The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-08-21
WIf Were a BOy.,'

number of the Home Magazine, of which
Mrs. John A. Logan has editorial charge:
III I were." All. if we're! The very thought
sets every thought afre. That "if'' is a key to
dreamland. One is not asked for biography or
history. Either would need memory simply. But
"if''-well. let us give free reign to imagination
But can one who once a boy write fancy of
this sort and not let some biography slip into it?
We shall see.
''If were a boutwell,. if 1 were boy such as
was, of the same sort, with the same beginnings
the same blood, the same surroundings, the same
teachers, the same home (blessed home but am
not writing autobiography, the same classmates.
the same accidents. atmospheres and aspirations
the same opinions, passions. and conficts-should
1 have come into the same life, by the same path
with the same experiences and outcomes? Could
have made the product different? Let me say.
YES" But don't start discussion. am not re-
quested to write about what might have BEEN"
If were boy. with my present knowledge at
the end, or the state of present progress toward
the end, with my memory of the past and my
mans view of boys life-what would 1 dor
First of all, should have early conversation
with my parents. 1 should bring my later wisdom
to bear them. Not that would. if could
subject my father to the transformation which Mr..
Anstey so ingeniously and ludicrously records in
"Vice Versa but do think. since am older
now than my father was when 1 was boy might
give a word of advice even to him, and to others
concerning possible environment and admins.
tration by which certain notifications might be
made in the average theory and method Of pater
nal government. There some elements in
boys training would make more of than some
parents do, and more than my father did, And
don't like to say one word in depreciation of one
Of the most firm faithful and caffectionate of ia
theirs.
If were boy, should want steady and thor.
ough discipline, early begun, and never relaxed.
the great doctrine of wi-force as the secret of
character. Faith in God is, know, the founda-
ton. 1.-THE fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom" 1t must, however. be true fear and not
wretched terror; it must be the fear Of the true
God and not of a weak or wicked tyrant God; the
fear which is a reverent and holy love for a loving
king, who is a father, and who 10 gentle as a
mother. and who loathes selfishness, falsehood
and meanness patriot loathes disloyalty and
virgin impurity. Faith in God is first, as the
open ground is first when we would build a house.
But the gaping cellar the open arms of mother
earth, is only the beginning. Faith in God is in
order to the building, through human choice and
persstency Of purpose, of character in which
Gods opportunity given, is by mans will promptly
and perpetually received and employed. God
makes the hill, with sloping sides and loose soil,
among the rocks. Man builds the terrace, that
the soil may stay; while God with moisture and
light. makes it fertile. Then man again. with pa
tent and skilful labor. plucks out the weeds, and
plants good seed, that Gods dew. rain, and sun.
ray may have perfect chance to do perfect
work. If 1 were boy, should want my teacher
to make me know and feel this divine and human
relations to put weight of responsibility upon me;
to fill me with, and to confirm in, the thought
that am not a thing" stick. stone, a lump of
clay or putty, but person." power"
"cause" a Creator" and what am in the long
rum in the final outcome. am to make myself.
must not forget that God rolls up the hill. rib
bling it with rock. filling it with stones sprinkling
it with soil, but must build and keep up the ter
races.
should want father and mother, older brother
and sister, pastor and teacher neighbor and best
friend books and periodicals. to say and to re-say
and to say it over and over again. as birds sing
their songs. and as waves roll up on the worn
beach: You not thing but person. not
so much an effect 'cause;' not to be led by
whim. but to be ruled by will; not to let the
winds and the rains and the down.pull of gravita-
ton denude the hillside; but to keep up the ter
races.'
Glasses for letter-picking and word-learning, for
spelling and reading. are good. Glasses in num-
bers' for handling figures and drawing geometrical
lines, are good But the best class. to be earliest
organized and longest sustained, the class in
which the two-year old should be an advanced pu-
pill the class that never graduates. is the class in
which bow ia trainad tn . 7
will;'' the class on terrace.building
If were boy with my mans wisdom, should
eat wholesome food and no other. And should
chew 1t well and never "bolt it down." should
eat at regular hours, even if had to have four