The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-03-20
Spending-MOney for Boys.

There are few things harder for pa
rents to decide than the question as to
whether their boys shall have or shall
not have regular or irregular allow
ance of money, to spend as they choose.
We have all, probably, seen both plans
tried, both fail, both succeed.
Some are naturally honorable and
self some the reverse.
Some will seem to grow up we'll under
either treatment. Others will need the
careful, thoughtful guiding, and will
respond to it; while they would fail
wofully for the lack Of it.
Two principles are good to inculcate
at an early age. The first is, Earn,
and have" Let the boy feel that his
father and mother earn what they
have that they have the right to spend
it as they choose, for need or pleasure
that he has not the right to take and
use, for needless, unadvised pleasure,
what he has not earned that, because
he was not the Garner, he must be ac-
countable for all he uses.
The second principle is that home,
food, clothing, and education are full
compensations for all he can give OF
faithfulness, industry, obedience, ear
nest study, and good habits. What
ever else parents give is of their special
kindness, and not to be viewed by the
boy as his due Many heart-aches
would be saved if boys were made to
feel these two principles in right,
broad, kind way, from the beginning:
In some cases, I have known good
effect to come from telling boy what
the law requires from fathers--to give
their boys shelter and clothing suffi-
cient to keep them from suffering from
the elements, and food to keep them
from starving or sickness, if they are
able to give these. All else is the IA
theirs free gift to the boy.
1t is good to have such a wholesome
relation between boy and his parents
that he can always feel free to go to
them, ask for money to 60 to specified
money if it is right and be refused if it
is wrong, and all in reasonable way
or to give boy an allowance, and re.
quire an itemized account of its eXpen-
diture.' Either way makes the boy &C.
countable to higher authority, and
helps growth in wisdom and care. BE
sure you watch closely in either case tC
see if your boys word is to be relied
upon. Do not be suspicious, but be
watchful. 1t is not good for boy tc
feel suspicion, but it is good for him tC
feel watchfulness.
Temptations multiply with money
and unaccountability Even little III
dulgences, not absolutely wrong in
themselves, grow upon boy unit
they weaken body or character. Such
things as quantities of candy, frequent
lunches at unreasonable hours, q sur
plus of neck. ties and kid gloves, va
riety of scarf-pins and hats, and even
the habit of easy, frequent gift-giving
that means nothing of self-sacritice tc
the giver, are things far from desira
BILE.
Some persons feel that when q boy
begins to earn money in small sums, rs
some of our boys do at an early age, he
should have that to spend freely and
without account. Ifthe boy goes away
from home, he must do this it is al
most the only way. But, if he stays
i'm the home, it is very unwise not tC
make him pay portion Of his wages
toward his board, even if he earns only
two or three dollars 4 week. BE sure
he will value the home more highly
for abiding by the principle. "Earl
and have"
know one father who saw with sat
isfaction his boys spent their money il
taking nice young girls out to places o
amusement. giving them flowers ant
other gifts, and thought how much bet
ter that was than spending their eve
nings off with the boys. So it seemed
But no money was put into the home
and naturally, none into the bank
mother and sister were less in thci
minds and actions than the girls they
escorted; tastes grew extravagamt
wrong ideas of life were gained; even
ings at home were deemed stupid ant
grew fewer. And all this tended TO
ward 4 weakening of character ant
depraving of taste. The boys became
wothless, dissipatcd young men, ant
are hopeless problems to their father
to-day.
Watchful guidance, Discriminating
Judgment, are to be used always; bu
1T is better to err by too strict a denia
of money freedom than to put The
temptation of unaccountability in thu