Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-07-19
A QUESTION ANSWERED.

Hope Ledydrd.
1t is often questioned whether ONE
should teach children their duty; il
such teaching involves opening their
eyes to a parents wrong-doing. Per-
haps the following incident from real
life may give satisfactory answer:
The lesson had been on temperance,
and had explained the law as to SELL
ing liquor to minors, to the children.
/ did not teach this abstractly, but by
questioning drew out from the little
ones what they could do for mamma.
They told me they could wash dishes,
black shoes, sew on buttons, run er-
rands, etc. Then came questions as to
the errands they attended to, and side
teaching on the fault of lettering, OF
which the mothers complain SO much.
To keep the attention. one boy and an
other was called to the board to write
i'm different col red chalks what chill
dren could Ego for" AT last, to my
great satisfaction, one little fellow wrote
"beer.n How the children's faces
showed their sense of shame! But
having talked of the butter and molas-
es, of the use of arnica and the neces-
sity of keeping ipecac on hand if baby
is croupy, it was quite natural to be-
gin on this item: ''ls this a good thing
to get for mother? Is it food or medi-
cine? What shall we call it? Drink?
So is tea or coffee, water or milk; but
this is not like any of Them"
/ drew from the children the effect OF
beer, and then told them how sorry
good men were to see this poison taken
by their friends and neighbors, telling
them of the law which forbids the
liquor dealers to sell even beer to chill
dren. Was it right to break the law
of the land, even if mother told you to?
No; you should say kindly. ~ can't
bring beer, mother, but Til go for any
thing except liquor" and then be very
careful to obey every other wish OF
father or mother.
A certain little boy named Willy sat
in the second row. A boy Of eight, but
so stunted by want and exposure that
he did not look over six. He listened
and, as events proved, resolved that he
would buy no more beer. On Monday,
at noon, according to her usual custom,
WHY'S mother said. "Take the can
and get quart o. beer, and stop in for
Mrs. Flynn's can"
81 mustn't go for beer, mother, ''said
Willy.
bnr T,io1,
an, turned on the child with a startling,
"What's that you're sayin'?"
az mustn't go for beer. Mrs. H
says it's again the law; I'm too little,
and
I'VE just take up that can and mind
me; Mrs. H be-.n
can't. Let me get quart of nice
milk. Mrs. H says"
"Shut up, We little divil," and the
mothers hand struck the child full ir
the face. then snatching up the can she
started for her own beer. But in bel
temper she stepped hastily and tripped
falling heavily part way down the
stairs, wrenching her ankle so that she
could only hobble back to the roo.1
and seat herself in the big rocking
chair. Willy bathed the swollen ankle
got the dinner for the little ones, and
waited sweetly and patiently on the
angry woman. On her husbands re
turn she told him her grievance.
And the boys right" said the man
"ltss. shame to send him, and beer
does ye no good, Mary, nor me either
Don't let's be cross with him or the
teacher. Do you mind how she helped
us when l was out of work, and VIVA,
trouble she took to get the young ones
to the country? No, no, she's doing
the children good, not harm.n
E For week the mother was fast
bound to her chair. On Wednesday
happening to pass that way, called
to see if Willy was at school, for these
poor mothers need to be CONSTANTLY
kept up to q sense of the Importance O
steady attendance at day school.
found the boy polishing the stove
while the mother peeled potatoes, an,
she herself told me of his refusal, he
anger her husbands words and Willy
patient, faithful attention to the house
hold duties boy naturally dislikes.
"There's not been drop o. beer Il
the house since Sunday" she said
s'and my man was saying thatlf you'
like tive might as well sign the pledg
With Willy. and kape from it altogeth
$" Truly, "a little child shall lea
Aem.n