EARLY DISCRIMINATION.
A judicious mother told her little girls they must not be hanging around and kissing the young gentlemen who visited the house; it was not becoming in them, and it might be troublesome. A few days afterwards an old gentleman, a friend of the family, called, and, while noticing the children, drew one of them to him and offered to kiss the little thing. But no, she would have nothing of the sort; and when the gentleman was gone, the mother said,—
“My dear, when a nice old gentleman like that offers to kiss a little girl like you, you shouldn’t put on such airs and refuse him. I was quite ashamed of your conduct.”
“But, mother, you told us we mustn’t kiss the gentlemen,” said Maggie.
“Maggie, there is a great difference between letting young men kiss you, and such old people as Mr. Venable who just went out. When such persons offer to kiss you, it is to show their kind feelings, and you should take it as a compliment, and not act foolishly.”
Maggie put on a very serious face, and, after thinking upon it awhile, replied, “Well, mother, if I have to kiss the gentlemen, I would a great deal rather kiss the young ones.”
Children and fools speak the truth.
