CHILDREN NOT ALWAYS HAPPY.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3136, 7 March 1879, Page 1

CHILDREN NOT ALWAYS HAPPY.

It his become Vaort of established theory that you^g "cMd/en: are always happy, that there are no caret in the little lives, no pains in,the little bones, and no sensitive spots in the little hearts. Consequently, people who are not parents —nay, some who are, actually believe that the years between one and fifteen are years of perpetual. bliss, and that ,ii is thoir duty to moderate this ecstatic condition of things whenever it i» in «»■»" power to do so. ',-..;,, These people were 'probably born grown np, with . stiff shirt collars, tight boots, and well staffed pocketbooks, all properly adjusted. They hare less sympathy with the little ones . than the heated poker has. - «*d the little ones know it at • glance. All day long they utter their " Don't, Billy," and "You mustn't Kate.* They restrain the heels, the voices, the hands of those specimens of perpetual motion whenerer it is possible. Whatever the children like to eat is at once pronounced bad. for them. The heaven-boro" sweet-tooth 1' is a crime, also the general aversion to fat meat, gravy, and spices. It is a joy to such people to dose the small unfortunates with bitter .medicine,, to tie red flaunel^ about their throats,; or put blisters behind their ears. They can do this under the pretence of " thinking only of the poor things'good." • » How often do these believers in childhood's blissful state send: shortlegged little ones up long flights of stairs, prefacing.the order, with " Your bones are young, you know," or, " Children are never tired!" How they will pursue the unfortunate little bne'sintoeorriersand hiding places, and taking away an enchanting Jack the Giant Killer; or. Fuss in Boots, ■ in large print, and beautiful with colored oictures, substitute the death of, some i-e-'dful little good boy—a book got up in dian.'° n<* 6 ' ™* °'' tremendous _ ft _j, ,_ j *»oasting of one hideous illus-orer-crowded cars, with lh, e ™*1* "These children can all stanu U*'*ul know." Their "wonder" at mothe. W,JJ bring their families to see magio laou and panoramic exhibitions. "Children' are auoh a bother," they say audibly. O, the sensitive souN that thrill and ache! O, the suffering that only a " mother " knows anything about! Unhappily, such people are Sometimes school teachers. Children under such in. structors are supposed to be little automatons—things to be kept" in order " and made to sit bolt upright while a certain amount of cramming is gone through with You could not make' a teacher of that kind—of whom there are happily but few left—believe that each child in an indivi* dual. To such a teacher children are simply a little row of nuivances. Besides are they not children ? and'children, even when being "smacked," scolded' and bothered, "miMf. be happy." '<