Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-06-14
"NOW ILAY ME-. -

ing the training OF children" said a
grandmother lately. 81 will question
no longer if with propriety l may be
cal ed an old fashioned old lady. My
recent visit tosmy grandchildren-my
| first personal acquaintance with them
has settled the matter. The night after
nv arrival my little grandson, five
years old, insisted that grandmother
should put him 10 bed. when he is
snugly tucked in said his mother, be
will begin grooming Kipling's amanda.
ay," his favOrite recitation just now.
| IFJr long time { was The Hunting
of the Shark" His rendering OF
"Maudalay" is original with him, and
yu will think il musical, / an sure.
After "Msndalsy" comes "Our Faith
er"-that he will say with you, line by
line, es he lies on his pillow
NOW. being sn old fashioned grand
mother, had positive convictions con.
cerniug blanket prayers but suppree-
ssd them, as Try 10 be a wise mother
in-lsw.
"When the curly head was on its pill.
low, aud the light turned low, the little
fellow began to repeat. The wind is 10
the palm trees and the rest of 1t in bis
qusint WeY. Chen crossing his hands
on his bress, be ssiG: Our Father
" men lha. wa done | expected him as
matter of course to follow with Now
lay mo- bnt he had never heard it,
and before could repeat it be was
sound asleep.
~ could n9t help asking why be had
lsv.r learned he little verse, and his
mother replied: Way, mother dear,
that belongs 10 the past, like teaching
children TO kpeel and many other
tais Qs Do We want our children 20
zneel wheD they ask us for anything?
phe MOibeTs' Club has taught US that
"Now lay me" is highly bjsoiionsble,
with the suggestion IN toe line, III
should die before | Wske." How
cruel to implaut such q thought in
the childs miDC remember too
we'll the long hours | have
lain awake lest l sh luld die in my
sleep. The model parent of today hi
advanced beyond the convictions of the
model parent Of yesterday, when to i'm
Dress upon child fear OF death and
to keep in bis remembrance that he
must surely die was the duty OF every
good father and mother.
"Think of the funerals children were
made to attend when you were child
the funeral selections Of the old
SO lool readers, the horrible gloom that
tell upon q home whenever death
crossed the threshold, the clocks
stopped, the pictures covered or turned
to the wall, aud all the rest. Perhaps
the fulfilment of the pro Mise There
shall be no more death" is nearer than
many suppose; for what is death when
robbed OF the iear Of t--that which has
| been positive cult for centurie for
one believe that toe blessed day ls COM
| ing when to die will be imply passing
OF, and, outside of the circle of the dear
ones of the departed 1t will be almost
"Without observation" Csrtsinly there
| will be a welcome absence of funeral
pageants, the complete anDihilaiion OF
| the ashes after cremation doing away 10
time with stpuichrsl urus and chape Is
for their preservation. Memorial
monuments will then be in some form
contributing W iuo WOAiu bSV'ol III I've
Tne wearing of mourning will be a
thing OF the past, and that blemish Oh
many a fair rural landscape, the
neg ected old graveyard, will have die.
appeared. Funeral "processions" will
no more 90 about the streets.
Now, when l had recovered some
what from my amazement at my
daughters arguments, Why not o re-
vision OF the little prayer under such
serious condemnatioDs ventured Io
suggest. So now the little fellow is
saying:
Now Icy me down to sleep;
| pray Thee. Lord my sou to keep;
| When in the morning light wake,
| ] eai Thon my feet that in y take
The path of love for Tbv deer sake.
IN. Y, Tribune.