The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-04-21

Remember, too, your boy can get
tired as we'll as you. If you keep him
running errands and busy all day, when
it comes time TO go after the COWS he
may whine little and be slow in start
ing. Possibly he may be lazy--you
know more about that than I do; but l
prefer to think his feet and legs ache,
and that he is actually tired and feels
as you and I sometimes feel-as though
we just couldn't do it,
Then again, fathers and mothers,
have you ever known any one to put
those little jobs they most disliked on
the boys? OF course you have. You
have seen the boy set to work at the
woodpile with a saw while the father
would attend to his duties to his coun-
try on a drygoods box in the corner
store or at the postoffice.
l am gIad what little wood is used
now is sawed by machinery; for I verify
believe wood saving and running a
washing machine are hard on the moral
constitutions of men and boys. Besides,
what right have we to expend our en-
ergy in doing work that an engine can
do as well, and what boy doesn't like
an engineer
There are boys, too, plenty of them,
as we'll as men, who are not especially
fond of doing chores. 1t is all right
when the boy is old enough to do all
the chores sometimes; but if he posi-
lively despises the job it doesn't seem
hardly probable by keeping him eter-
nally at it he will learn to love the
work.
Now, do not understand me that l
would never have the boy do anything
but the work he likes. That is not my
idea. You know plant that is grown
in the house, in the shade, is good for
nothing when taken out in the sun and
wind. 1t lacks in strength and power
of resistance. So with the boy. If life
is made too easy, if he has nothing to
do but what pleases him, not care or
thought save of his own pleasure,
some day there will be rude awaken
ing and he will find himself too old to
depend upon father and mother, and
with no force to enter the conflict OF
life. I tell you it takes hard grinding
to polish the diamond; a steady hand,
cool nerve, with sound judgment, to fit
the boy.
The DAYS are never too short to talk
with the boys. Time is never so valu-
ably spent in any other way as in show
ing an interest in things he likes. For
example, last summer I was helping to
prepare dinner for threshers. Many OF
YOU know what that means. Just be-
fore the noon hour boy about II years
old called for the lady OF the house.
He had ridden beautiful horse to her
very door that she might see and ad-
mire the creature and how we'll he could
ride. Was she too busy to stop2 In
deed no; though every minute means
hurry a little faster. But to see how
happy that lad was when he rode away
we'll repaid her, I think, for the effort
made. Don't snub the boy. Even if
his ideas seem crude or, perhaps, utterly
useless, don't snub or laugh at him.
He will not venture suggestions many
times if you do, and soon all interest in
the home is lost.
If he has grown fast, is bashful and
awkward, i'll at ease anywhere, don't
tell him he is so big and lazy that he
will never amount to anything, anyway,
so perhaps he would best try teaching
or preaching. Don't call attention to
his peculiarities and make him an OBJ
iect OF ridicule, so that he feels like
hiding in the haymow or cellar at the
approach of any one. That lad is SEN
sitive; is wholly alive to all his short
comings; has a big, kind heart, and
needs encouragement. 1t is just as
easy to say, What pretty tie you have,
How nice you look today, or some other
little word OF appreciation, as to make
unfavorable comment about his big feet
and hands or ungainly form.
Live very close to the boys. Be sure
you have their confidence; and, more
than that, be sure you are worthy OF it.
The tiny little fellows always come to