The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-10-13

Mamma, DOrls JUS took anuyyer
spoonful of JAM
81 didn't" said Doris.
There it is" said Nell, getting up,
Presently I heard her in the nursery.
asking cheerfulIy:
Most through supper, children?"
Then ;hc voices rippIed on, evidently
discussing Indifferent subjects. With
some curiosity l arose and looked in
through the door. Nell stood beside
the little table, one hand gently strok-
ing Doris head.
would you like some more lam.
Doris?"
"No, mamma
"She took"-began Frank.
"lou needn't tell me-" said his moth
er. Doris will, I'm sure. Don't saw
anything that isn't true, darling; it
would make me feel SO badly. Did you
take some jam?'
''Yes, little"
"Did you have all you wanted? :?
Wouldn't you like some more?"
Then Nell kissed her. saying: "I'm
so glad you told me the TRUTH" and
Immediately began talking of other
things.
My sisters comment on the matter
later was this:
"Of course, the principal thing is tc
get them to be truthful. Jam is en-
tirely unimportaat compared with
truth"
When later we went down to tea
we saw Doris doll on a chair in the
dining-rocm. Don't let me forget"
said Nell. Il promised to put Rosie in
the playhouse before / went to bed
Neither of us thought of the doll again
during the evening.
That night woke from my first sleep
at the sound of careful footsteps in the
hail. l feared one OF the children
might be i'll, and looked out. At that
moment my sister was about to ente,
the nursery.
"Anyone sick?" asked.
"No." said Nell, in whisper. "lfor-
got this" holding up the doll.
"What time is it?'
"About half-past two"
At breakfast Nell told me how she
had walked suddenly in the night with
the thought Of the doll. 81 wouldn't
| lightly break my word to the children.
Where an older person might under
stand an omission for good reasons.
| child would lose confidence in you.
Children are sharp observers, and very
critical. Once 1 hastily threatened to
punish Doris if she did certain wrong
thing again. Not long after she re-
peated the offense, and, as l hated to
punish her, I looked about for an hon
| orable escape from doing it. She had
hurt Frank. l said, II she would tell
Frank she was sorry, and try very
hard to be good to him in the future,
l would excuse her that time. She
did what | asked, and all seemed hap
PLY settled; but some time after, when
I found occasion to tell the children
how carefully one should keep his
promises, Doris remarked: You broke
your word once, didn't you, mamma 2
And learned by few questions that
the little midget had given me black
mark because of my leniency to her
that day. That taught me a lesson;
and l have been more careful since to
promise less, but to absolutely keep
my word unless circumstances beyond
my control make that course impos-
sible. In such case (Which rarely
bappers) explain the matter fully to
the children"
One afternoon, as Nell and started
eff on walk with the little ones,
Frank said he had forgotten his whis-
tn '1f you want it go and get it,"
said his mother.
"Will you wait for me?"
'ics; III wait right here"
So the little fellow ran back to the
house. | have seen children look be-
hind to see if an agreement were kept,
but it did NOT occur to Frank to feel
any doubt. 1t was sunny spot where
we stood, and I suggested that we
should cross the street and wait un-
der tree.
"You go with Doris" said Nell. But
I will stay here. Frank is so little
that he might think had failed to
keep my promise did l bulge from the
spot"
Then, humorously, she drew with
her parasol a circle about her in the
gravel. We did not wait long for
Frank. l said to him: "You see NAM
ma kept her word and waited for you."
Course her did!" said Frank. Il
would be 'shamed of her if her didn't"
1 carefully watched my sister
through the remainder of my visit
and l never heard the slightest pre-
varicatior from her, although, now
that my mind had been specially di-
rected to the subject of truth telling
and the exact keeping of promises, 4
noted with horror the prevalence in
other families of the apparent belief
that no responsibility is to be attached
to lies or breaches of honor with lit
tie ones.
l heard mothers say: IF you do
that again you can have no candy to-
day" And the box of candy would be
brought by the delinquent and par
taken of before my very eyes.
where is my baby sister?" said
little tot one day to his mother. II