The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1898-01-07
FAMILY GOVERNMENT.
Obedience of Children the First Es-
sentfaI.


II one is bound to ruin his children,
the choice should be to do it by kind
ness, rather than by brutality; but
there is not the least need of hanging on
either horn of this dilemma. Let every
mortal child that is brought into this
world be taught to obey it's parents; let
II be taught this while II is little child,
not humored and petted to death then,
and taught hundreds of tricks which it
must afterwards be beaten to be broken
Of. If you can teach your child obedi-
ence without whipping him, so much
the better; don't whip such a child-it
is cruelty; but if he won't fear nor
obey without stripes. lay them on; but
don't be looking and speaking blows at
him for week afterwards. While gem
tie, respectful and obedient children are
the sweetest things on earth, there are
few things more disagreeable and re-
pulsive than badly managed and unruly
children. No one can endure them, and
their parents are justly despised
Once get that central idea Of unquali-
fed obedience well grounded in your
family, and your government stands
firm. You need not be all the time lay
ing on commands. Do not fetter your
children; within certain limits leave
them free; teach them that their rights
shall be just as much respected as your
own are; let them never have reason to
doubt that you love them dearly, and
that you punish them not for your own
pleasure. or because you are angry and
can safely vent your passion upon them,
but for their good.
Children are clear-Sighted and quick
feeling. They know well enough what
feelings are apparent in the minds of
those who correct them, and there is no
possibility of beating n child when you
are yourself angry. or when you don't
care for the pain you inflict, without do
Ing him an injury.
'Tis enough to make one sorry to hear
of n new birth to reflect upon the wrongs
which childhood is heir to. Poor little
things! And yet they are almost always
set on wrong track at the very begin
ming. Either by too much rigor and se-
verify or by weak and injudicious in
dulgence they are started wrong,
wrong, all wrong; and hard indeed is it
for them to right themselves when left
to go on their way alone. II parents
would spare some of their threats and
then perform what they promise, they
would find the benefit of it,
"You put your foot out of doors. and
III whip you as sure as you live" says a
mother TO her little girl Pretty soon
she sees Miss Lot out on the grass plot
Out she flies and jerks the baby in
with
What did I tell you? Aren't you GO
Ing to mind me? Now go out there
again II you think it's your best way"
Baby does think II is her best way,
for out she goes again, as soon as her
mothers back is turned. After awhile
the long-promised whipping comes. but
baby is very much astonished at II. She
had no idea that mamma really meant
to do as she said. She had heard such
threats too many times when, like
many a low rumbling thunder-cloud,
they had passed harmless by.
1t is pity that mothers will teach
lessons of falsehood to their dear chill
dren; but such course as this does it.
Make your offspring believe thoroughly
in you; and il is long step, and sure
one, toward their belief in God.-N. Y.
Ledger.