Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-18

WHAT 1T MEANS TO PEOPLE
GREAT AND SMALL.
CHILD'S FIRST STEP FROM HOME.
A Great Deal, Even n LIES Happi-
ness, Depends on That Step-The
Shape n Life.

An artist caught the picture as he
passed along the street one day many
years ago and he put it on canvas.
He is a quaint, old man now" so the
young people say. and is much given to
thinking Of those whom every one else
has forgotten and of his school days.
when he is in this humor he has been
seen to draw the veil from the picture
he made that day and look on it for
hours at the time. A friend of his told
me of it. 1t was simple enough in
thought, only also very pretty. 1t was
an early fall morning, the day that school
began. Warm yet and bright with
only the faintest suggestion Of chill in
young mother came to the porch across
the street, leading by hand a girl and
boy Of apiece. The children carried
book straps with tiny books in them, and
the boy held a paper bag which contained
their small lunch. The mother bent over
them and talked earnestly for some mo-
ments, and then kissed them both good
by. 1t appeared to him that these little
pilgrims were going to school for the
first time. The young mother stood yet
upon the porch and watched them, and as
her absorption in the little charges and
the thick cluster OF honeysuckle about
the porch gave assurance that he would
not attract her attention, he determined
to watch with her
The children reached the corner, not
many yards away, and not once had
the mother drawn her eyes from them.
And as they were all but passing out
Of sight, for some reason, the boy turned
his head suddenly and upturned a BEAM
ing face 20 the earnest gaze Of her who
was left behind. For one breathless mo-
ment mother and son stood thus. The
girl looked only at her brother. The ar
tist resumed his walk, leaving the picture
to which no mere description can do full
Justice, a sweet and lasting impression
on his mind.
He could almost guess what was pass
ing in the mothers mind, for he was
parent himself and his smallest tot had
gone to school for the first time several
years ago, and only a little while ago
had gone away TO another school, leaving
his home very chill and bare. He would
have given much 70 know the thoughts
OF the boy, and why that sudden, back
ward glance.
MANY LITTLE PUPILS.
On Friday, the children who had never
attended the Richmond schools before,
were entered, and a great army of little
folks it was. Some, it is true, had gone
TO private schools and knew something
OF school life, but the larger number were
little Adventures, entering a realm en-
tirely new and strange 10 them. 1t was
indeed the first page of a new book 10
them-the beginning of the preparation
for all life. Some little things are learn
ed in the home, but In this busy life Of
ours the housewife often has to turn the
education of her children over TO the
school teacher. What q sacred trust she
then commits TO other hands. 1t Is a
very little part Of the duty Of a teacher
to let the child lisp the letters OF the al
phabet after her. a moral character
must be shaped. and the foundation laid
for the higher spiritual life What a
pure, undetermined. broad-minded, and
what a gentle-minded woman a teacher
OF little men and women should be!
WHAT IT MEANS TO MOTHER.
Little WONDER she IS 80 dNAlOuS, Sdlu
the artist 10 himself, in a musing way,
as he saw the mother watching her twin
boy and girl leave her knee for anothers.
The sounding rod of mid-0cean's depth
could not measure the fOndness and In
terest with which she had taught them.
Would the paid teacher be gentle and
patient with them just for the money
she received So many questions came
hurrying across her mind. She was am
bilious. as a fond mother OF her only
offspring can be. Would they stand as
We'll as the other pupils? she asked her
self. They We're certainly neat and pretty
little things. Their little faces and
hands were white and clean now. They
would get soiled, OF course. with play
ana study. but the heart OF her boy
that was pure also. Would 1t remain
so? Would those red lips, soft as rose
leaf, learn TO repeat the harsh, vulgar
words after the older boys?
She did not feel so much uneasiness for
the girl. Boys are rough and bad, she
said, and will teach my boy bad words
and bad thoughts. May be mothers love
their boys best any way. Roys give them
many more anxious thoughts than girls.
and women always love those who give
them most trouble. Wise men even say
thai hate and love are gery close TO each