The morning call., 1891-04-26
CHILDREN'S BAD HABITS.
Often UlWittingly Ilculcated by Mistaken
Mothers

"Tommy, you have disobeyed me- and l
am going TO punish you, so walk into this
dark cloSet!
The voice was cold and stern, and the
manner was equally unyielding. Tommy,
crying and struggling with all his might,
was pushed AMI dragged into the closet,
which was certainly dark enough for all
practical purposes, and the key was turned
in the lock.
Mamma, it's so dark! I'm afraid. Please
let me outl" pleaded the abiect Tommy.
But he was not yet subdued. The mother,
stealing noiselessly up to the door. groaned
in most horrible manner, an ratified a
piece of chain.
"Oh, mamma" shrieked the frightened
child, please let me out! Pll never be
bad any mOre!"
Then the door was opened and the little
prisoner came out white-faced and Wild
eyed.
This was Tommy's first lesson.
Here, Tommy. dear; take this nice med
icine the doctor left for you. Come. now +,
medicine"
II thought YOU said it was good!' shrieked
Tommy, when lie had gulped down the
nauseous mixture.
$50 it is, deaI-good for sick boys" was
the calm reply. as the mother put away the
spoon and bottle.
That was Tommy's second lesson.
Tommy had been standing at the gate for
more than an hour, watching for his mother.
The day was cold and the wind blew upon
him mercilessly, but still he waited, his
eager little face pressed against the bars of
the gate. At last be saw her coming, way
down the street, and then he went rushing
out to meet her, his cheeks glowing and his
eyes shining.
Give it to me. mammal Oh, give it to
me-" he cried. holding up both hands.
Give you what, Tommy" asked the
mother, pushing past him.
why, my candy. mamma, the candy you
promised to get me-"
81 forgot IT, Tommy. You'll have to do
without it this evening"
but, mamma, you promised it," cried
Tommy in the midst of copious tears, as
though that were reason enough.
But didn't you hear me say forgot it?"
asked the mother, as though that also were
reason enough. And then Tommy was sent
20 bed supperess because he cried
There were several lessons for Tommy in
this-i really cannot tell how many.
Mary" said Tommy's father one day in
grieved voice, how does it come that
Tommy Is growing to be such coward?
| wanted to send him upstairs after my
slippers last night, and nothing could in
duce him to go because it was dark. The
idea of a boy being afraid of the dark!
He's going to be a perfect milksop-and l
was so anxious for him to be a tearl ess.
manly boy.
And then the mother said she couldn't ac-
count for ii in any way in the world. She
was sure there had never been any coward
ice in her family. She had never dreamed
of such thing as being afraid in the dark
when she was a child, and it was a mystery
to her how Tommy got such notions into his
head.
Mary" said Tommy's father again, a few
days later, twice lately l have caught
Tommy in a deliberate lie and [ have sus-
pected him Of lying half dozen times in as
many days. Now, lying is one thing posi-
lively cannot stand. have tried so hard 10
teach the boy to be perfectly frank and
honest and to tell the truth at whatever
risk"
And Tommy's mother said that she really
couldn't understand it, that Tommy's train
ing had been of the most careful kind; but
she thought Tommy must have learned to
tell falsehoods from that last servant-girl.
As for herself, she had never told lie in
her life.
Whereupon Tommy was called pand was
lectured and talked to and talked at until his
brain was in a whirl. He did not say any
thing In his own defense. He might have
said great deal, bnt he was no orator. and
besides he did not understand the whole
situation himself. Even If he did under
stand it all it would not have been very
polite, would it, for Tommy to say that his
first lesson in cowardlce, and meanness.
and selfiShneSs, and falSahood and deceit,
were taught him by his mother?
The above is merely little series OF
pictures. They we're not taken with a
Kodak, but the camera was very good
pictures. Have you ever seen anything like
them?-St. Louis Globe Democrat.