St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-03-03

Upiht.
AMUSING CIuLDEEN.-As the cold
weather advances, AMI the little ones are
obliged mere and more 70 seek amusc-
mCut il doors, the mother looks around
for ample sources Of entertainment 10
keep the buy fingers employed, yet out
OF mischief. If She can have her family
room in perfect order, with fur or five
CHILDREN playing round and happy all the
time. she Is a very remarkable woman,
and the secret of her management would
be worth knowing. 1t seems to be ncCcs-
sary, in order to keep the tcmpcrs Of the
little on,s unrulilel, that chairs stand up
side down, toys b. scattered hither and
ycn. and offerings continually made 10
the God !rss ot Disorder or laid ON the
shrine Of c!iaus. The smashing CT cups,
plates, window pancs, plaything7, lamps
! and dolls heads is also essential TO their
perfect felicity. Allowance should be
made for all these things just as is made
for their growth when new clothes are
cut out for them. One corner of the sit
TING room or Li;chc:,, should be given up
to the children, where they may have
liberty TO do everything not absolutely
sinful. a peck Of clean sand in 4 ticht
box, with funnel and tin cups, is capa-
bic of giving some children Il great deal
of pleasure Hammer and lacks with Il
bar Of soap instead Ct wood, are also
good things for boys. IN ounce Of parti-
/
colorcd hcad., lo,cl out u few at Il
time, with needle and thread to string
them, will amlzt most little girls or
b ~ fer many hours. Slate and pencil,
or paper and pencil, with a set of cheap
drawing cards for models, are very iasci-
mating to children four or five years old
y set Of building blocks, costing from
one TO three dollars, Is an excellent in
vc-tment for bcvy Of juveniles.
Investment OF some sort must be, If
peace and quiet are 10 be preserved, cith-
or OF money in the purchase Of toys, or
of time in making them, or, greater than
all, of patience and good temper in bear
ing the penalties That the pa cnt must
suiler who makes no adequate provision
for keeping idle hands out of the mischief
Satan will surely find for them to do.
Dolls, tea sets, hobby -hor.cS, picture
boohs-thys1 are as Indispensable in the
nursery rs the milk, cribs and hanncls.
There must also be 4 due proportion OF
finger marks on the doors, thumrs on lit
tie heads. scratches and bruises ON little
bodies, to make up the perfect round OF
child-lilt.
The motLcr may fancy that She will
he happier WHEN her boys and Girls are
grownup from under her const mt watch
lulnc-s: bat the general tcsiimonyi> that
the period of play;lingS, Of measles au,l
whoopina coughs, Of walking stick horse,
and ton%- and poker ponies. l. happicsl
for the mother AMI often for the child
Whca her ofl-prim@s are all about her,
their noise may distract, their incessant
want, weary the mother, but she docs
not worry over them thea, rs when later
i'll life, they 20 she knows not whore, and
they do she knows not what. 1t Is best
therefore, TO en- Joy the period of infancy
and childhood H. it passes, numbering
only its JOYS, and forgetting It's annoy.
anc,s, smoothing rugged paths for tender
feet, aiil helping young hearts TO choos,
the good, AMI growing minds to SEX am;
love true wisdom.