By such management as this, it is plain that Egbert is brought into actual co-operation with his mother in the infliction of a punishment to cure him of a fault.  It is true, that making such an arrangement as this, and then leaving it to its own working, would lead to no result.  As in the case of all other plans and methods, it must be strictly, firmly, and perseveringly followed up by the watchful efficiency of the mother.  We can not substitute the action of the child for that of the parent in the work of early training, but we can often derive very great advantage by securing his cooperation.

Playful Punishments.

So true is it that the efficacy of any mode of punishment consists in the certainty of its infliction, that even playful punishments are in many cases sufficient to accomplish the cure of a fault.  George, for example, was in the habit of continually getting into disputes and mild quarrels with his sister Amelia, a year or two younger than himself.  “I know it is very foolish,” he said to his mother, when she was talking with him on the subject one evening after he had gone to bed, and she had been telling him a story, and his mind was in a calm and tranquil state.  “It is very foolish, but somehow I can’t help it.  I forget.”

“Then you must have some punishment to make you remember,” said his mother.

“But sometimes she is the one to blame,” said George, “and then she must have the punishment.”

“No,” replied his mother.  “When a lady and a gentleman become involved in a dispute in polite society, it is always the gentleman that must be considered to be to blame.”

“But Amelia and I are not polite society,” said George.

“You ought to be,” said his mother.  “At any rate, when you, an older brother, get into disputes with your sister, it is because you have not sense enough to manage so as to avoid them.  If you were a little older and wiser you would have sense enough.”

“Well, mother, what shall the punishment be?” said George.

“Would you really like to have a punishment, so as to cure yourself of the fault?” asked his mother.

George said that he would like one.

“Then,” said his mother, “I propose that every time you get into a dispute with Amelia, you turn your jacket wrong side out, and wear it so a little while as a symbol of folly.”

George laughed heartily at this idea, and said he should like such a punishment as that very much.  It would only be fun, he said.  His mother explained to him that it would be fun, perhaps, two or three times, but after that it would only be a trouble; but still, if they decided upon that as a punishment, he must submit to it in every case.  Every time he found himself getting into any dispute or difficulty with his sister, he must stop at once and turn his jacket inside out; and if he did not himself think to do this, she herself, if she was within hearing, would simply say, “Jacket!” and then he must do it.