The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-06-08
Child Life.

Child Life.
Too often the self righteous family
has been at fault, more or less, for the
wrongdoings of the black sheep, says
Ella w. Peattle in Self Culture The
dull homes, the sullen fathers, the ir-
ritable, eXacting mothers, the absence
of ightheartedness and mirth and the
JOY of life are to blame, very often, for
the estrangement from home of those
of the family who are pleasure loving.
If the father and mother be of Sc
riOus turn of mind, quiet and decorus,
frugal and Industrious, they have little
patience if a child of light spirit comes
into the household forgetting that God
made butterflies and singing birds as
we'll as pillow horses, and that one is
| as much part of creation as the other.
There is very foolish idea in some
houses that noise is an offense, and that
| the children must be quiet. They must
keep still when father comes home;
they must not talk much at the table;
they must not make a noise in the even
ing when father wants to read; on Sun
day afternoon they must on no account
| amuse themselves. In fact, the whole
| scheme Of paternal training appears to
! be negation, refusal.
In such an atmosphere talent dies, or
&c
| in the heart, joy perishes, obedience
ceases to be privilege. The girls elope
with the first man who understands how
to laugh and love; the boys go in search
of amusement, which too often they find
in the saloon.
The subject is an old, and possibly
| tiresome one. But the condition still
exists, and so it is difficult to avoid COM
menting upon it.
So many parents habitually say ''No.'
MAY we blow soap bubbles" say the
children. NO" says the mother,
promptly. "Then may we go out into
the yard and play?" "On no account"
the father declares. What can we do,
them "Sit still and read" says the
| father and mother together. Here are
all these books we have provided"
But we have read those." Then read
them over again. Or improve your minds
with something else. You're getting
quite old enough to read little history
but you're never contented unless you
are reading stories. How do you ex-
pect to get an education that way"
Ennui, disgust and rage devour the
child who is thus depressed. All that
is most sullen and unlovely in him
comes to the surface. He suspects that
he is not loved; his pride is injured, and
he naturally thinks with irritation Of
those who have injured it,
1t is true that parents are often ia
tigued and worried, but quite as often
this unintentional injustice to their chill
dren arises from a sort Of mental indo-
lence. They will not go to the trouble
to help the children to happiness.
A little boy came home from school a
few days ago, very hungry, as little boys
will be on such occasions.
81 do wish l could have something to
eat he said, pleadingly. His mother
was entertaining callers, and she look
ed up somewhat impatiently.
Il don't think there's thing for YOU
Karl" she said. Its all nonsense, any,
way, this nibbling all the time And
she addressed herself once more to the
callers.
The little boy grew still hungrer as
the possibility of acquiring food grew
dim. and he sat down heavily in the
dining room chair. conscious of head
ache, and wondering if he was going to
cry.
He had little friend with him, and
the friend offered sympathy. it hap
| pened that, having a penetrating and
high pitched voice. his words reached to
the drawing room, where. in lull in
the conversation, they made themselves
audible with great distinctness.
You'd better come and have part of
my mamma with me-" said the friend.
when ! come home she says, Bless
my soul, l guess my boys hungry! II
he'll tag me he'll get glass of milk and
a cookie Some mammas have more