Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-05-10
Your Big Brother.

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But now that he has just begun to
shave, and is in general the big boy OF
the family, there's small tenderness for
George. He is nobody's darling
now. He often passes days on days
without solitary kindly, affectionate
word addressed to him by any mortal
on earth Aud for days on days he
doesn't care. doesn't miss any love.
But there come occasional minutes
when it suddenly flashes upon him that
this is chilling world and nobody
seems any longer to love him.
This big brother is not chicken
hearted. Quite likely he himself is at
fault that he sees no more OF the ten
der side of his home. He avoids his
father, who begins to be somewhat
stern with him. and 10 suspect him Of
voluntarily going to the bad. He rare
~ gives his busy mothers heart much
q chance TO draw nigh to him and show
him that wealth of dcathlcss love that
is ever warm toward all her babies.
whiskcr or no whiskcr. He bullies
the small fry" in a careless. not a de-
libcratcly malicious way. He nags his
sisters. who are about his age, and is
generally disagreeable TO them about
two-thirds Of the time; but il is more
the result Of a spirit OF rude fun than
want Of regard for them. He is head
full of athletics. or the regiment. or
business. and Is a great deal out of
doors. The rough and hOisterous in
his nature is having its full develop
ment. He is hungry most Of the time.
His physical personality is just now
completing its growth. and he has not
adjusted it TO his mental, moral, nor his
Tsthctical personality. He often acts
like young bear.
Yet for all that, George is by no
means hardened to affection; no, not by
"A score of years TO come me IN UNI
less he is going wrong. drinks,
carouses, and is coarsely animal. He is
tender-heaItcd. You. his sister, could
lead him with a straw. You ought TO
do it, He would take to your tyranny,
which. by the thousand little womanly
arts at your command. you. could cast
over him, rs ducks take to water If
you were to meet him at the door.
girl. at night few times, with kiss
and a hug; if you were 10 dance along
at his side as he went forth few
mornings, and as you walked u drop
letter in the lanp-post box. and chat
and confide in him. and sparkle about
him like sistrely sunbeam and
where is handsomcr or more manly
form than Georges TO walk the avenue
with? If you were TO pat his cheek
occasionally at the supper.t1ble as you
pass his chair, just a little soft love-
~ httt no
would thrill under. from your girlish
palm-this, instead OF saucy jokes at
the expense of the down on the same
cheek, which may make everybody
laugh, yet which is an eXasperating
sally; If you would try. half try. girl,
Georges sistcr-you might win that
boy.
Boys are queer creatures. anyway.
They all have soft hearts They are
dreaming OF love two-thirds OF their
time. They make love to big dog, IA
horse, the heroine of novel-or. alas
some actress who would delude them
for the fun of il. This boy sometimes
feels the fact that he is crowded out
of his mothers and fathers attention
and endearment by the younglings. He
sometimes, | say. not always. feels the
) I lUulSpuldDlt ldCl III II nOllc IL Il SOIJ Oi
clearinghouse TO him. he wishes, in
such moments, that it were not so. but
he does not exactly know how TO fix
things A boy is not adroit; he has no
small courtesy ready at hand; he is at
the awkward period Of his life. and
could fight easier than he can manage
! that sweet finesse that is necessary 10
win and keep the love condolences of
home. Girl. you can do all these things
for him. nine times Out OF ten. Aud If
/, you try you will be astonishcd by the
) wealth OF affection that the fellow will
pour out on you. That j., if he is not
yet poisoned at heart by some evil com
panion Of the outside world. God grant
that you yet have time, and with your
George that it is not yet too late.
\ big, hardly grown young man is ex-
ceedingly sensitive in certain direct
ions, though Indifferent enough in
others. You must not make fun OF his
clothes you simply must not.
You must not joke him about his
attempts To be older than he is. You
, must not carp at his manners, his blum
ders in polite things or his efforts TO
play the gallant with your pretty neigh
Dor. he can stand a great many blows;
but there are sneers and laughs that cut
him to the quick II YOU indulge them
it may seem OF small account to-day;
but he will call you disagreeabie at first
and end by actually hating you. Years
will not suffice for the healing of such
arrangements OF all the people in
the house. he can endure ridicule from
his sister with the least grace; for he
often thinks with envy OF your more
graceful ways; IL comes natural to
woman TO be graceful rather than to
man; and for You 10 sneer at his blum
ders is simply maddening. Take my
warning. Help him out in these mat
ters, and he will never forget the kind
ness. Lend him your taste in the ques-
ton of dress, quietly and privately
How many a young fellow might
/, have been saved from ruin if little Of
the care that is given TO the bib-and-
tucker small creatures had been be-
slowed on him. | tell you. mothers,
you had far better allow tiny Johnny
) to go with a Girty face, If necessary,