Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-08-12
90 They pAY
Children Something's Do Not Seem Alto
gether Perfsot, but They Do Pay.

Sometimes just think children don't
pGy," said one Of my careworn and dis
coaraged nei2hbors one day. What do
yon think about it;~
We'll. don't know" replied, and nv
conscience smote me even while | spoke
But then said in mental self reproach
and self excuse for saying IL, II know
didn't pay" and don't think did.
But when it comes to my own BARNS
do they payf
Well, they are "a sight Of trouble" In
deed they are, and they cost time and
money and pain and sorrow.
There are three Of them and they are
little things still, and my friends who have
older children tell me that / need not ex-
pect time TO come when my babies will
be less trouble" than they are now.
cannot expect a time to come when they
will not be a source Of care aud 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 nowf Here am wearing
old clothes and trying to brush up my nat
to make 1t look new that my Johnny and
Sammy may have new kits and REFERS
and hats aud shoes and look as well as
other children They do kick out shoes so
Function Of conscience about IL, either.
They tear and smash and destroy and are
into everything" particularly the baby.
Does a 2-year-old baby nay for itself up
to the time it reaches that Interesting ages
Sometimes think not. thought so yes
terday when my own baby slipped into my
study and scrubbed" the carpet and his
best white dress with my bottle OF ink He
was playing in the coal bod ten minutes
after clean dress was put on him, and
later in the day he pasted fifty cents worth
OF postage stamps on the parlor wall aud
poured dollars worth Of the choicest
White Rose" perfumery out of the win
dow ito see it vain"
Then he dug out the center OF nicely
baked loaf of cake, and was found In the
middle Of the dining room table with the
sugar bowl between his legs and most of
the contents in his stomach.
He has already cost over 500 In doctors
bills, aud feel that am right in atrrib-
uting my few gray hairs to the misery
endured walking the floor with him at
night during the first year of his life.
What has be ever done to pay me for
thati
Ali hear his little feet pattering along
out in the hall. hear his little ripple OF
laughter because he has escaped from his
mother and has found his way up to nv
study at a forbidden hour. But the door Is
closed The worthless little vagabond
can't get In, and ! won't open 1t for him.
No, won't | can't be disturbed when
I'm writing. He can just cry If he wants
to. won't be bothered for-"rat, tat, tat, /"
go his dimpled knuckles Oh the door.
Sit in siienca
''Rat-tat-tat."
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" says the little voice; 81 lub my
papa. Peeze let baby inl''
am not quite brute and throw omen
the door Ia he comes with outstretched
little arms, with shining eyes, with laugh
ing face. catch him up into nv arms.
and his warm, soft little arms 20 around
my neck, the not very clean little cheek is
laid close TO mine, the baby voice says
sweetly:
Il hub my papa"
Does he pay9
Well, guess he does. He has cost me
many anxious days and nights. He has
cost me time and money and care and self
sacrifice He may cost me pain and sor-
row. He has cost much But he has paid
for 1t all again and again and again in
whispering those three little words into
my ears, Il hub papa"
Our children pay when their very first
feeble little cries fill our hearts with the
mother love and the father love that ought
never to fail among all earthly passions.
Do your children pay'-J. Il D. in De-
troit Free Press