The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-02-27
ARP'S PHILOSOPHY.
BILL TALKS ABOUT THE DIISCHIEV-
GUS LITTLE ONES.

aud Nonnness-Some Remarks on the
PeculinritieS OF Boys.
There is q wide difference between
mischief and m,auncss. But mischief is
close akin to it, when it Injuries any
body or hurts their feelings, or breaks
the rules or the laws. Most all boys
love little mischief I used ~ .ov" a
good deal. | remember when we thought
it ever so smart to slip around at night
aud change gates and the signs, or
stretch a rope across the side walk, or tie
a goat in the school house, or put one
mans horse in another mans stable. I
have worked mighty hard at such things
and [ did think it was just as funny as
it could be, but some how or other
don't see bit Of fun in it now. | won
der what is the matter with me. My
children inherited mischief, l reckon,
and so have to excuse them, but when
my little girl thoughtlessly pulled the
chair away just as was about to sis
down, and ! came down with shock
that Jared the house, and my feet flow
up sud knocked the lamp off the table,
| was mad, very mad until l looked at
her and saw how frightened she was, for
she hadn't counted on such a catastrophe.
SO tempered down, picked up the bro
ken fragments and never said q word,
and was a minute before anybody spoke.
Mrs. Arp was tho first to break the awful
| silence with an explosion of laughter,
and that started the children, OF course
all but Jessie, poor little thing, who
came to me aud said, Papa l didn't
mean to do it," l knew that she didn't,
but my offended dignity was at stake,
and l got me another lamp and went to
writing. WANTED to laugh as much as
they did, but | wouldn't. That was
! four years ago, aud Mrs Arp. is not done
| laughing at it vet whenever it is alluded
to. believe it would do her good to
sec me bump the floor and kick over a
lamp about once week.
| was Illuminating about this because
my boy came home from school ahead of
time aud sat down before the fire looking
solemn and sad. / was writing by the
window and wondered what was the
matter. For n while he never moved or
spoke, but suddenly he looked up at me
aud said, pitiful voice: Papa, was
you ever suspended" "Suspended2 2'
said l, Il don't understand you-sus.
pended how2" "Suspendcd from
school," said he. "Why, no." said l..
"What makes you ask that question:"
lie chokcd up, and said: "Well Pm
suspended, and so is Tom Miller" "Is
it possiblc2" said |, as | laid down my
pen. "What have you been doiug2"
Ta2u he told as how he Ral Tom aal
ot - tAc)wing water 1T eacn Jtnei
while the professor was in the other
room and how he missed Tom and the
whole dipper full! struck the blackboard
and put out the sum and ran down upon
the floor, and the professor came in just
at the wrong time and asked who did 1t,
and suspended him and Tom, and told
them to take their books and go home.
| felt greatly relieved Of course, for
saw that it was mischief and not mean
ness, but l never said anything and
looked solemn and resumed my writing.
Now, it distrcsses my children to see me
distressed, and that is good sign. AS
long as q boy loves his parents, and is
troubled when they arc troubled there
is hope Of that boy. After while he
said: Papa what must I do obout it2'
81 don't know" Gaid |, "untll ! see the
professor. Not long ago we had up o
) case Of suspension, and the board refus-
ed to take the boy back, I don't know
what they will do with you and Tom.
expect you have been trying the profes-
sor's patience for some time. You arc
not bad boys and are very good scholars,
but your disposition to mischief has
troubled him aud set a bad example
The other boys arc talking about you
and say thai the professor ID partial tc
you aud Tom, and Pm afraid that he is
l am glad that he has stopped your mis-
chief"
But it came out all right. The boy.
were not suspended, and they went
, back the next morning and apoloQized
; and now everything is calm and serene
The boys must conform to the rules.
one boy throws water, all the boys hav,
the right to throw water, and tha
wouldn't do, and sensible boy know
it. Let every boy act upon principle
Tncy may be tempted to tell story [,
TO tell the truth. The truth is the thin!
:. the biggest thing know Of. If | haC
Il a great business that would give. en-
. ploymcnt to thousand boys, and ha,
to go about and select them, the frs
L
y always tell the truth?n / wish the boy
y and girls could realize how much ankle
u they give us. Here are 400 going t
y school in our little town, and in fe,
: years they have got to take our place
|, and make the laws and Do the bnsines
u and make up society AID establish th
morals Of the community, and upon thei
conduct the happiness AMI good name c
the people will depend The youn
n men Of this generation will have to solv
/, the race problem and the other prot
Co. lens, and upon them will depend the cl
e istoncc Of the government We thin
a about this a good deal, for it affects OF
|, childlcn and grand children. 1t trOv
: Dlcs Us to th:nk about wars and anarch
and revolution and about tyTan;s en-
; bad men geS.ing into power and a5ot
"a the rich Getting richer and the L0C
ia poorer. l know that it will be all rigi
ia if the people will do right--if the CHI
a. dren grow up with good morals a.
II good principles. We have got goc
D. schools almost everywhere in the Sout
'l | know we have in Gainesville. | a
'iC proud Of the professors and the teache
and the nuDils AVc are a lOpn MO,