The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-03-06
COURTESY TO "A CHILD


/ hear some one ask. "supposing that
the mother Is convinced That it is right
and falr to treat child as she wishes
him to treat her. She is not the only
member Of the household. There is the
father and other relatives, including, per-
haps, one or more old fashioned grand
parents who can't see any sense in such
new-fangled notions. What are you go
ing to do with them?"
Well, I should labor with them. Not
that ! should nave the least hope of con-
verting them, but that should want to
make my own position clear. And then 1
should rigidly refrain from interrupting
my child myself, no matter what anyone
else might do, and / should treat him
with careful courtesy as often as 1 could
remember to do it, and apologize to him
when forgot. A child is the most low
ing little forgiven under the sum- and win
never lay up against you, nor incline to
initiate, a lapse for which you nave sx-
pressed due contrition. And when ask
my child to do anything for me should
really ask it, and leave him free to re-
fuse me IL he wanted to. If he did re-
fuse, don't think would coax him
much. / would go and do 1t myself, not
with an injured afr, but simply letting
being free to accede to a request or to
refuse 1t that child enters into the JOY
of willing service.
l am going to be personal a bit. have
had SO many letters either asking out
right If had any children or implying
thar didn't that I wish to announce
that have four children on whom all
these theories have been tried with what
seems to me uncommonly satisfactory
results. Moreover, know a number of
other children belonging to my friends
who have survived similar treatment, In
this matter OF courtesy my eyes were
opened by Helen Hunt Jackson's ''Bits Of
Talk About Home Matters" Therein she
describes day with a courteous mother
in a manner that convinced me that with
the best Intentions in the world I was
not consistently courteous. think most
mothers would be brought under a con-
yiction of sin upon reading 1t. Since then
have tried to mend my ways, and in
| trying have discovered how widespread
and deeprooted is the error.
Begin EARLY to Teach.
The right way to teach courtesy is to
treat a child courteously from the cradle
up. II this has not been done, and the
child Is already rough and unmannerly
| lulllk the only way Is TO take MIN lnIS
| your confidence. Acknowledge your mis-.
take with him and ask him to help you
overcome its, evil effects. If there arc
| those in the family who cannot bC
brought to do as you do, tell him frankly
of the disagreement and ask him to hell
| you prove that you are right in treating
him as If he were young gentleman.
| boys sense Of loyalty is strong-so is 6
girl's-and IL you can once make chile
| see that you are on his side and trying Il
| obtain for him fair and rational consid
Grafton you are sure of the best possible
| ally in the effort to train him. It is no
at all out of the range Of possibilities tina
with your aid and sympathy he may ever
manage to be uncommonly polite to those
who are rude to him. But don't expect
this all at once. 1t is a rare thing ever
with the best bred people, and must be
waited for patiently. At first when he
fails to say please" and thank you,
do not rebuke him, bat pass it over In
silence, waiting until some hour when his
heart is open and full of love to remind
him Of the lapse. And as long as you
see him trying hard do not even do this
but encourage him in the difficult way
which your own ignorance has made 81
unnecessarily hard.