Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-01-18
HOME LESSONS.
AS Given by Aunt Bertha.

as they sometimes playfnlly called him,
for all the outraged feelings of child
hood were quick to assert themselves
in Reggie. Madge was very repentant
at the results of her idle amusement.
Nevertheless, Aunt Bertha did not
spare her. II would feel ashamed, F"
she said, severely. "You have need to
be. 1t is your only chance to improve
But I'm afraid you are not really
ashamed; only little remorseful and
secretly delighted
Madge only said, "Oh, Aunt Ber'
tina, very reproachfully.
"I'm not saying so merely to scold,
but because believe it to be the truth.
You may not realize it, but the motive
that caused you to hector Reggie causes
you secret satisfaction with your
work. You little dream how disas-
trous it is. Every time you indulge in
such folly you lay "a stone towards the
ruination of Reggies naturally good
disposition. There are many mothers
and fathers, even, though more gener-
ally the latter, who treat their children
as you do Reggie, and then punish
them for the result of their own teach
ing. 1t is monstrously cruel and un-
just. Try and realize, Madge, the en-
ormity of the oifense you have commit
ted. You have turned the child's day
into bitter remembrance. How deep,
think you, was the childish expression
he flung out, Il hate you'?"
"Oh, auntie, he will forget all about
it in little while, " cried Madge.
I'm not so sure about that" return
ed her aunt, Children are supposed TO
forget many things, when often, al
though unknown to themselves, the
impressionable little brain retains the
memory. | don't mean to say that
Reggie will keep on hating you; but |
do believe the incident will remain
with him. can recall many such feel
ings myself, and do not believe | shall
ever forget them. | cannot help think
ing that this is SO with many other
children, though | may be wrong But
| know that unkindness carries evil in
its wake. 1t is little thing to set a
guard upon our actions and words, but
it is one of the most important things
in life, and big move towards self
government-an ambition we should all
possess Tell me not of the unruliness
of the children unless you yourself pos
sess none OF these evils in your DISPOSE
ton which are as inevitably an exam
pie for the little child. The training
of a child is such unconscious work
taken up Impressions, grain by grain,
that it requires eternal vigilance 10
perfect the work. But the results and
the objects TO be attained reward the
teacher. How little we realize in those
countless little incidents which, you
say, will be forgotten in little while,
how we are laying up great trouble
to be faced in some dreary future.
And all because Of little thoughtless-
ness. One of those hundred little
things which, like the constant drop
ping, wearing away the stone, inevi
tably tend TO make "a soul unhappy for
life. 1t seems a harsh method to con-
fine soul during its lifetime, prison
err, but is it not as bad to condemn a
child to be prisoner within his own
unhappy disposition, when you could
if you but would, have made it pleas
ure house for him instead?"
but, Aunt Bertha, have done all |
this to Reggie?' cried Madge, dis
tressed.
mot because of this single incident, |
my child, but as | have no assurance |
that you will not repeat it continuously, |
| am trying to tell you what you may |
expect Reggie may never be as bad |
as | have portrayed, despite your eff
forts, bat such are the usual results
from the love of hectoring. More than
this, the habit grows, as all habits do,
aud the inclination to tease will make |
you an object of dislike by all your
friends. | knew girl, when | was
young, who had the habit OF catching
up in derision the remarks of her COM
panions She was most disagreeable.
detested and avoided her. / seldom
heard her well spoken of, and except
the few who revolved around her be-
cause of her wealth, she had no COM
panions. never knew what became |
Of her after she left school, but know |
that no regrets followed her absence.
1t is a pleasant thing to be loved, out |
in order to enjoy it, we must earn it,
after certain fashion"
"But, Aunt Bertha, If we are respou-
sble for the dispositions of children,
and since it is impossible to be perfect, |
" hat shall we do In correcting wilful
ness and naughtiness?"
Aunt Bertha smiled. "Couldn't you |
apply the rule Of the impossibility OF |
perfection in the childs case, too?"