Norwich bulletin., 1910-02-12
CHILDREN AND THE CHILDLIKE

siderate of their feelings. She was
careful never to reprove them before
other people, and almost as careful not
to reprove one before another; indeed,
this happned only when all were under
censure together. Occasionally she
would take them. one at a time, to her
own room for quiet talk
The talk went forward, oftener than
not, with the small offender in his
mothers lap, her arms holding ham
close, her head on his sunny hair; and
1t would begin perhaps like this: MY
darling, you are only a little child, and
you've made a mistake. All little chill
dren make mistakes. They are sure to.
because they are only learning tneir
way along. Now let me show you why
the naughty thing you did is a mis-
take. You have a good heart. You do
not like to get angry and slap. You
would rather be friends with every
body But something inside gets the
better of you, and all at once your face
Pushes fire-red, and your hand flies
out, and you slap. The mistake is that
you lost yourself. But, dearie, we must
not go on making mistakes. The min
ute we see our mistake we must stop
making it, we must never do ii again
Next time you feel slappy, know what
down deep in your pockets and hold
them there-tight-until the naughty
feelings go away" Instinctively she
began by seeing the good in them, thus
recalling it to themselves and restoring
their self-respect. After a time. what
with the gentle rocking, and the pet
ting and comforting, the child would
wonder how he ever could have felt
"slappy,'' and his little face would
shine like the face of q cherub. 1t
was then that the mother drove her
arrow home: Remember our rule,
dear boy. We are to do right. because
it is right to do right" 1t was never
a shamed and Inundated child that re-
joined the family group From their
own experiences the others knew that
he had been having a little talk with
mother and that Mother had been
telling him how to be good"
Beyond all else, she was her chill
dren's friend. From the first she
would say to them: Remember that L
am your best friend. If you get into
anywhere, if you do anything naughty,
even very naughty indeed, come and
tell me before you tell anyone else.
You need not be afraid to come. 1
you in any way. But 1 want you to
come to me and tell me about it. so
that can help you think out way to
make it right. For you are only little
children. You are not old enough to
know always what is right and wise
But I am your best friend. and 1 Will
help you think 1T out" Someone said
of her that she had the genius of
motherhood, but say that Sne nad
the genius of the friend; and that it
was their friend in their mother that
grappled the hearts of her children to
her with hooks of steel.
Was there never any clashing of
wills? Yes sometimes. as the boys
and girls grew larger. The mother had
her own way of meeting this problem,
too. I have not space to tell you how.
Through life she was their friend and
confidant: the loyal friend and true.
who never blamed them when they
went against her advice, but simply
helped them out. 1t is due her men,
DRY to add that every one of this
mothers sons grew to manhood-clean
and straight and upright.
THE RECLUSE.