Mexico weekly ledger., 1894-09-13
I'd Prize
How to secure Chi!d's Obedience.


In no better way can the differ
ence between this and a former gen
Grafton be emphasized than by the
changed position Of children in a
family. In our country, at least,
strict, repressive, hidebound paren'
tai discipline has given away to
sympathetic, careful development of
all that by nature is good in a child
And we no longer give much thought
to the doctrines of total depravity
and original sin in our infants. We
rather regard them a. dear guests,
whose welfare and happiness it is
our great desire to secure. Chill
dren's motives should always be I'M
derstood.
"Will," said Wits grandfather,
sternly, "did you pull up one of my
little pear trees by the roots?"
eyes, SIR said the boy, with
anything but 4 cllprit's face.
"Well, what did you do it for?"
pursued the grandfather.
"Why, grandpa, do you want the
COW to cat green apples off your
trees, and get sick and poison the
milk"
"No, certainly not
"Wrll, pulled up the pear tree
because 1t was just the right size for
a cow whip, and drove off yonr cow
from your apple trees with it, said
Will, with offended dignity.
The chiId's motive was praise
worthy, and he was simply shown
how :, whip for the COW might an
other time he obtained without in
jury to the young orchard.
One great secret of goo,! discip-
line is not to inquire too much.
Govern hy principles, not laws.
Where possible, keep your hands
off. Better too great freedom than
too little. Give a little loop hole for
disobedience. When the daughter
goes TO spend the afternoon with a
friend, don't mention the precise
minute for ner to return. The con-
stant fear lest she may be five min
utes late will mar the visit. Say,
rather, ''Re at home in time to meet
papa with hands and face washed
and hair brushed. Or, "Remem-
ber your music lesson at five"
Then, should the little girl be a
few minutes late, it is not disobe-
dience, and punishment need not
darken sunny afternoon. "Bet.
ter not" Will secure obedience
without punishment, when "must
not" attached to threat, will
often fail. Unless seif-government
is taught, parental discipline is i'm.
perfect.
One thing more. Let the chill
dren feel that they are necessary to
mamma and papa as helpers, COM
panions and confidants. See how
quickly the little one will fly to
help, if only mamma needs that
he'n. The greatest inducemen. to
be orderly and put things in their
places is that it saves mammals s
steps. II the mother s head aches,
let her rest against her little girls
shoulder, and see how quickly re-,
sponsige is the love and sympathy
OF that wee heart. How, after that,
she will tip toe around and whisper
| in her play, lest she should make
the pain worse. II you have a
growing boy, take his arm when
you walk with him, and make much
OF his strength. Unselfish love
cannot be widely severed from obe-
dience. And finally, you must be
interested in all that interests your
children. Never be too busy to
listen to long tales OF happenings at
school. Try 10 be radiant over the
good times coming. Half of a
child's happiness consists in antici-
patton. \ promised treat next
week will keep up pleasurable
excitement that will color with rosy
hues the ordinary humdrum life of
| every day.