The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-01-07
Do Children Pay?

Do Children Pay:
"Sometimes I just think children
don't pay" said one Of my careworn
and discouraged neighbors one day
What do you think about lt"
"What do you think about it? ?"
"Well, | don't know" I replied and
inv conscience smote Inc even whiAs |
spoke. But then 1 said, in mental
self-reproach and self-eXcuse for say
ing it,. 81 know I didn't pay" and /
dou't think I did.
But when it comes to my own
bairns-do they pay?
Well, they are "a sight of trouble" ."
Indeed they are, and they cost time
aud money, and pain and sorrow.
There are three of them, and they
are little ones still, and my friends
who have larger childrent tell Inc that
I need not expect time when my ba-
hies will be less trouble than they are
now. can not expect time to come
when they will be source of care and
anxiety, and hope and fear-no, not
even when they have gone forth to
homes Of their own. and have their
own little ones around them.
Do they pay now? Here / am,
wearing old clothes and trying to
brush my hat to make it look like
new, that my Johnny and Sammy
may lave new kits and REFERS, anu
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, aud arc iuto everything,
particularly the baby.
Does two-year-old baby pay. for IT
self up to the time it rearhes that IN
teresting age? Sometimes l think
not. ! thought 80 yesterday when my
own baby slipped into my study and
scrubbed the carpet aud lis hest white
dress with my bottle of ink. He was
playing in the roal-hod ten minutes
after a clean dress was put on HIM,
aud later in the day he pasted fifty
cents worth of postage stamps on the
parlor wall, and poured a dollars
worth of the choicest white rose per-
fume out OF the window Ito see it
VAIN"
Then he dug out the center of q
nicelv-baked loaf OF cake, and was
found in the middle of the dining
room table, with the sugar-b bowl be-
tween his legs, and most of its con-
tents in his stomach.
| He has already cost more than Sl00
in doctors bills, and feel that ain
right in attributing my few gray hairs
| to the misery I endured while walk
ing the floor with him at night during
the first year Of his life.
What has he ever done to pay me
for that?
All! L hear his little feet pattering
along out in the hall. I hear his little
ripple of laughter because he has es-
caped from his mother, and found his
way up to my study at a forbidden
hour. But the door is closed. The
worthless little vagabond can't get in,
and I won't let him in. No, won't.
can't he disturbed when Pm writ
ing. He can just cry, if he wants to /;
| I won't be bothered for-"rat, tat,
tat" go his dimpled knuckles on the
door. I sit in perfect silence. "Rat,
tat, tat" 49,. ....
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,n says the little voice. ~
lub my papa peeze let baby in"
I am not quite brute, and | throw
open the door. In he comes, with
outstretched little arms, with shining
eyes, with laughing face. l catch him
up i'm nv arms, and his warm, soft lit
lie arnis go around my neck, the not
very clean little cheek is laid close to
mine, tue baby-voice says swcetly, Il
lub my papa"
Does he pay?
Well, / guess he does ! He has caus-
ed me many anxious days and nights.
EIe has cost me time and money and
splf-sacritice. He may cause me pain
and sorrow. He has cost much. But
he has paid for it all again and again
in whispering these three little words
in my ear, 81 lub papa"
Our children pay when their very
first feeble little cries fill our hearts
with mother-love and father-lore that
ought never to fail among all earthly
passions.
Do your children pay?-Detroit Free
Press.
The Childvcn'S Christmas.