The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-14
Be Kind to Children

Kind words cost nothing and they are
more valuable than gold or silver in dealing
with children. Few parents appreciate the
Importance Of using only kind words to
their children. Too many, on the slightest
provocation, not only speak harshly TO them,
but strike them. Few comparatively
mako an effort to treat them
as they know they ought to be
treated. They love their children, of course,
and would make any sacrifice for them. but
when annoyed by them they speak to them
roughly, and frequently threaten to chastiss
them when no reason for inhicting punish
ment exists.
Harsh words and blows m AXE children ua-
loveable aud brutal. They fill their hearts
with bitter thoughts and develop all
that's bad in their natures. Before they
can expires, their thoughts children are
sensible to harsh words and resent injus-
tlce. AS they grow older they do not soon
forget words spoken or blows struck in
anger, and they harbor resentful thoughts
long after their parents have forgotten the
injustice of which they have been guilty.
An unkind word thoughtlessly spoken is
punishment when deserved. 1t rankles in
their hearts, embitters their lives and not
infrequently leads them to do rash acts.
A case in point occurred in Hacksusack,
N j., one day last week. Nathaniel AL
berto, a wharf builder in good circum-
stances, and having a comfortable home,
spoke harshly to his son Irving, lad 10
years of age The lad was noted for his
brightness, exemplary conduct and his will
ingness to obey his parents slightest wish.
Injustice from either his father or mother
he could not endure, and both, as rule,
were kind 20 him and their other children.
The father, however, is a man OF quick
temper, and when annoyed says
things he regrets almost as soon as
he has said them. On Tuesday night being
worried about something, he scolded his son
Irving. The boy felt the injustice of his
father keenly, and, In little while. left the
room in which the family were sitting.
When the family were ready to retire for
the night he had not returned, and the
anxious parents instituted a search for him
They found him dead in the wood house.
He had gone Immediately from the family
circle and hanged himself. How bitterly
the father regretted the hasty words which
led his favorite son to commit suicidel
There a very few children, of course
driven to SUI eide by the injustice of their par
ents, but many leave their homes to escape
unjust treatment from those they ought to
| love, and who GU int to love them and
strive in every possible way to make them
happy. Indeed, it is often the case
that those who love their children
dearly are guilty of injustice to them.
They do not intend to be unjust.
They would not for the world wound their
childrens' feelings The injustice they are
| guilty of is the thoughtless kind. They
allow themselves to get into a passion at
trfiss, and then they speak to their chill
dren as they would not speak to dumb ami
mails in their cooler moments. Words
uttered under such circumstances, being
generally unjust, make deep impressions
upon the minds of children. and too often
mar their moral natures to such an extent
as to destroy the happiness and usefulness
of their lives.
Children should of course be punished
when they deserve punishment, and they
know very we'll when they deserve it
Punishment, when deserved. does no harm
it is injustice which does the mischief If
parents were unifornly kind and gentle
with their children, helping them to bear
their little troubles and patiently striving
to fill their lives with sunshine, they would
have less occasion to punish them, aad
would have in them far greater source of
| happiness