The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-24
A Problem Of Education.
IFrom the Record-Herald.l

year-old hoy. she was happy in the
thought that she had nice easy iaS-
substituted for the Ise-work OF teacH-
ing school, Master Frank had not been
neglected in the interim between his
fathers widowerhood and his second
marriage, but he had lived with -ndui-
gent grandparents who were old-fash-
toned both in their living and learning,
and who first of all in their daily creed
believed that it is love. love. love that
makes the world go round. Little trank
was the one legacy left them by theT
adored daughter. their only child, ana
he had brought tender healing 10 ths-
broken hearts. He was a gentle we'll
behaved little chap. who up to the pres
ent time had never fastened ms own
clothes or tied his own shoes HIS Coz
ing grandmother did that Tor MIN De-
cause she loved him so.
The new Mrs. Howard had IDEAS o.
her own on the subject of raising chill
dren-most spinsters have. In the hrst
place she was q stickler for rules-a
time to play and a time 10 learn, with a
rigid adherence to the plan laid out She
believed in boys that were maze 10 or
der. who said yes ma'am' and yes
sir" at every Interrogation, ans who
sat upright on chair or sofa without
moving a hairs breadth to the rlgnt or
left while their elders were speaking.
Frank had been taught in the argot OF
the day that he was the whole thing ana
he believed it, His grandfather would
have stopped winding the clock 10 an
swer a question he asked. His studies
and his plays were alike elective II
he forgot his alphabet they taught MN
over again, sandwiching the letters with
kisses. He was a tempered
child, easily managed through his affec-
tions and ruled his willing slaves with
a sparirg rod. This was the boy that
was to be made over.
His new mother would never be I'M
III nd ff17f fr-r1z fqf1 hrrf wit
instincts of motherhood she treated the
little fellow much as if he were some
kind of a mechanical toy Her method
was exasperating to his infant mind, al
though he could not have defined it. She
used an epigrammatic style to impress
homely truths on his memory. One
morning he presented himself before
her with a decidedly unclean face and
hands. She looked at him with a little
set smile of disaDDroval.
Il love little boys with clean hands
and faces" she said concisely.
do your he answered "Well. why
didn't you get one of that kind?"
Instead of being kissed he was pun
ished lightly for imDertinence, but the
next day he scored one more.
Are you very good?" he was asked
as he leaned against his new mothers
knee and looked up into her methodi-
cally featured face.
oh, no. my dear. I'm not very good,''
she responded modestly.
Amt you?" He rested his chin on
his little hand and looked disappointed
I knew you wasn't pretty, but 1
thought you was good"
One of the great trials of the new
mother was Franks toilet. he would NOT
dress himself. and after several vain at
tempts to teach him the use of buttons
and strings she told him that he could
not have any breakfast until he could
accomplish his own toilet. To her sur
q rob a1 fs, he
properly dressed and sat down smiling
to his breakfast
There Frank" she said approvingIy.
there's nothing like trying. Did you
ever do that before?"
Nope"
frank" said his father. who are
you talking tor"
Nope, ma'am," corrected the small
boy, and Rollin Howard laughed ar
the CONSERVATION in his Wife's face He
had been a small boy himself not such
a long time ago, but he was beginning
to think that his WIFE like the humble
bee, had been born full-grown, she was
so wise, But he had to admit-to him
self-that she knew very little about
boys.
Just as Frankie was frankie on the
farm, but his new mother did not be-
lieVe in OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES growing thin
and peaked and pining in his little heart
Tor sight of the dearest old face in the
world, he found an unexpected friend
and ally, who had been installed in the
kitchen-an old time southern mann
my who was cook to a chosen few
when she felt like it. She was IGNORANT
and prejudiced, full of superstitions but
with an overlooking love for little peo-
pie And frankie took to her as a duck
takes to water.
At first Mrs. Howard did not observe
his particular fondness for the kitchen
department of the household and she
was growing a little weary of telling
ethical truths to a gaping small how
who scuffed his feet against his chair
ana represented perpetual motion by
CONTINUOUS Wiggle. So she pernnitted
charmed half hours of intercourse with
old Diana, until it suddenly occurred TO
her that he was having too much of hfs
own way. and she suggested to her bus-
band that Diana was not exactly A.
company for his son.
Let US pounce in upon them and seq
how they are amusing each other.'' Mr.
Howard said one evening Diana is
just child of another degree. Perhans
will see"
It was a picture the two looked rnon
as they stole softly to the kitchen door
NO light except that of the range. the
'front.' OF which was Il bed of glowing
Goals An apple was roasting IusciousiI,
on the hearth. Old Diana was telIino
the boy story, and he sat close to her
his little thin hand laid softly in ~,
dark one Hls race and form were ex-
pressive of full and complete satisfan-
ton. This is what the two listeners
heard:
An den he went ter de graveyard in ia
dark oh de moon-an den he hide him
ahind de tombstone an den he see a rah-
hit-an den de gun go bang, bang. an, an,
ne git de hind foot. an de rabbit run off
like he done possest' va
But how could he run if he hasn't any,
hind foot?" asked Frank.
Dat were graveyard rabbit. child an,
anoder lef' hind foot grow rite ON dere
yes indeed. I jes natchelly knows dat is
hind foot eff 'twasn't so?"
And then what becomes of the fret
hind footP' asked Frank breathlesslv'
Dey sell EN-, honey, to de white fo1l,s
to tote in dere pockets, and fox on dere
Huh! What good does that do them?,