TEASING CHILDREN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 185, 14 June 1879, Page 2

TEASING CHILDREN.

Teasing goes on at home often to a lamentable extent, and more than, one temper has been permanently soured by the process, The'parents tease the children, and the children tease each other, till tho passionate arc made furious, tho meek fearful, tho humble craven, the sensitive callous, and the quiet morose. If one child has a certain ungainly habit—consequently, perhaps, 011 a physical defect—as the peering of short sight, or the limp of lameness; if it is absent-or dreamy or clumsy, those who are given to the bad habits of teasing never let it alone. No callow cygnet was ever more cruelly pecked at by tho full fledged ducks than is the poor ugly duckling of the nursery ; and unless that cruel play is stopped by tlw authorities tho mischief of a life is wrought. Nothing, indeed, in a hou3e demands more careful overlooking and more vigorous and judicious suppressing than this habit of teasing indulged in by the members of a family one with the other; aud when you have broken the finer nature that lies in every soul, how will you mend it 1 But—it does not answer to bo too sensitive, and to make a martyrdom out of a little harmless play that means to (lo 110 one any hurt. The only way m which to meet those who mako teasing in a manner a profession is with perfect good humour and serenity. To bo cross or tearful is to lay yourself open to worso assaults, for' the teaser only wants to know which place is most vulnerable; and where he can best wound you. Give him .his vantage ground, and he will use it to your discomfiture, mask your weak places and he is powerless.—Springfield Republican,