Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-03-06
The Little Ones.

Don't leave the little one to go to sleep
alone Spare short time to smooth the
sunny curIs and stroke with loving, mag
netic hands the dimpled, rosy. tired
limbs when have trod 50 many miles in
play throughout the day. There is no
other one like mother No one can usurp
her throne and receive the same living
royalty from the baby heart
Give baby boy warm, violet, scented
bath. then soft fresh nignt-dress, and he
will soon drop into dreamland. for the
body is refreshed and is happy if mother
is by. Don't leave what ought to be a
holy pleasure, and Is at least a sacred
duty. to an Indifferent raid, or, still
worse, put child in an unlighted room
alone, to suffer all the tortures which the
dark" has for nearly all children. What
are these few minutes to any adult COM
pared with the eternity of horrors suffered
pecialIy children, should 90 to sleep with
happy memories lowering so near that
tie cherry lips smile in sleep as if parted
by watt from an angels wings. 1t is a
holy thing to make those little ones
happy No queen Of society wins such a
triumph as the woman who has earned
the love of children. How can some put
off so impatientIy the clinging baby
fingers and carelessly consign them to
the care of the ignorant and Uft-timeS
brutal nature of the servant or nurse who
frightens them with horrible bugaboo
stories? How can mother be so criminal
to deprive her offspring of its heaven
born right to her love and tenurre,t,
most judicioUs care mentally and ply 81
cally.
Always choose :omething of a pleasant
nature for twilight talks or bed time
stories. However necessary censure may
be, make the patn easy for confession.
There are days when real naughtinesses
seem very prolific, but the mother who
rules by love, and not fear, will be sure to
hear remOrseful regrets for all the wiIlfuI-
ness Of the day. These are hard enough
for children to make without having q
stern, frowning face to brighten away that
which if not told will lead to deceit.
When Won sit beside the little bed. tuck in
the d0Nny coyerct with generous Caresses
then it vii! all well up. Parental fear has
ruined many a sensitive, child. Childish
sorrow and genuine repentance of the
heavy little hearts Is sufficient punishment
for the child who is old enough to realize
and voluntarily Confesses or bPgs forgive
ness for that. This Is which he feels is
wrong the right road to honest boy and
manhood, if it is received as it should be.
not by harsh measures. but with loving alb
soluteIy by firm Yet atfectionate mother.
1t is not necessary TO inAict ply steal pun
ishment TO reform a fault in a child. If
obedience is demanded early there is no
reason for undue severity. 1t is the neg
lecJ at this period which often necessitates
extreme measures later on. when he has
unconsciously grown beyond control. En-
ter into their play, their studies and See
what they are doing. If it is a choice be-
tween so.isty and the children let the first
10rather than the last They have the
best right. The hours of childhood and
its opportunities can never return, and
errors then rooted will crop up through
out life. If we enter with loving zest into
all that interests them their little pleasures
will not prove tiresome to US on however
exalted a plane we tread. IF frmness and
love lead the way children will grow up be-
loved by every one and live to reverence
and LESS their parents.-New England
Homestead.