Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-09-30
CRUELTY TO CHILDREN.

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Paper read at the last Mothers Meet
ing of the Jonesboro W. q. 7. U.
There is "a Society for the Proven
ton of Cruelty to Children" which is
doing much good in extreme cases.
But what is needed is such q society in
every home, the parents and children
members, and 1.-THE Lamb the light
thereof"
What we need is more of the spirit of
the blessed Master, who took the lit
tie children in His arms and blessed
them" l believe that blessing of Christ
was intended to include every child,
through all ages. Much cruelty is
practiced on children from thoughtless-
ness and ignorance as well as from vi
ciousness. Many a good woman is
cruel to her little ones from over anxi-
ETY. for them, whipping, s%colding, nag
ging them, until the loving, trusting
''child spirit is driven out and its
place is one of craft and deceit. How
many q fond mother in giving her lit
tie ones soothing syrup and Jamaica
ginger is ignorantlv laying the founda-
ton for the liquor and opium habits.
| have seen q father who would not
dream Of treating his baby unkindly,
take it for an airing in its cab, and let
the smoke from his pipe or cigar blow
directly into its face, not knowing that
he was slowly but surely poisoning his
child. A mother once undertook to
teach her little boy good table man
ners, but the father in his ignorance
thwarted her by telling the child, You
may eat just as you please, with your
fingers or with your knife, papa will
let you, and can't help it,;
papa's boy shall do just as he likes.
The mother, not being new woman"
thought she had to submit to this. The
father in q certain childish, unwise
way, loved the child, and did not know
that he was doing him a serious injury,
not only by teaching him bad manners
but disrespect for his mother.
1t is a cruel thing to make your child
doubt you. A little girl once said to
me, my mamma does not love me;
she is mean to me-" And from the ex-
preston around her beautiful mouth |
knew she told me the truth, Poor, lit
tie, lonely heart. To whom will she go
for advice and comfort when troubles
Gomez Surely not to mother. If you
treat your child in such a way that it
can not love, honor and respect you,
you do it a cruel wrong, for which you
can not atone. You are taking from
it one OF the chief corner stones of a
good choracter-respect for its parents
The three year old child of a cultiva'
ted Christian gentleman cried for pie
when it first went to the noontime din
ner table. The father sent it from tn
table and did not allow it to have
morsel of food until supper time, Thinl
of a baby of that age going withou
food from breakfast until supper in a
elegant Christian home. Children nee
the restraining influence of parentiO
authority, and should be taught simple
prompt, willing obedience. This ca
be done without cruelty. How prou
a little child is of a just, kind, goo
father and mother, and with what 50
~isfaction will it quote them.
1t is q great wrong to allow childre
to roam the streets at will, for the
often learn in an hour what you ca
not do in a lifetime. Do not allow the
to grow up in idleness. Busy childre
are generally good.
Many a poor, half sick, nervol
mother, smarting under a sharp repro,
from her husband, in pure, nervous i
ritability, Furnishes her little child Il
things which at another time she wou.
not notice. Did you ever know a faith
to come home from a hard day 8 wor
tired, hungry and cross, and, becau
supper was not ready, and his wi
was aggravating, take up the tire
sleepy, crying child from the floor a
shake it severely, as o vent of his oy
fretfulness? Many o nervous child
whipped for being afraid of the dan
Were you ever lost on a lonely road
a dark, stormy night, and were y
seized with a senseless, nervous terrC
which turned every tree into o hig
wayman, and every stump into a wi
beast? Remember that many lit
children have just such a foolish fe
of the dark, as you had on that mig
and 1t is a cruel wrong to compel tn,
~ FROM U.S.Joarnal q 1tdi