National Republican., 1888-05-06
RAISING \ BABY BY RULE.
4 system of Torture Used by II Couple
Who Had Il Theory.


We have Just had some visitors at our
house whom was heartily glad TO see de-
mart. hope they won't come again very
sOon--nut, at least, until they can come
without bringing year and half old baby
with them. II was not the baby that made
me lose my usual sercnityof soul. II was the
father and mother. The child was
good rnougl-bettcr than most babies
would have been under similar crcum-
stances, better hy far than would have
been had been in its place, knowing half as
much rs know now.
These parents were raising their little
Charles by rule. No one must dare to call
the child ''Charlcyn or by any of the ''baby
names dear to baby lovers. II was
against the rulc' to do so. They had
called that poor little thing "Charles" since
the day of its birth. 1t lived and brcathc1
and had its being according to ''rules' as
unaltcrnblc rs the law that "changeth
never" of which We have all read.
The trouble began the first night. At cN-
actly q o'clock they took the baby, kicking
rebeliously, away from my little boy of the
same age, and one year older. ana carried
him Off up stairs, where lie was undressed
and put to bed. His parents Immediately
rejoned us in the parlor, leaving the child
kicking and screaming in actual fright in
the room above.
ave always put him to bed in the dark,
said the child's mother cOmplaccntly, heed
less of the shrieks above.
"But he may not feel well after the ride of
n hundred miles to-day said my wife.
"Then, too, the little fellow is in Il strange
room and Il strange house.
"'That makes no difference AT all; never
go to him after put him TO bed, no matter
how long lie cries, said the mother.
"Mamma. mamma! mamma" shriclicd
the child. "Baby 'fraid! baby 'fraid ~
Tie father stepped into the hall and cried
out harshly:
"Charles, lie st7l and hush right up!'
Charles didn't ''hush up" He was del
icate, nervous child, and shad worked him
self into such an excited state NJ mind that
he could not control himself. His cries
were pitiful.
"Charles - cried out the father Il second
| time.
Would you mind If | ran up To the poor
| little fellow for amomcnt ~ asked my wife,
| greatly distressed by the child's cries.
1--WE never have any one so To him, y said
| the mother, coldly. "lic must learn 10 obey
u.s.
They do not know to this day, but |
| slipped out into the Kitchen and ran up the
| back stairs and Went Ia that baby myself.
| The poor little soul was fairly QuivcrinG
| with fear aud excitement. His little fingers
| I
| lay down lay him he clasrcd both arms
around my neck and lay trembling and
| sobbing in my arms.
believe in rules and in systems for rails
| ing babies, but there is not rule or system
that cannot he set aside to the advantage
| of the baby. | have seen children whose
| every movement was regulated by Il fixed
and unaltciable rule, and they We're not the
| happiest or the most pleasant children in the
| world. | have known such children 10 break
away from the restraint and The irksome
rules Of home at q surprisingly early age,
and, once rce and rejoicing in their unrc-
strained liberty, they did things they might
never have done had they not been held
with such Il tight rein all their lives. We
need wisdom and the constant recollection
| that we were once children aud likc-minded
| with these little ones of ours IN the making
and enforcement of rules for their guidance
| and happiness.