The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-04-20
abe 9uusebulo.
Justice with Children.

So much has been said about the
management of children that mothers
begin to weary of it all, and vet of chill
dren l wish to speak. Would that my
voice could reach every woman's heart,
whether mother, sister or teacher.
First, l wish to lead you back to your
own childhood. Did you ever begin to
do some odd job that you had not been
told to do, but that you supposed your
self fully capable of performing, eX-
pecting to be thanked for kindly help
ing, only to find that you had done the
worst piece of mischief that you pos
sibly could, and, more than all, were
told that you had done it out of pure
mischievousness? 1t you never had
such an experience, il must have been
because servants were so plenty that
nothing was left to do, or that you were
too indolent to exert yourself. A friend
that | was visiting had a bright boy of
six years, with loving disposition, al
ways willing to help every one, but APP
parently the most mischievous of chill
dren. His mother was in despair. She
confided her trouble to me, and re-
solved to watch him, and see if could
not find out the reason he had won such
a name as " Little Mischief"
The next morning at the table, my
friend remarked that the weather was
30 beautiful that she must remove her
plants from the sunny window they
occupied to the veranda; but she added,
81 do dread to do it, it is so tedious,
and it tires me So" l noticed how the
little eyes sparkled, and knew, as we'll
as if he had told me, that the little fell
low had heard what she said, and would
try to do the much-dreaded job for her.
Not long after she ran over to Mrs. AS,
and no sooner did the gate shut than
Harry was active. The flower stand
was already in the accustomed place,
waiting for the plants. One by one,
carefully, he lifted the heavy pots, and,
without breaking a leaf, transferred
them to their summer quarters. Some
times he paused to rest, then went to
work again. His face was picture of
happiness. He was helping his mamma.
/ watched, and wondered if this would
also be laid to his mischievous propen-
stiles. My friend was gone rather
longer than she expected, for, as she
told me afterwards, Mrs. A. had love
of bonnet that she must see, as well
as several costly additions to her parlor
furniture. Ali there lay the secret of
her discontinued looks, for she had
told me that owing to several losses
she would not be able to expend much
money on her summer outfit. AS she
came in the gate, her face passed
through all the phases of surprise, dis
may, and finally anger.
Harry, come here this instant! What
have you been doing? How dare you
touch my plants?" Singing blows fell
on the hands that had toiled so thank
lessly "YOu are always into some
mischief" she exclaimed. l watched
the child; he was heart-broken. His
bosom heaved, and his sobs were pitiful.
600 to your room and stay the rest of
the morning" He obeyed. "There!
what did l tell you? How can man
age such boy?" "By simply under
standing him." l replied. "What do
you mean?" This; your little boy
wanted to help you; l read it in his
face. His motives were the best. You
said it tired you so, and he generously
did the disagree cable task for you"
" But if he had dropped one?" T" He
did not, and if he had, broken plant
is better than broken heart. tell
you caudidly, if you do not act differ
emily with that boy, he is ruined"
They were harsh words, but l knew
the mother heart would in time forgive
them "What can do?" "Put your
self in his place. Find out his motive,
if you can, and, believe me, ten times
out of twelve, what passes for mischief
is only wish to tighten your burdens;
desire of the loving heart to help
you"
She went with me to the veranda.
h. 7 H.
her attention to the heavy pots, and then
to the little aching arms and back, and, ,
after she had acknowledged she was
glad they were moved, L begged her to
tell her little boy the same. "What!
acknowledge that l did wrong to pun
ish him? would lose all control over
him if did that" "Try this time and
see," l urged. And she did. When
she entered Harry's room he sat in
chair by the window, quietly watching
the floating clouds. Still smarting from
sense of injustice, he did not look
around or smile. "Harry, come here. !"
He obeyed. "Why did you move the
plants? Tell me the exact truth" He
looked up to her face, and, reading en-
couragement there, he simply said ::
Because you said it tired you 80. l
lots. l did not break one, not one,
mamma, and they were heavy. Are
you glad now did it, mamma?" eyes,
yes, Harry, and l was cross and hurt
your hand. l am sorry" "Oh, it
does not hurt any more now. Next
time, I'll wait till you tell me.'
They came back together, and l saw
by the looks of my friend that she had
learned lesson not soon to be forgot
ten. That was six years ago. They
called while passing through our town
this winter, and more gentlemanly,
helpful boy, would be hard to find. She
said: 81 have you to thank. From the
day of the much-needed lesson, |
watched, and looked into the motives
of my child, and always found that the
so-called mischief arose from desire
to be useful. soon got acquainted with