St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-04-17
Losing the Key.


heart of a child. Impressions made
upon the susceptibilities OF very little
children are often effectual during
the lifetime for good or i'll. Many
sensitive emotional child is alienated
by a little GOODNESS, little neglect to
respond to its need Of love. 1t is
we'll understood that the more emo
ton the more power. Feeling is the
steam that drives the machinery.
The difficulty is in Harvesting the
power. There is but one efectual
material for binding feeling; namely,
love. Win your child's love, and
YOU hold the reins your hand. The
slightest indication of your will is
sufficient to guide him. The past is
full of tragedies caused by the aliena'
ton of children from the guiding
hand.
Little Tom is the brightest OF the
flock. He shows many indications
of remarkable power. When but a
baby he gives strangling hugs to
papa and mamma to express his
intense feeling. These expressions,
we will suppose are not noticed. The
little heart is vaguely grieved. The
child feels like love-making when the
mother is busy,-and most mothers
are always busy. He is told to go
awav." The mother is dressed in
her best, and pretty mama"
attracts the little one. There is a
rush for her lap, but the gown is too
good for the little boots to touch,
the collar too delicate for the small
rough arms. Every repulse of this
kind a sensitive child feels to degree
that would appal the father and
mot her if they realized it. And you
may be sure that your rich-natured
child is sensitive child. The emo
tional child is the one best worth
cultivating.
You will say, perhaps, that Ton
as boy is cold and unresponsive
that YOU cannot get at him." THAI
is because you lost the key when h
was warm and responsive. 1t wa
the most valuable of your posses
sions,-the key to your boys heart
II you had realized this, you woul'
have tried to keep it, doubtless
But your thoughts were bent upol
buying a farm, building a house
putting money in the bank. TIL
eager little fellow was not attende
to with even common polltenes
when he was bursting with desir
) to talk to you and with you. Hi
boyish condolences did not interes
' you,-you had far more importar
things" to attend to. His expant
ing activities were not given scope
the right and natural direction; h
T. need for change, for fun, above al
for sympathy, was not appreciated
But do not think for a momer
that there is no key because yol
e boys heart is closed to you. He
y open with somebody, you may
sure,-with somebody who W
v listen to him, feel with him, or pr
tend to. You would be glad
k know the name of this intima
friend who has won your boy. Tt
k to one it is hidden from you jealor
ly; it certainly is if the companio
o ship be questionable. Nothing is
delightful to the emotional child
chance to open himself freely
another. The girl friend who lister
D. sympathizes, appears to feel, VIII
a your daughter con6des in her, is
10 friend who is adored with boundle
IL enthusiasm. She has the key viii
N you have lost, and, by its al
G. reaches the secret places of yo
daughters nature, and leads her
y = she will.
The boy friend who is good"
n your son IS the one who influent
nc him. Everywhere one sees mothe
too busy" to attend to the Gag
wistiul hearts and minds that ne
to be fed, entertained, helped a
II comforted, as the case may be. T
ID mother who would sacrifice hers
he to the last extreme to attend to t
he physical wants OF her child, to ma
re- his little garments and feed him wi
nc dainty food, leaves the finer part
y starve, till food ~ is picked
=; wherever it can be found. We ha
ct all seen repeatedly, on long railro
he journeys, the mother absorbed il
90. book, while the little one at her s
il wears himself out with questio
IN that are never answered. He