The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-04-24
SOCIETY," AND TIE RAsY.
The Little Fellow Makes Some Remarks
That are FILLED with Wisdom.

The Little Fellow Makes Some Remarks
That are FILLED with Wisdom.
There was Baby born--a brand new,
and came quite unintentionally.
Said Society to the Baby, "You don't
own that land-get off,
Said the Baby to Society: ssHow alb
surd you are! Imust have some land
to sit on or can't stay You don't ex-
pect me to live in the water, do you?'
Said Society to the Baby: 1T is inn
material to me where you live, or
whether you live at all; but you can't
stay on the face of the earth without
paying for it. To sit or stand or walk,
or to have your little grave in-you can't
have any land without paying for it!'
"All rightI' said the Baby briskly
st seems absurd to me, but I'm young
yet. I'll pay with all my heart VIXEN
I'm bigger. Just feed me well now,
and when I'm grown I'll be credit to
you. The more you do for me now the
more I'll do for you then-see? And l
can pay back compound interest, for the
work of a smart person is worth vastly
more than his keep"
And the Baby opened his mouth in
cheerful confidence.
But Society put dirt into it.
"Child," said Society, ssyou can't have
food without paying for it"
sBut / must have food or Ican't liver
said the Baby. 'sAnd the better the food
the better for you when I'm bigger
SIT is immaterial to me whether you
live or die, or how you live or die" said
Society. 'You have got to pay for every
thing you get; and because you can't
your parents mustl''
"Parentsw echoed the Baby. "What
are they?"
"You young heathenr' cried Society.
"Your parents have brought you into
the world in accordance with inevitable
laws of nature. This is an immense
benefit to you, because the world is so
pleasant, and therefore you should re-
gard them with veneration, gratitude
and love, no matter what kind of people
they are, or what they do to you after
ward. To bring you into the world
was a duty and privilege to them, an
honor and a benefit to you, therefore you
owe them obedience and devotion, but
they owe me for your board and keep
'sYou don't seem to me to make that
quite clear, said the Baby. ut doesn't
hang together. You say it was by inev-
liable natural law that came at all?'
EYES," said Society.
"Then why should owe them for
doing what they ought to do and couldn't
help doing? And if it was what they
ought to do and couldn't help doing, why
should they pay you for it?' asked the
Baby.
'.You owe them for their affection,
care and support" said Society.
"But / have to have their affection,
care and support or couldn't i've"
said the Baby. 'I've right to it"
81 tell you it makes no difference to
me whether you live or not" said So
ciety.
sob, come nowl know better than
that, if I am young" said the Baby.
"Who are you, anyway
II am Society"
'sAnd what are you made Off
CoplO, oelfu OOCl0ty, Will Soluo T0-
luctance.
"Ahal / thought SO. And the better
the people are the better you are-is not
that SOP
eyes," said Society, with even more
reluctance.
''And the people are all babies first,
aren't they? And the better. the babies
are the better the people are, and the
better you are?" cried the Baby, who
was beginning to take notice, and feel
ing its feet. "Talk to me about parents!
My business is with you, you old fossil!
My parents are temporary guardians,
but you and are permanently con-
nectedl Why, you short sighted ostrich!
What hurts me hurts you, and what
helps me helps you, and without me
there wouldn't be any you. And there
you sit and plaster your wounds and
nurse your diseases and fight your vices
and pretend you own the earth! You
are hollow, crackbrained, discrepant
old rudiment! Be off with you, dodo
I'm Society myself"
But Society, though on its last legs,
was bigger than the Baby, and put more
dirt into his mouth, and the Baby died.
But there are more babies. Charlotte
Perkins Stetson in Kate Fields Wash
ton