The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-12-06
I,eeeIring Our Children.

instances out OF ten, forms the
character of her children. If a
child cannot believe his mother.
whom can he trust? Yet SO few of
us are perfectly truthful to our
children in both the spirit and
letter"
Can any motive in deceiving-
apparent necessity, convenience,
or even desire to increase pleas
ure or spare pain compensate for
the injury done a child by loss of
perfect faith in his mother? He
is sure to discover a deception
sooner or later.
How often a mother who would
warmly resent an insinuation that
she is untruthful will say; "There
is no more candy for you, Jamie, :"
quoting her conscience with the
letter of the decree. Next day
when jamie sees more candy tax
en- from 4he same box he remem-
bers the @no more candy" but does
not realize the force of ''for you, +"
and-a little faith in mamma is
gone. Or, when baby has a for
hidden treasure, mamma says:
LET me look at it, dear" trustful
baby allows mamma to look, and
the prize is placed safe out of
reach, 1t is doubtful if that re-
quest VIII be so readily granted
next time
A few days ago, upon hearing
her mother relate a startling fact,
I saw an expression of doubt, in
stantly suppressed, pass over the
mobile face of a bright girl friend.
When opportunity offered, she
said: DO you know l would give
any thing I can think Of if mamma
had never told me there were fair
les and SAINTS Claus. Until 1
was a great girl I believed in those
myths, against ell ridicule reason,
solely upon faith in her assuran-
ces. I shall never forget the shock
l resolved when she lightly told
me that such ideas were for little
girls and 1 was old enouge to
know better.' / lost then what l
can ner4 regain-implicit belief
IN mamnsis-------l,-- II sne says
anvtbisg surprising, that horrible
doubt of its truth always flashes
over me-"
A lovely mother, one whose life
is bound up in her children, said
to her eight-year-old daughter: 81
would not be little girl and be-
heve In elves and fairies for any
thing; it is one of the greatest de-
lights Of being little girl. OF
coure there IS Santa Claus"
Marjoris's trust was severely tax
ed last Christmas, but, though she
cast troubled chances at mamma,
the beautiful cable Of perfect trust
seemed able to bear the strain. 1t
must snap some day
In mostinstances, as in this, the
motive in such deceptions is pure
ly kindness, the idea that to be-
lieve in these creations of fancy
adds TO ehild's enjoymen of them.
Even If this notion were true,
would tho pleasure gained pay for
the deception practiced? I think,
however, that comparison viii in
yariably lead TO the conclusion
that children who laugh most mer-
rily at and enjoy most heartily
Santa Claus, with his pack and
bells. are those who know it is "all
for fun" and those who listen
with keenest zest to fairy tales are
they who regard them as flights of
fancy. As flights of fancy such
stories fulfill their mission.
Frse play oE imagination should
indeed, must-form an impor-
taut element Ia the balanced de-
velopmene Of every mind. Any
thing but Thomas Gradgrind's "In
this life We want nothing but facts,
sir; nothing but factsl' And Die
kens graphically shows some re-
suits Of that system. But in al
lowing OF teaching children to be-
lieys these tales written to feed
their imagination we defeat their
very object and utility.
Another form of deception is in
answer 10 questions which are be-
yond the years of the little inquir-
ers. Instead of saying: when
you are old enough to understand
I viii explain" so many mothers
silence inquiry with palpably, sill
" or untrue replies. Such an
swers are a positive injury 70 chill
dren, hurting their pride aud max
ing them suspicious. Their keen
intuition suspects the deceit.
though unable to detect it. We
know how we feel on that point.
and we are only grown-up child
rem
1t Is not necessary to hurt their
self raas.ccf bv falIincs than fbo+