The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-09-11
HOW TO MANAGE A BOY.


.;Ah!'' the wise old lips reply,
Youth may pass and strength may
But of love can't fortoken.
J Ask some older sage than 1!
(! Those who are never tired of point
ing out and telling what awful times
many families are having with their
younger brood had better look to nome
some one has somewhere said.
= There is shelter aplenty under the
home roof for every member or the
household, but the best, most comfort
able room, with softest springs, cush-
toned seats and library all his own, be-
longs to the half-grown youth who
lords it over the elder brothers and
sisters right royalty "A boys BOY
/ for a. that's the cry that never dies
/ out by those condoning his fo1lies- Pa
rents deny themselves necessary com
| forts, pinch, save-al1 this to give
| young manhood a better start in the
world than they had when young and
/ having to face the world penn1less as
they keep constantly reminding those
growing up who look to them for lid
crafty.
The young hopeful hears the old, old
story of how his father trudged. foot
sore miles to his il1-paying work, etc.
He breaks out with groan from his
1usty young lungs: dad, how many
more times are those doleful tales you
fling out so heavily at me to be told?
Give US something new"
Young blood has not the least desire
to have these truths flung at them.
! When they feel that the latchkey Civ
en- them should not compel them to be
in by midnight they confront the head
of the house with the information that
they are nearly of age and it's best to
manage themselves as other boys have
done.
49, y, IL nd
plucky youngster not out of his teens
ipacks his most needed belongings and
with little bag and baggage starts off
to put out for himself He braved the
anger Of his exacting father when
away he went to a hard position which
he had taken and capped the climax
by hiring a plain hall bedroom, whose
furniture consisted of cot washstand
and an apology of small table. Il
want no luxurious furniture stuff to
hamper me- said the boy who was to
manage himself. ttI've had too much
fostering. and brain-clouding at the
homestead!''
What mattered it to the youth, who
was feverish to ind out what he could
Ill in the world that he had CHANGED to
roam to the nearest town to commence
managing his career-a distance of a
dozen miles away? AS soon as the
meagre words on a. postal contained
his address, that he was well, and sent
love to all, the mother and sisters kept.
back their tears and in broken accents
murmured he had been too tenderly
nurtured to undergo hardships which
they feared he had to face. The father
testify brokefin You women are the
ones who spoil youths career; instead
of hardening him for the ups and
DOWNS he has to expect, you keep up
making it easy for KIM and adding
to the burden have 20 bear. The boy
can manage himself better than you
can
Young men like the dear, sweet, old.
fashioned home which they have been
reared in, but they do not feel fattered
to hear themselves called "the kid
from the time they are in their teens
and until they are out of it because
they are the youngest in the family. It
is no laughing matter for him to hear
them say hatteringIy. You are a real
dude, in the new suit the governor gave
you" He likes the suit best which he
pays for, with money he has earned.
The first time eager mother and sisters
start to visit him, late Monday after
non, they are weighed down with
packages they have talked over that
he .needs-his house slippers, box Of
neckties, bottles of perfume, volumes
of books, pictures, etc The little hall
room looked like a menagerie when
they piled all in.
Yet these dear mothers and sisters
persist in telling that they know how
to manage O. boy.