The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-03-09
LITTLE FAULTS.

Hints to Some Children as to How and
Where They May Improve Their Con-
duct.
So many little girls, and boys too, in
tend to do just right, and do not do
just right in a variety of little ways,
perhaps it may help some of them to be
told just how and where they can do
better.
A dear little friend of mine is very
sweet tempered and obliging indeed,
but she is very fond OF her book and her
play and she rarely likes to 60 to bed at
the proper hour in the evening. Her
name is Lucy, and she is a great pet in
the home where she belongs.
Now Lucy, like all little girls who
play and get tired, needs just about
nine hours sleep out of the twenty-four.
1t takes few moments to get to bed at
night, to undress, say her prayers, etc. /;
about one-half hour all told, or if she
is very spry, fifteen minutes to twenty
minutes in time. The family breakfast
punctually at seven o'clock in the
morning. and as this is the best time
for visiting with her papa and her
brCtheT she has during the day, they
like to have her with them at break
fast The rising bell rings at half past
six, and Lucy needs the full half hour
TO dress in. So unless she gets off to
Nod of i11f ~
she can not possibly get sleep enough
to keep her strong and well. 1t is no
use trying to cheat old dame Nature.
Little children who are growing must
have nine hours sleep at least, some
times they need more than that. Very
rarely, indeed, can they get along with
less, and the old lady is exacting of
every minute of time and takes her pay
for cheating her out of it by nervous
ness and tears. Lucy has to pay when
ever she tries to do without nine hours
sleep; sometimes with headache;
sometimes by being cross.
Now Lucy's mother is very kind
and wise woman. 1t grieves her that
her little girl is so dilatory in the even
ing about getting to bed. But she
knows all habits must be formed by
a willing mind in the brain of the little
girl to make them of any real service.
And SO when she sees Lucy quite alb
sorbed in her book or play, she simply
says, mine, Lucy" I'm just minute,
mamma" replies Lucy. And in just
one minute her mamma sometimes re-
minds her. The minute is past, Lucy"
'Oh, mammal" exclaims Lucy. But
mamma is firm, and the book or play
must be dropped. Lucy is too consci-
entious and too amiable, and her man,
ma has trained her too wisely to have
her do any thing but obey at once. In
fact, her habit of putting off going to
bed was noticed almost as soon as it
began to form by her wise mamma, who
is thus checking it and helping her
little girl into better ways.
But you say your mamma does not
say any thing to you when nine o'clock
comes. Perhaps if you asked her to
she would Try it and see. Little
Agnes Mayhem is very fond of romping.
She loves the outdoor air, the sum
shine, and delights in sliding down hill
and snowballing with the boys. She is
getting very rude indeed, SO much so
am sure her brother, a year and a half
older, felt very much ashamed of her
the other day. She does not like to be
called "tomboy," oh no, but if she
would only learn to be little less bois-
ferrous what a comfort she could be to
all the rest of the family who really
like to see her enjoy herself but wish
she would be little ladylike in doing
it just as her brother Ed. is gentlemanly
in his play. Do you know any little
girls like her? And do you believe if
they only stopped to think how rude
they really were behaving they would
play in that fashion any more?
In playing games Susie Marshall is
not quite honest. How do you suppose
she would feel if she were found out in
her every little trick? And how would
you feel If you were in her place.? And
isn't it better to be honest all through
you are found out or not II
you are poor player, why learn to
play better, and make up by skill what
you hope to gain by dishonesty. Other
little girls do not practice their music
Is we'll when the teacher is not with |
hem. They dawdle away their prac-
ice hour and forget that music lessons
cost money, and unless they are con-
'c.entious in practicing they might as
we'll not take lessons at all. Then some
orget to do their little work well.
They think they will learn it all by and
by, and when by and by comes they
haven't learnt it at all, and then there
$ something else more important TO be
lone.
If every little girl could remember
hat what she does now is the most inn
)ortant thing in the world for her, she |
would make great many less mistakes
han she is apt to do. And a great
many little faults would disappear just
ike snow under warm sunshine.
1t is to-day we learn the lesson; to-
morrow will bring another. Not the
anne, but its value is reckoned by how
yell we knew the other.-Christian at