Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-04-06
For the Herald and Tribune
Teach Economy to the Little Ones!


"a penny saved is penny earned
said DR.. Franklin, and that parent who
trains up child to habits of true practi-
cal economy, bestows upon it that which
is of more value than would be one thou
sand dollars in PURE gold
Few realize at how early an age child
may be taught to saUe, to lag up and to
preserve for future use. If we begin as
soon as child is old enough to under
stand what is said 10 it, and teach it to
put away its little play things in box or
trunk every time it is done playing with
them, the beginning is made: and as toy
after toy is added to the little hoard, you
will be surprised to see how soon a habit
of accumulation is formed. AS it is how,
nine out of ten children will play few
hours or days at the most, with some toy,
and then break it in pieces, tear it up, or
throw it to one side as of no further use
whereas if it were laid away, it might in
a very short time be again source of
pleasure and amusement. Besides the
regular toy-box, have another box or shelf
where on books, primers and pictorial pa
pers may be kept, and as the child grows
older its school books also. Books and
papers are never failing source of amuse-
ment and interest to child, especially on
stormy days. Even those who are too
poor to buy many books or papers for the
little ones, can make scrap books for them,
by saving up every little picture they get,
and pasting them in an old atlas, writing
book, or account book : and in doing this
you will give them valuable lesson in
economy by showing them how much can
be made out of little and apparently almost
worthless things. AS the years pass on
teach the youth to collect bits of boards,
nails, wire, old tools, and in fact any thing
and every thing that you think will be of
use in the future (The old saying is If
you keep a thing seven years you will al
ways find use for it.) These boarded
savings if stored up on the garret or In
some out house, will not only be mine
of treasure to the child. but often of use
to grown up people themselves; as they
will perceive by the many calls they make
upon the collection in some moment of
need.
The little girl too, should be taught to
save bits of calico, ribbon, lace, thread,
patches, &C., and to have her little box of
tools. nails and hammer as we'll as boy.
Nothing should be wasted that it will pay
to save up for future need.
At the table likewise should economy be
taught. Not by stinting Of good healthy
food, or even luxuries, but by a careful
habit of eating up clean all that is taken
upon the plate-making no waste of crusts,
or calling for half dozen things and
eating bite or two of each and wasting
the rest. Teach them that provisions cost
more than wood, shelter or raiment; more
than books, papers or schooling, and that
they should therefore be the more saving
of them. so that there should be no waste.
Above all else, more than all the rest,
teach the young to economize their time
Not alone because slime is money" but
but because Time is Life! And life is
ours only from hour to hour and from day
TO day. no one of us knowing at what
moment it may be ours no longer. Let
each child then be taught to aoOTk, COM
mencing as soon as it is able to pick up
a few chips or carry an arm full of wood.
Teach it to wait upon itself, to wait upon
others, and as it grows older let it have
its allotted tasks, cares and responsible
ties. No matter if you can do the work
better and quicker and easier than you
can get it out of the child, remember 1t is
for that child's good that it performs its
own share of labor, learns to be useful and
to economize its time When out OF school
dnring vacations let it have certain les
sons to be learned cvery day as regular
part of its days duties. If one half OF
the time be employed in work or study,
the other half will contain JOY enough to
compensate, if compensation be desired,
for the time spent in useful employment.
A child brought up to habits of practical
economy and industry all through the
wears of it's minority will seldom if ever
start in life poor man. He will have
saved up something, even though it be but
little, to begin to make more with, and
girl so educated will be able to make her
own way in the world, and prove help
mate to the one with whom she elects to
travel the pathway of life.
GAS the twig is bent the trees inclined"
1t is said that Silas Sturdivant once
asked clerk of his who was sealing CIR
culars with waters, if half a wafer would
not secure them as well as a whole one
u hile the clerk was dwelling upon this
query with surprise and disgust at wha'
he deemed the sordid meanness of his EN-
ployer, a lady entered who was obtaining
subscriptions towards building an orphan
ASYLUM. Sturdivant subscribed Five Hun
dred dollars for the purpose. After the
lady left he turned to the clerk and said
.'Y oung man, you wonder how I, who badC
YOU save halfa wafer should in the same
e.;,., o,,,a,- co larne a sum of money