The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-06-28
Speaking Harshly to Children.

Many kind-hearted people, who would
not speak an i'll word TO or of anyone,
let themselves fall into habit of speak.
make themselves believe this is the
way to make children more obedient.
AS an example, we heard the mother
of a delicate, high-strung child say:
Susie, go wash your face and hands
and then come and let me comb your
hair and put clean bib on you. Now,
do it right away. You know mamma
will get her stick off the mantel- piece
and whip if you don't mind her."
How did the child take this COM
mand? oh, she instantly drew down
her brows and began to cry in passion
ate manner. "See that" said the
young mother. THAT'S the usual
scene when she has to wash or comb;
it is always accompanied with howl.
| declare she is the most peevish, fret
tul child l ever saw"
"Come to me, SUSIE" | said. Let
me wash your face and hands and
comb your hair. | will do it so nicely"
"No, no." she sobbed. "You will
scrub soap in my eyes like mamma al
ways does"
al will not" l said. Just come
and we will make believe those two
little dimpled hands are little white
mice creeping out of the water to
pibble soap"
She came in kind of hesitating way.
| drew her upon my lap, and putting
her cunning little dimpled hands under
water, held the soap above them, and
lifting one of her hands, said, "Come,
mousey, and get some soap" / rubbed
her hand with the soap, then putting it
back on the dish beside me, cleansed
the little hand, calling it mousey,"
and telling her the other hand must
have some too, so it could look pretty
like that one. She was soon in high
spirits and thought it fun. When her
hands were wiped thoroughly dry, we
then prepared to wash her face, and she
again began to fret for fear we would
put soap in her eyes. "No, we won't
put soap in those eyes," | said. Lets
say they are two black mice that don't
like soap; we won't give them a bit"
All right" she said. eyes, you
can't have any soap, cause you cried
and don't like soap" We washed her
This head looks like those mice had
slept in it last night. Now we will
comb it all out nicely, and the mice
will have to creep in a hole to find
another bed"
She readily assented, and we soon
had it combed and plated and the clean
bib on, and little Susie was in great
glee over the mice eating soap, and
having to hunt another sleeping place.
The work of washing and combing had
been play for her. The job that had
always been the young mothers horror
was one that she had made so for her
self. 1t had never entered her mind
that there was a pleasant way to do a
disagreeable thing with her babe. She
tried too harsh a plan, and the child
rebelled against it.
We have seen many children stripped
in this way of all delicate sensibilities,
and their whole childhood one of cheer
lessness, being taught that they were
to obey just because they were com
manded to do so, and not any eXplana-
ton given as to why they should.
Kindly explain to little ones why they
should do thing, and they are always
ready to obey; but do not seek to drive
them to do your bidding, as that invali
ably stirs up all the ugly temper in
them. Children are ever ready to be
guided, and should be taught in kind
way just what is expected of them
Rural Life.
HUNDREDS of people write: at is
impossible to describe the good Hoods
Sarsaparilla has done me-" 1t will be