Morning journal and courier., 1890-09-12
DO THEY PAY.
Children Sometimes do Not Seem AIto- gether Perfect, but They Do Pay.

Children Sometimes do Not Seem AIto-
 gether Perfect, but They Do Pay.
 U. H. D. in Detroit Free Press.l
 Sometimes just think children don't pay" said one of my careworn and dis couraged neighbors one day sswhat do you think about it!'
 "Well, don't know," replied, ,and my conscience smote me even while I spoke. But then said in mental reproach and self excuse for saying it, ''I know didn't pay" ," and don't think did.
 But when it comes to my own bairns- do they payl
 We'll, they are s'a sight of trouble" h. deed they are, and they cost time and mon ey and pain and sorrow.
 There are three of them and they are little things still, and my friends who have older children tell me that need not ex- pect time to come when my babies will be Bless trouble" than they are now. I cannot expect a time to come when they will not be a source of care and anxiety and hope and fear-no, not even when they have gone forth to homes of their owl and have their own little ones around them. Do they pay now. Here I am wearing old clothes and try Ing to brush up my hat to make 1t look new that my Johnny and Sammy may have new kits and reefers and hats and shoes and look as we'll as other children. They do kick out shoes so dreadfully, and they haven't the first compunction of conscience about it | either. They tear and smash and destroy
 and are Unto everything" particularly | the baby.
 Does two-year-old baby pay for itseli | up to the time it reaches that interesting | agei Sometimes I think not I thought | so yesterday when my owl baby slipped into my study and ''serubbedn the carpet and his best white dress With my bottl, | of ink. He was play ing in the coal hoi ! ten minutes after a clean dress was put or
 him, and later in the day he pasted fit,
 cents worth of postage stamps on the par Tor wall and poured a dollars worth of tn, choicest "White Rose, perfumery out ot | the window "to see it vain" Then he dug out the center of a nicel, baked loaf of cake, and was found in tn, middle of the dining room table with tn. sugar bowl between his legs and most oi | the contents in his stomach -1soT .si-- sss He has already cost over $100 in doe | tors bills, and l feel that I am right il
 attributing my few gray hairs to tn. misery I endured walking the floor witt
 him at night during the first year of hi, life.
 | What has he ever done to pay me fol that.
 An, f hear his little feet patterine along out in the hall. I hear his little ripple of laughter because he has escaped from his mother and has found his way ul II n " Strrdv ata fnrlslIa,, p,,ts h.
 door is closed. The worthless little vaga
 bond can't get in, and won't open it foi him. No, won't. I can't be disturbed
 when I'm writing. He can just cry if h, wants to. I won't be bothered for-''rat
 tat, tat" go his dimpled knuckles on tn
 door. I sit in silence. | "Rat -tat-tat,"
 | I sit perfectly still.
 "Papa."
 No reply.
 "Peeze, papa" Grim silence
 Baby tum in-peeze, papa" He shall not come in.
 My papa"
 write on.
 "Papa," says the little voice: ''I lul
 my papa. Peeze let baby inn am not quite a brute and I throw | open the door. In he comes with out stretched little arms, with shining eyes with laughing face. catch him up int, | my arms, and his warm, soft little arm | go around my neck, the not very clean lit
 tie cheek is laid close to mine, the bab,
 voice says sweetly: | q Tub my papa" Does he pay!
 Well, guess he does. He has cost m
 many anxious days and nights. He hai
 cost me time and money and care and sell
 sacrifice. He may cost me pain and sor row. He has cost much. But he has paiS
 for it all again and again and again il
 whispering those three little words int.
 my ears, ''I Tub papa | Our children pay when their very frs
 feeble little cries fill our hearts with tn
 mother love and the father love that ough
 never to fail among all earthly passions.
 Do your children pay!