Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-30
ALetter to Think Over

Dear Miss Thomas: / want to have a little
say this morning about our boys l have al
ways been interested In the training OF boys
! 20 me there is nothing so important; but this
| fall the conviction has been that mothers and
| fathers are often woefully careless about theiI
| most precious gifts from God.
never In my life have heard much about
boys drinking and playing cards and getting
| In shooting scrapes. IL is awful 10 think about
but imagine the horror Of ones own boys being
/ in one?
can look up and say thank God my boys
/ are around fireside enjoying the pleas
ures Of a loving home; and can truthfully say
we are clear OF crime, not one even entwined
| as witness. Oh, my, IL must be awful ia
follow ones boys to the court house for some
misdemeanor. and for their conduct. Keep your
boys at home fathers. and set them good ex.
/ amples and save yourselves many heart aches
many hours Of misery and uneaslness would
not suffer the heart ache and uneasiness that
some mothers do for all the money there is II
this rich state OF Georgia, to say nothing OF
/ the dishonor to their names. Rob my pocket
book. but never rob me OF a good name. Shake
speare says, 'He who steals my purse steals
| trash" and the Bible says, "a good name Is
rather TO be chosen than riches and loving
favors than silver and gold" And right here
let me say LAY down with dogs and you will
get up with fleas." Mix and mingle with had
: characters and you catch their disease. I'm:
morality is loathsome disease and very conta
gious. Stamp Il out just like you would small
pox. and have as little to do with those In
fected.
Our boys were given to us to train up in the
way Of our Lord and Master, and to do that we
must teach them &c honor their parents. The
very first step is, obedience do as we want
them go. and no more nor less. We are com
manded to live by the sweat OF the brow, SC
we must teach our children to work. II we do
our duty we will not only teach them to work
but teach them TO love to work, and that night
Is given for MS to sleer and rest and recuperatC
physically and mentally for the next days
work that is always ready and waiting for us
run-about boy is not able to work, besides
they are a nuisance TO the community in which
they live. for they must have followers. there
! BY bringing innocent neighbors into trouble.
have always honored my community toe
much to let our children do things that didn't
/ think was right In the sight OF the people, Il
sav nothing 81 the sight Of God, but when tbs
time comes that the '"-~s OF the state moi
! enforced. how the laws OF God be carried
4 outf e is high time that the law-abiding cit
I iyens re ~ snd iolng. and see that the laws
! Of our state are carried outr 1t is high tim
/ that the law-abiding citizens he M and doing
and see that the laws of our state are carried
| law and Il is pleasing to God Why is II nj
| anywhere and they are plotting against tn,
| live as long as they can. they can't do thei
duty: they fear they might he shot from ar
| hush. or they might get burned out or som
/ other undermining thing come to them. ! AT
| told that the negroes are selling liquor e'''
anywhere and they are plotting against th'
whites They are 50 mean and impudent thai
! n woman Is afraid to go any distance alone
/ In selling whisky they are the tools of meaT
! white men Prt yourself on an equslIty witt
! one and 81 makes them have a contempt fol
/ you.
! have had some good old negroes to worl
| for me few that I win always remember
| who have waited when ! was very sicl
| and I will heln them II can. in their feeble
| ness but they are exceptions 7 believe fl
| giving the devil his dues and don't want 4
hurt any ones feelings. and don't mean TO
| hut II the shoe fits wear IL. that IS what
do sometimes the shoe fits pretty tight Will
me. bur I try to be calm and smile and d.
| nv best.
Tube Rose. I enjoyed your letter and sRre
| with you al along have drought many times
that ones people get distant from M
/ cause only. ''they have to do John do.
and am here to state that II f. r mighty no
| way A woman ought to he allowed TO vsi
sick sister without John interfering. NJ
John doesn't try to take any PRIVILEGES AVA
! from me- the fact is. he knows better. "
can lead me. but he can't drive mo. don't yo
see? Although ! always try 70 crafty his visit,
| es A little farther in your letter sal,
| that ell sten.mothers not aliFn that IS
! fact hut ron could have gone little farthc
and ssid that all step-"hldreu are not alike
NV opininn Is that ~ all parties do their dut
there will 10 No trouble. tell you. worna
has hig heart to take such a sten. ] sneal
from exnerienee. though I have had trOubl
20 talk about. Write me n personal l"tter an
Ill answer II. Sincerely, BUSY BEE,
EIherton Ca. r. 3.