Rhymes for Harry and His Nurse-Maid

5

Nurses should also be very cautious how they use threats to children. If they threaten to tell Mamma any thing, or to withhold any indulgence in case of naughtiness, let it be strictly attended to. If it be not attended to, children are great observers, and will soon find that but little regard is paid to truth; and thus incalculable evils may be the result. Some nurses, and even mothers, are apt to bribe their children in this way: "If my dear will do this, I'll give him a sugar-plum;" or, "Will he do so or so, if I give him a sugar-plum?" thus bringing down the standard of parental authority to the petulance or caprice of the child. – Can obedience ever be expected from one whose self-will is thus nurtured? Surely it must be from want of reflection, that mothers entail so much trouble upon themselves and their children!