Nevada County picayune., 1889-02-20
How to Manage Boys.

If l had a boy who read of green islands am, wrecked sailors until he could shut his eyes and see parrots and monkeys and cocoanuts and way ing palms if he had firmly made mp his mind that he never could be happy until cast away on some island and reduced to goat-ski over-coat, l should take him out behind barn and say:
 "My son, l see tha, you are not happy; you evidently hunger Tor something which my limited means will not permit me to give you. I think you want to be wrecked. Very well. There's the river and an old skiff, and you can find an island few miles down. Get two or three pieces of tarred rope, plug of navy tobacco, and fish hook, and go on with the wrecking business. If you don't like it. come home at the en of a week, and I'll send you out to the Pacilics where the mosquitoes are big ger and the canniba!s more nuiner- Ous.''
 If the boy went should look for him back next morning-certainly at the end of two days, and when he got back the subject would be tabooed forever.
 It is natural for every boy to yearn for the deep blue sea and the life of sailor. He hasn't the least idea that a sailor has anything to do but sit around the capstain and spin yarns and answer, Aye. aye! sir:' when the captain calls out the name of Jack Brace. He desires, there fore, to go to sea and visit foreign countries and come home with a bronze on his face and a roll to his gait. Don't give your boy a chance to run away. When the signs be- come plain, have all your plans per fected and ready to say
 "James, anybody could tell by the way you handle a clothesline that you were born for nautical cut to jib, and it is plain enough that the bounding pillow is your true element. 1 have arranged for you to make a trip on the lakes, and will then get you berth on an Indiaman. Be all ready tomorrow morning, James. "
 I'd put him on board schooner bound, say, from Oswego to Chicago, and I'd forward money to Chicago for him to come home by rail. If the money wasn't there he'd come home on foot. With the dark, damp fOrecastle the seasickness -t he curses and ropes endings from the mate-the pulling and hauling grease and tar buckets-he'd land in Chicago feeling that it would be a privilege to live on a turnip at home and sleep in the garret on straw bed. I've been there, and l know.
 No father should be surprised if his boy develops yearning to be- come mighty hunter. There Is something highly fascinating in the idea of knocking over buffaloes, lions, tigers, elephants and giraffes, and of successful encounters with alligators and boa constructors. When the signs begin to crop out, the father ready. Take the boy out and sit down on log with him and say:
 "James, it's burning shame for me to keep you around home and spoil your whole future. l came across bar of lead, half a pound of salt and a loaf of bread which you had secreted in the oat bin yesterday as starter for going West. There is no need of any shyness, my son. l want you to go. l shall be proud of you if you become great hunter. I'll lend you the shot gun and pair of horse blankets and frying pan, and help you to carry them to the nearest piece of woods. If you'll stay three days and three nights, then I'll fit you out and send you to the Black Hills.''
 He'd be almost certain to come sneaking into the back door before bed time, but if he put it off until morning, so much the better. He'd have the whole night in which to turn pale, look about with wild eyes, shiver at every sound, hold his breath at the hoot of the owl, and to prom ! ;oa b;,asnlf nxya, and nvnr o.ain,