The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-12-31
Do Children Pay?

Helen Pe1cy, Z" GOoa doitseSeepEtg'
s1Np y.
Do Children Pay?
"Sometimes l just think children
don't pay" said me OF my careworn
and discouraged I4eighbors Que day
What do you thnS about it"'
"What do youhihk about it?" .
"Well, don'tknl low," 1 replied and
my conscience slolt te me even while [
spoke. But thai T said, in mental
self-reproach, and eelf-excuse for say
ing it, II know I idn't pay" and 1
don't think did.
But when it Pmes to my own
bairns-do they pk? -.
Well, they are !. sight of trouble" /"
Indeed they are, md they cost time
and money, aud pdn and sorrow.
There are three Of them, and they
are little ones still, and my friends
who have larger children tell me that
T need not expect time wher my ba-
bies will be less trouble than they are
now. I can not expect time to come
when they will bca source Of care and
anxiety, and hopAand fear-no, not
even when they lave gone forth to
homes of their bYn, and have their
own little ones ato! nd them.
Do they, payI $w? Here I am,
wearing old cl@tes and trying to
brush nv hat t@ make it look like
new. that INV il my and Sammy
NAV have new k and REFERS, anu
hats and shoes, I'd look as we'll as
other childrenA1 lhey do kick out
shoes 50 dreait land they haven't
the first com ,tion of conscience
about it either. Psy tear and smash
and destroy, an e. into everything,
particularly the ty;;
Does a two-ye td Dahy paS ior iI-
self I'D 10 the ii it reaches that i'll
teresting age? pme'imes lhink
not. l thought yesterday "neh my
own baby slippel hto my study and
scrubbed the Carl Urand its best white
dress with my be Inc OF INK. lie was
nlavinq in the ll-hod ten minutes
after a clean dr&as was put on HIM,
and later in 'tI.& &&ay he pasted fifty
cents' worth or atage stamps on the
nsrlor wall. $.rf q, poured u dollars
worth of The chd dhest white rose per-
fume out Of wlndow 10 see IL
VAIN"
Then he du put the center Of a
nicely-baked baf of cake, and was
found in the middle of the dining
room table, with the sugar-bow| be-
tween his legs and most OF its con-
tents in his stomach. -.
He has already cost more than SlOO
in doctors bill, and feel that ! am
right in attriblting my few cray hairs
to the misery endured while walk
ing the floor with him at night during
the first year q his life.
What has he ever done to pay me
for that?
All! hear lis little feet pattering
along out in tkq hall. / hear his little
ripple of Laughter because he has es-
caped from his Dother, and found his
way up to my study at a forbidden
hour. But tile;door is closed. The
worthless little agabond can't get in,
and [ won't let lim in. No, l won't.
| can't be disturbed when I'm writ
ing. He can ju.t cry, If he wants to;
I won't be bothered for-"rat, tat,
tat.n 20 his dirpled knuckles on the
door. sit in perfect silence. RAT,
tat, tat"
1 sit perfectly still.
"Papa."
No reply.
"PeeZe para"
Grim silence.
"Baby, tum in; peeze, papa"
He shall no. come IN.
My papa"
write o,.t
Papa says the little voice. II
lub my papa peeze let baby in"
lam not quite brute, and [ throw
open the door. In he comes. with
outstretched little arms, with shining
eyes, with laughing face. catch him
up in my arms. and his warm, soft lit
lie arms 60 around my neck, the not
very clean little cheek is laid close to
mine, the baby-voice says sweetly, Il
lub my papa
Does he pay
Well, guess he does! He has caus-
ed me many anXious days and nights:
He has ccst me time and money and
selr.sacrifice. He may cause me pain
and sorrow. He has cost much. But
he has paid for it all again and again
in whis sperins these three little words
in my ear, Il lub papa"
Our childlfn pay when their very
first feeble little cries fill our hearts
with mother.love and father-love that
ought never 70 fail among al earthly
passions.
Do your children pay :-Detroit Free
Press.