The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-08-06
"a LESSON IN
"a OBEDIENCE.
[Original.]

Before l was married / had very
definite notions as to the behavior Of
children. l agreed with all other old
maids that well behaved children were
at least tolerable. but badly behaved
children were a nuisance, and that
obedience is the fundamental principle
Of child's education, and this am
endeavoring to apply to my boy Jack.
Here is a specimen of the way do it:
Jack. you have willfully disobeyed
ne. l told you distinctly scarcely ten
minutes ago not to go to the sugar
bowl again. I shall have to punish
YOU
"How?"
81 have not yet decided. must find
some way to impress upon your mind
that obedience is absolutely essential"
Are you going to hurt me-?
Not by giving you pain. wish to
make you sorry for what you have
done"
when are you going to begin?"
ITO begin? Well that will depend
upon the nature of the punishment.
Physical punishment
whats that?"
"Come come! Stop these questions.
Little boys of your age can't be ex-
pected to understand such things
"Why?"
l made no reply The question was
repeated.
Didn't l tell you to stop asking
questions. If you ask another. I warn
you there'll be trouble. Now sit up in
that chair. I'm going to keep you there
a full half hour. Well see if l can't
make you understand that when tell
you to let that sugar bowl alone you
are to obey me-
Jack climbed up into the chair and
sat nearly minute without speaking:
then he said:
Mamma, think I understand that
when you tell me to let the sugar
bowl alone I'm to obey you"
But l wish to impress it on your
mind so that you won't forget it."
Flow long will it take?'
No answer. l was cutting out a
nightie for Jack, and proceeded with
my work without paying the slightest
attention to him. There was silence
for few minutes; then he said:
Mamma"
No answer.
Mamma"
No answer.
Mamma"
knowing that he would keep it up,
gave in and said:
"What!"
"When is the trouble going to be-
gin?"
What trouble?''
Didn't you say that if 1 asked an.
other question there would be trou.
ble?"
turned away that Jack should not
see my face, but didn't answer him.
What kind of trouble is it going tc
be?"
Since an answer was impossible,
went out of the room for a few min
utes to escape being pressed for one
When | returned Jack harped on an
oluSl 81 luS.
Mamma, I'm not bad boy. Al
the exhibition at the kindergarten
stood up before everybody while Miss
Brown said how good I'd been'
Il suppose that made you feel very
fine
Hin! ! felt funny"
what do you mean by funny?'
II felt a chuckle down in my stom
ick."
Not wishing the gravity of the situa
ton broken, l again turned away m,
face. There was no more converse tio1
for period of one minute, when Jacl
broke the silence.
Mamma, if you'll let me get dowl
| | IL try to be good"
ITS very hard to be good, Jack, ism
| it,"
HIM! It's mighty hard for me-"
II wish to impress upon you that 70,
must at least obey. Obedience is tn,
first thing for child to learn"
will l learn it any more by sittin,
here any longer?"
you won't forget so easily"
Another minute passed, when Jacl
remarked:
Mamma, this morning was jump
ing on the spring bed. I came dow
on the floor on my hands"
Haven't told you that you are no
to jump on the bed? You'll ruin tn
mattress, and you might have hur
yourself badly"
II didn't hurt myself. If I'd had tn
time could have turned over and II
on my feet"