The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-12-02
Mistellanrous.


nuHldH IWlSS,
lfyou would have your children grow up
strong and robust, you must require them
to be regular in their habits and careful Of
their diet, DO not allow them to eat rich
and highly seasoned food ut any time and
forbid all ''danties" between meals II they
are huugry--as no doubt they often are-
before meal time, give them slice of good
bread and butter. This is sufficient, and
can do no harm. They need plain, nutri-
tious, food II you will give them candy,
nuts, cake, etc, let il be in very small
quantities at time-the less the better.
Children are naturally so Sery active, they
require good deal Of sleep; put them to
bed early ifthey are inCliued to be tinid,
do not compel them to go to bed in the
dark-they may he kept awake long time
through fear. You need not think of the
light as useless expense and similar rea.
sous, for children who go to bed feeling well
in mind and body will drop to sleep in from
five TO ten minutes, when the light may be
removed. DO not tell your children wild,
tragical stories Of hairbreadth escapes from
wolves, bears, Indians etc. | recollt ct n
book in our school district library which |
used to hear my older brothers and sisters
read The stories aud pictures il contained
really haunted me. would dream of them
night after night, often Weakening up terribly
frightened. II you wish to tell them stories,
let them be entertaining, and such as will
leave n pleasant remembrance. if any. -
Children must be amused; if they have
something to amuse them, they will be so
much less inclined to mischief; yet too
many playthings are worse than none. In
this case, they do not appreciate them, and
consequently destroy them. A little boy
will often leave room full of toys for
hammer, a piece of board and n Lai or
little girl will leave all for her doll. As
soon as little girl is old enough to handle
thread and needle, keep her supplied
when she wants them, Do not give her
needles with broken points. worn-out scis.
sors, thread too coarse for her needle, ETC.,
but just as good as you use yourself these
things try the patience Of grown people, to
say nothing of a child: Give her pretty lit.
tie pieces OF goods, such are found in every
house encourage her to cut and make her
doll S clothing. When she comes and asks
you to do it for her, give her only hints, and
let her do the work herself, unless you see
she has really tried and failed, then by all
means give her q little assistance. In this
way you will teach her 10 be seli.relying and
ingenious
Give children occasionally some little
piece of work nothing pleases them more
than to be able to do something that ''big
folks" do; but do not overtask them BY
compelling them to tend the baby, rock the
cradle, etc, for any great length of time
| believe mary little girl has been injured
for life by being compelled to take care Of
her younger brothers aud sisters. W, can.
not be too careful in measuring their
strength.
A little boy is generally servant to the
household he runs all the errands, and in
the end gets the credit of doing nothing
BE careful how you say this. You will find,
il you make close calculation that he has,
perhaps. taken twice the number of steps OF
any one else in the house during the day
You may not see the work accomplished,
but he has worked faithfully nothwithstand.
ing. Do not wound his feelings by SAYING
he has done nothing, until you have well
considered the matter.
lfone Of your children has something
nice. given him say for instance, fruit or
anything you feel willing for him TO eat
teach him to divide it among the others.
Children soon grow 10 feel that they cannot
enjoy luxury unless they share it with the
rest. Teach them to play together peace.
fully with each others toys. If two want
the same thing at the same time, and per
sist in having it, take il away from both,
until such time as one is willing to yield to
the other. You will only be called on to
do this few times the matter is soon set
tied.
Never send children to bed out Of humor:
If you have had occasion to punish them, do
not send them off half repentant, but make
them yield entirely; then let the matter
drop-it is wicked to refer to it any time
after. 1t is quite common am sorry to say,
fer parents to delay forgiveness, thinking,
if the child reflects on the enormity of its
transgression, il will prove benefit. Here
you make great mistake, | believe. The
tendency is rather to harden than otherwise
When child asks to be forgiven, do il at
once. When his little heart is melted and
ready to confess his FAULT should you not
be ready to forgive? | have seen child
denied goodnight kiss, from father or
mother, for some fault committed during
the day or evening, when the child had al
ready done all that was required Of him
that Is, acknowledged he committed the act,
said he was sorry, and promised never to
repeat the offence. Is such case consis.
tent? Think of it, II may seem a small
matter to you, but you know very little
about children if you think It small mat.
ter to them. The feeling TO sensitive
child, that father or mother is not willing
to give him a kiss, is trouble TO his mind
as great as the trouble man in business
might feel when he rctires at night thinking
the morning may find him bankrupt.
Again, never show preference for one
child over another; let your love be as
equally divided as possible, and in all your
acts be guarded, that they may have no nos.
slble chance to imagine you love one better
than the other. Never speak Of the faults
Of your children before others than your
family. How often you hear mothers or
fathers sspeakinganguarded 10 some friend.
IN the presence Of their children, like this
~ really do not know what we are going 10
do with James he is so dun, It seems as II
he wonld never learn anything. Nov, here
is our little Julia, not more than half his
age she commits to memory q dozen verses
from the Rible every week, to repeat al
Sunday school she learns everything SO
readily, while James can scarcely learn
three verses, = s-r--