il bright little fellow not more than
nine years old, while the other was Il
boy perhaps three years his senior.
A penny was the cause of the quarrel
Each boy spied it lying in the street nj
the same time. Each rushed for it. The
smallest boy being the spryest was the
first to grab it. The larger boy hit him
in he face and proceeded TO rob him of
the find. The little fellow fought back
rs best he could. The clothes of each
were torn; they were each hurt, bruised,
and angered, when man stepped into
the crowd that surrounded them and
parted them.
He took the little one under his pro-
lection and together they went away.
the loafers lamenting the loss OF what
they called fun.
How much like men boys are, to be
sure. The matter of a penny Will excite
more anger than would suffice TO spoil
the day for an entire picnic party. Par
ents teach their children 10 fight; to
stand up for their rights; to not be run
over; TO lose an eye rather than fail TO
snatch q penny Thus do the elders
teach the younger and they in turn
teach others.
Would ii not be better to begin Mt the
other end of the argument? For parents
to teach their children not TO run over
others: not TO interfere with the rights
of others; not TO snap. and snarl, and
crowl whenever plaything Is touched.
Why not teach little ones 10 be loving
and liberal to each other? Indeed, it
is more blessed TO give than to receive,
for by giving we open the doors OF our
lives SO good thoughts and liberal
ideas, each bearing good truths, can
enter.
God never yet sent person TO this
world TO quarrel with any other person.
He never gave to any human being a
right to interfere with the rights of any
other human being, or TO make another
peSson miserable. There is nothing OF
christianity or humanity in teaching
children or men to be belligcrcnt or III
warning against each other for mater
ial gain.
In our house are two little ones.
They are taught to love and help each
other; to divide their playthngs and to
each to give way to the other. They
spend hours each day in play, in run
ming. romping and rolling over cach
other. We are never disturbed by the
sharp cries that 90 up so often from
children.
That's nine" let that alone"
keep your hands OF my things He
struck me-. well. Iii Int him back!
| Il won't be run over etc. etc.
When we come right down to The
matter, people assume more right thar
| they have. The right 10 dictate, 10 com
mand. to rule a, with a rod OF iron; &c
| impress By physical strength rs grca
| in the line of oar rights. We each have
| right to sunshine but to drive no on'
away thcrcirom. Each have a right Il
| fill our own minds with such loading n
we can carry, but not to assume tina
we are so much better than others n
to warrant the actual bclittlemcnt o
| ourselves.
| A child can be educated 90 imagine
that all it sees is it own. That his o.
| her special mission j, to pound some
| thing into somebody else. To force TIN,
flavor of oranges into the cucumber, o
to compel L mind to do what it viii no
do.
We shall meet our children and th'
children of others i'm the other life
where millions will have TO uulCarl
much that Ian, been taught on earth an'
| where harmony, happiness, heaven. cN