The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-04-27
;AcH1sG LITTLE G1ELs TO SEW
BY MES. II. W. BEEcHER.

have some years before i need take up
this cross. / supply her with bits OF
cloth, needle, thread and scissors, and
let her ,amuse herself with an attempt
at sewing; but how dread the time
when l must begin in earnest, and try
to teach her the proper way. | some
times hope that by letting her botch,
and, play sewing, by aud by, as she
sees me making even seams, and TAX
ing tiny stitches, she will by imita-
ton and observation, gradually learn,
without much effort on my part. DO
you not think that she may
81" Never. No doubt some children
learn with much less effort than 9th
ers; but by letting your little girl
play sewing,'-s. 6otching," as you
term it-you only connive at her ac-
qairng careless habit, which she
viii not easily exchange for straight
seams and tiny stitches"
Would you advise me TO keep
thread and needles and cloth from
her, and endeavor to interest her in
some other play, till such time as | am
compelled to teach her how to use
them properly 2"
No. Why should you debar her
from such innocent anu ,ements p
Why not begin at once 10 teach her
how to doa thing right, even when i'll
playI7 -
"Teaeh that baby. Whit can she
learn at her age?7
Can she not thread her necdle?"
Certainly. Quite expertly."
And can she not push her needle
in and, out of the cloth ~ !.
Oh yes. For a baby, she shows
quite a genius for this quiet kind OF
Womanly accomplishments"
Then, you see, she can learn some
thing, Notwithstanding her youth
How much more maturity, or skill,
think you, will it require for her to
learn, by a few well directed etforLs
/ on your part, how to put the needle
in at pI oper distances taking up just
so many TIN eads for stitch Z"
Why! she is only baby-but lit
tie past three years! Teach her! =
How prepOsterous! You must be-
."tGrowing imbecile, you think
Very likely; but these ideas are no
indication of it. They are good, SOL
id common sense, we think such as
our mothers and grandmothers acted
upon, in the olden times, when early
teaching and genuine industry were
fashionable-When there were more
busy bees to improve each shining
hour of childhood-When these first
years, which were then passed in
''books, and work, and healthful
play were a thousand times more
childlike and happier than these our
day OF modern improvement. Now,
the 9. toddling wee things are carried
in the, nurses arms to infant parties.
dressed and founced and friZzed, un-
til every vestige of simple childhood
is lost in their painfully iudierous ef-
forts to initiate their more foolish ell
ders. Kept up far beyond healthful
bed time, and fed with food injurious
TO q child's digestion. Ah! dear little
woman will it be q harder task, re-
qniring more skill and patience, to
take your little glrl on your lap, ten
or fifteen minutes every day, and show
her how to hold and use the needle
taking the soft, warm, innocent little
hands, with loving caresses into yours,
and guiding the tiny fingers, until at
last she learns to put the needle thro'
the cloth at proper distances unaided
will this be harder or more tiresome
than to dress and worry over your. lit
tie one until she is drilled in dancing
-taught to bow and courtesy, and
gracefully accept her baby partners
hand in the dance R. Will it give you
no painto see the first development
OF envy, jealousy and ill-temper forced
into active growth, under such train
ing? Compare this toll and RESPONSE
bility with the soft and loving prattle
of your little girl, as she nestles in
your lap, and with merry laugh,
watches the bright needle go to and
fro and at last, when she masters one
stitch, and you pronounce it well
done, will not her shout of triumph
repay the teachers trouble? Will it
any, longer be work to dread? On
the contrary will you not look for
ward to that daily lesson as the sweet
est duty of the day
f'jAlI this sounds very pretty, but
when we come to the reality-the big
stitches, the long stitches, the packers
and gathers, the mistakes and vexa-
tious carelessness-how many pounds
OF cloth will be wasted before one
inch of decent sewing, can be accom-
pIished by little child p a..l.-
"Not one. Cut out little book of
patchwork. Tell the child she may
make quilt for her dolls bed, just as
soon as she can do it well. Use pret-
ty, bright colors. Take her on your
lap, and show her how stitch must
be taken, making merry speeches to
her as the work goes on. "See pet,
you must take up two of these threads
on that side; then pull the needle
through. That's one stitch. Mamma
did that. Now let's see the little girl
tol- of lilo n or M
ma hold your hand steady. There
that's right. Now you may try again.
1t was pretty well, but a little bit
longer than the last, and I guess Dolly
won't quite like it; SO we'll pull it
There-that's my little woman! You
have made three nice stitches, and we
will put up sewing now, and run out
doors to play. When papa comes
home mamma will have to show these
much pleased" In this way it will
for Dolly's small bed will be finished !;
and you will say, I" My little daugh-
ter has done it SO nicely, L think we
will have to make another, and piece
the two together to make a bigger
Huilt' 1OSIOi . % yOai ldnoCc We oLC
sure you will have o quilt large
enough for your little girls own bed,
every stitch well done; and both
mother and child drawn closer togeth-
er and made happier by each days
lessons. 1t is, we think, . great mis-
take while teaching a child to sew, to
pass over very poor work, simply be-
cause you think, after a while she will
learn to do better, and you will throw
the few early attempts aside, rather
than be at the trouble of picking out
a few imperfect stitches. Only halt
inch Or three or four stitches a day,
we'll done, is a gain. Be gentle, but
very firm. Do not drill the child till
it is weary, and will shrink from the
second trial; but let it be well under
stood that every stitch must be per-
feet before it will be accepted, and
then be lavish of praise when the eff
fort is successful. Do not destroy the