The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-05-05
A QUESTION ANSWERED,
Teaching Children Their Duty-An Ine
dent from Real Life.


Teaching Children Their Duty-An rnei-
dent from Real Life.
1t is often questioned whether one
should teach children their duty, if
such teaching involves opening their
eyes to parents wrong-doing. Per-
haps the following incident from real
life may give a 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 err
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 another was called to the board to,
write in different colored chalks what
children could "go for" At last, to,
my great satisfaction, enc little fellow
wrote beer" How the ehildren's
faces showed their sense of shame,
But having talked of the butter and
molasses, of the use of arnica and the
necessity of keeping ipecac on hand if
baby is croupy, it was quite natural to
begin on this item: lis this good
thing to get for mother? is it food OF
medicine? What shall we call itf
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 tho 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
TOP No; you should say kindly: ~
can't bring beer, mother, but I'll 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, re-
solved 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"
II mustn't go for beer. mother. -
said Willy.
The mother, big burly Irish
woman, turned on the child with
startling: Whats that YOU'RE
sayn'?"
Il mustn't go for beer. Mrs.
H says its agin the law; Pm too,
little, and -"
"Yo just take the can and mind me-;
Mrs. H be -"
II can't Let me get quart of
nice milk. Mrs. H says"
"Shut up, we little divi," and the
mothers hand struck the child full in
the face, then snatching up the can she
started for her own beer. But IN her
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 room
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.
land the boys right" said the
nan. "It's q shame to send him, and
the beer does We 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 what trouble she took to get tho
young ones to the country No, no.
she's doing the children good, not
harm"
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 sense of the Importance
of steady attendance at day school J.
found the boy polishing the stove,
while the mother peeled potatoes, and
she herself told me of his refusal, her
anger. her husbands words, and
WHY'S patient. faithful attention tc
the household duties q boy naturally
dislikes.
There's not been a drop O. beer in
the house since Sunday" she said,
land my man was saying that if you'd
like it, we might as well sign the pledge
with Willy. and kape from it altogeth-
or. Truly "a little child shall lead
them. Hope Ledyard, IN Union Sig~
nal.
TEMPERANCE ITEMS.