The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-11-07
THE SMALL BOY.
Something About a Very Need
full Institution.

Something About a Very Need
full Institution.
The small boy is an institution in
himself and we like him.
The most beautiful sight in the world
ito parents) is the lear little fellow
when he has Just donned his first pair
of trousers and stands with head erect
and both chubby fists thrust deep in
his pockets, looking proud and happy
and too sweet for anything.
And his charms grow apace until his
trousers lengthen and su>penders take
the place of the pretty shirt waists
when, according to some grumpy old
folks, he becymes considerable of a
nuisance and Oftentimes a .error.
The small boy is the nearest ap-
proach to perpetual motion" than we
are likely cver to SIC.
He is never still or at rest Even
when asleep he is kicking the bed COW
cring off continually.
He wants to know everything and
the questions he asks puzzle the wisest
scholars to answer.
He is a curious mixture of contrari-
ness.
If there is anything he hates it is
water-whcn he is being washed-as
all mothers know who wrestle with
him on such occasions.
Yet if he can find a pond or a canal
inside of ten miles he will revel in the
water and take his chances of drown
ing for the pleasure a bath gives him.
He is at times the LATEST of living
things-at other times the most indus
trious.
If asked by his parents to weed the
garden. do an errand or any little
household chore. he Immediately is so
tired" and looks so mournful that in
pity for the delicate and overworked
little hunbug he is allowed TO slide out
of it
Ten minutes afterwards he may be
found helping a neighbours boy work
thrice as hard or racing around the
bases in a game of baseball, shouting
with joy and l~ivelier than a cricket.
The small boy is always eating. The
only time he doesn't is when at the
table, for his appetite is then spoiled
for proper and nourishing food by his
frequent visits to the jam pantry or to
the fruit trees in his or somebody else's
garden. The greencr tb4 fIait the bet
ter he likes it and stomach aches in
consequence have 70 terror for him.
No one love- TO tease more than lie
rs his sister knows to her sorrow, and
it seems to give him the intensest de-
light: yet, If he is leased he thinks he is
dreadtully treated and makes an awful
time about it.
The collections of bric-a-brac that a
small boys pockets contain has ever
excited our wonder.
When the little chap is asleep and
his fond mother takes his tiny trousers
to put one or more patches on the
knees and seat she is always surprised
that such a small garment should have
such a great weight.
And she can't understand it until she
happens to strike the pockets. Then
ont come the curiosities one after an
other and carefully they are laid out on
the table before her. At last the
pockets are emptied, but not before the
explorer thinks they are, like a magic
box. i~nexhaustible and endless
She forgets about the needful patches
for awhile to gaze at the queer array of
treasures and wonder what on earth
they are good for and how the dear
child ever got them.
There's a top and a piece of string
ft,,,I - ., H. -,.,l,. l,ttn, Ill.
stones, marbles. knife without blades,
nails, beans, wad of chewing gum,
more string, bits of lead and tin, a
whistle, cake crumbs. nuts, fishhooks
she nearly got in her fingers, cigarette
pictures, bcnt pins which have been on
the railway track and run over, broken
bits of toys and tools, stones, a bean
shooter, a leather sucker, a ball. pieces
of looking glass and colored glasses,
some putty, a tip cat, rubber rings,
postage stamps, a circus programme,
peach pits. a cork float and lots of other
things which only a boy knows the
names of.
When the patches are finished each
and every article is carefully replaced
in the pockets for the mother is well
aware that if one was left out it would
quickly be missed and no peace in the
house until it was found. !
Next to seeing the small boy trudging
to school with books and slate under
his arm we love to watch him at play.
What energy and enthusiasm and
skill he shows. How his eyes sparkle. !
How rosy are his plump cheeks. What
q snap to his voice. You can neal his
merry shouts far away. Little he cares
if the weather is cold or hot or rainy.
He's having fun and-suddenly his
calls, '..Iohnnie," He don't an
swer and keeps right on playing, though
spirited and shouting no more.
...Johnnie,," The other boys look at
him to see what he'll do. He does
nothing. .'Johnnie! John! John An
You hear me??"
Then goes back a slow and feeble:
"Yes'm,' Come here instantly An
other faint ''Yes'm," but he don't go
his playmates stop the game. to
await res ults. joint His father
called that time and the o meant bus
mess. Yes. sir!!" and like a streak he
toward his home.
The small boy of to-day is highly
1t seems as if all the inventors in the
world were getting up new playthings
md games and tools and books for his
benefit, and hat his parents
amt spend enough money for his pleas
ire and entertainment
Compare what u grandfathers or
that we ourselves had in childhood !
the playthinps tl,at the modern |