San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-03-07
CONTRIBUTED SCRAPS.
Written for the LIGHT.


The habit OF Tuning and fussing
about triffies and small pitiful
things, unworthy of notice or
thought, is the only enjoyment
many women indulge in, at their
homes amid the home circle. Out
of their homes, they are all smiles,
courtesy, sympathy and softness
of voice and manner, paragons OF
amiability and good temper, but
when they enter the home circle,
they fling off their masks and
resume their own faces.
Nothing pleases these fnming,
fussiDg wives and mothers. They
find fault with everything, and
ding dong at their husbands and
children from "early morn to dewy
eve."
1t is dreadful for children to have
to grow up in so chilling and un-
congenial an atmosphere. Child
hood should bask in a food of sum
shine and geniality. Sympathy,
kindness and love should be their
meat and drink. The culture of
the pure hearts of children is sadly
neglected by many parents. Nay,
they are worse than neglected.
Fuming and fussing parents ur-
consciously stint the growth of the
hearts of their children, and render
childhood period of fear, trem-
bling and misery.
Whnt rfa fhi,or
must be to child to feel that it is
simply impossible to please a
father, or mother! 1t is natural
for children to love their parents
and to desire to please them, but a
fussy and scolding mother discour-
ages, saddens and hardens the ten
der little hearts of her children and
embitters their lives even in child
hood.
1t is a crime Of the deepest dye to
render children unhappy in their
homes. 1t is sinful to convert a
home into prison house by bar
ring out the sunshine and draping
it in gloom and darkness.
For Gods sake, give the hearts
of children a chance to grow and
expand in their homes, and to
snatch all the gladness and joy
that is possible in delicious child
hood. Reprove them, "more in sor-
row than in anger" when they
have thoughtlessly done some
thing deserving of reproof, but
don't scream and bawl at them,
with frowning brows and in angry
tones. Make home pleasant and
sunshiny to them, and they will
love it, and fly to it, as a haven Of
rest and happiness.
>Treat children with tenderness,
sympathy and kindness. Lavish
love on them. Praise and encour-
age them. Educate their lit
tie hearts in the school
Of sunshine and kindness.
Rest assured, children feel far more
acutely than adult persons con-
ceive they do, perhaps; they feel
more deeply from the fact that
reason lies dormant in their minds.
1t is cruel and inhuman to chill
and stifle the feelings of a child,
by rendering their homes prison
houses to them, by fussing and
scolding at them from morning to
night and calling them fools,
brutes, etc.
Parental authority is too much
relaxed, already for the good of
children and the welfare of society.
Its weak relaxation ruins, an
nualIy, thousands OF children. But
parental authority does not imply
harshness, or unkindness. Very
far from it. Parental authority is
tempered by love, and exercised,
sorrowfully and mercifully, ain
mercy, not in wrath"
Too many children are turned
loose, like horses in a range, to
grow up as they please by parents.
This is a total abdIcation of parent
al authority.
Harsh, fussy, scolding and I'M
kind parents abuse parental au-
thority, and are tyrants of the very
worst kind.
Make home pleasant, sunshiny
and lovelty to children. Make their
life in the home circle happy and
joyous. Don't chill their hearts and
stifle their feelings by fussing and
scolding at them all the day.