New-York tribune., 1905-01-19
..But such little baby" I said "one can't digoi

But such little baby saidi one can't disci-
oh can't Yer though? she said with calm Gym
icism; tits best TO begin with 'em the first minute
wonderful sharp, babies does You can't begin too
young. 10 teach EN- TO be'ave as such
With which piece of wisdom Mrs. Robinson re-
sumed her work the crate, while Betty's heart
rending screams made me acutely miserable, though
must confess they did her no harm
Mrs. Robinson was right. Two or three times
v 0I f5 ra IT thst eryng Was
useless expedient. and she philosophically elected
chuckIlng at the sUnbeams dancing shadows.
learning TO make the best Of an inevitable situa-
ton.
One Of my beautiful theories was that it was a
mistake 10 give a child a direct order to do or
explain to her that she had better do this re-
This plan does not work with child OF three.
/ found il out after Betty and l drew swords over
the peach II was unrlpe, that peach; oqt II nuns hnng
and It looked very beautiful; and so one day. when
she was playing on the path, Betty stretched out
her hands with the obvious intention Of picking
NO Betty" I said. in what I thought were
firm tones; Betty would be dreadful sick II she
quite ripe Betty must be a sensible little girl
Betty looked from me to the peach ard shook
Pretty peach she said refeotiyely.
Yes very pretty" 1 answered, but IT would
give Betty pain if she It; it wouldn't be nice;
eye yes. she replied Betty understands but Bet
y led lie child in ut that juncturs and being
busy about other matters, forgot the question OF
The supreme absurdity of trying pure reason
with A baby of three came home TO in the
afternoon when Betty appeared, holding her two
flt little hands elasped tightly around her plump
"Bettv's get a orful pain in her middle" she
said looking at with round, frightened eyes
nv heart gave thump. and a wild fear OF
poisonous berries leaped to my mind. Then I re-
"Betty said gravely lid you eat the peach
Mummy advised you not to eat?"
Ny daughter nodded her head in an agonized
affirmative.
Mummy told you you would have pain IL you
ate it, said determined 10 drive the lesson home
Yes" the yellow curfs shook again. but Betty
three year-olds, Ike the rest Of wish 10 test
things by their and not by the experience OF
others. Then also saw in flash how wise the
older ways sometimes are, and how valuable the
teaching Of implicit obedience.
] began 10 teach Betty TO do what told her,
simply because ! told her. and the plan answered
That's it. drive her gently on the Enanie. DICK
said. when told him what I was doing; but see
that she answers 10 the hill. my dear-see that she
I answers 10 the Bit
But obedient as my Betty became and thor
oughiY as came 10 believe in the teaching or I'M
plicit obedience. / learned with the passing or tie
years that whatever environment ana educauoh
may do for a child. the character with which II DO
gan its career remains essentially the same
throughout its lifo
NV eldest daughter childish remark. Yes but
Betty Varted tF1 for hey SELF may he
taken 4s lyrical pf Tie character not onIy cI lhs
child AZ The girl and woman. When She vas
most difficult time OF gtfls me- oetWeetl
fourteen and eighteen, the meeting OF tho bIpoh
and river time. which ] venture 10 think is less
postical IN real life than in poets fAncy' hAu