Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-10-11
AS the Twig is Bent. "

derstand and talk"
81 wouldn't think of punishins
a child before it is two years old. .
''I don't believe in corporal pun.
ishment; ! never whip my child.
rem"
Often do we read or hear of sucl,
expressions as the above. When
read them, l usually think they
were written by some one whose
children never materialized. When
hear them, I look for family of
| ill-trained children.
] have no quarrel with any plas,
that teaches child that important
lesson Of obedience, and if it can be
taught without inflicting physical
pain, 30 much the better; but to
allow q child to become two years
old or even one year old, without
learning that there is will above
its own, seems to me like commit
ting sin against that child.
Some day it must learn, and each
year, each month, makes the lesson
the harder.
Where there are attendants to see
to every baby-want, and crafty ev-
cry whim, it may not matter so
much to other folks; but it is the
every day child of every day peo-
pie with which / deal, and it is, to
say the least, annoying and incon-
venient to have child, especially
if it belongs to someone else, appro-
priating everything within reach,
unchecked and unreproved.
Moral suasion may DO very we'll
for elder children, but never could
appreciate its powers during baby
hood. / read the experience re-
Gently Of mother who was a strong
believer in the "Come away, baby;
there's darling, now do," theory,
until her own little one began to
creep about. Like other babies, he in
vestigated everything within reach,
being especially attracted by the
books which he could reach and
pull on the floor.
For awhile the mother patiently
replaced the books and carried baby
away. Just as often he went back
again, until patience ceased to be a
virtue. Then theory gave way to
something more practical-the mis-
chievcus little hands were punished
and the books were left in peace.
The child had learned q valua-
BILE lesson, and the mother learned
one, too. She soon had the con-
ISOLATION of knowing she could
take her child away from home,
without being constantly mortified
by his meddling. And what a
comfort that is to both visitor and
visited.
Don't we all know the child whose
very appearance gives us chill?
"There comes frankie 20 we cry
in dismay. "Get things out of the
way. Put the bric-a-brac out of
reach, shove the books back from
the edge of the table, fasten the
cupboard door, and above all, lock
the machine drawers.
Every precaution is taken, and
then Master frankie keeps the whole
household running after him, un-
til he takes his final departure, the
signal for long drawn sigh of re-
1 lief.
| We learn to dislike the child, and
yet he isn't the least bit to blame.
Why hasn't his mother taught him
to let things alone !?
| Oh she couldn't bear to whip
her baby, and she can't make him
mind without; and ten TO one, she
never will make him mind; and the
ungoverned baby will become an
ungoverned boy, and the chances
are, an ungoverned man.
No, of course, we don't like TO
punish the baby; we don't like to
give him medicine either, but we
do it. So do we punish him il he
needs it.
Sounds cruel, does it / don't
think so; it only shows that am
willing to do disagreeable thing for
the sake Of my child. 1t is not the
heartless mother who Furnishes
} baby's tears have frequently com.
pany-but the wise mother wha
looks beyond the little present, into
the greater future, when the child
: she governs now will have thereby
: learned to govern himself.
! l would not put temptation in Z