Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-01-09
A Mothers Story.

huoit dnu OlueT DDOkS upon IL, OCCupltS lnp
space between the two west windows, be-
meath the oval mirror. On the opposite side
of the room, below the marble mantle, is
substantial round table, with marble top. 1t
is one of those rare tables, which cannot be
tipped over though dozen restless elbows
lean upon it. Here is the arop-!ight. with
its simple white porcelain shade, and
quaint bronze standard. From the mantel
look down the photographs of two or three
bright-faced boys-friends of the children,
and hanging above is the portrait of a pet
kitten, drawn by their kitten-loving auntie.
Autumn leaves in vases, and over the picture
frames, brighten the room, picturing their
forms gracefully upon the delcately tinted
paper of the wall, and contrasting pleasantly
with the whiteness of the marble. The
First Thought" the pretty chrome of two
yellow, downy chicks looking wonderiugly
at the shells from which they have Just
emerged haugs opposite an engraving, " \
Dream of Acadia" Pictures of the old
church and academy of my girlhood speak
to me of the past, from one corner. A tall,
narrow bookcase, made to fit a certain niche
of the room, and made also to accommodate
a set of "BritiSh Poets" towers to the cell
ing, and is called our Pillar of Poetry
| have thus described the sitting-room
that you may the better imagine the little
group gathering there as the clock struck
six on an autumn evening. This hour was
henceforward to be given to the children,
and one of my plans for their amusement
and edlficaton was to make for each hand
some pcture-books Dinner was over and
the children were beginning to think,
81" What shall we do now to have some fun 2"
As they were galloping upstairs to the warm
"study," after their father shouted Come
to the sitting-room children | have some
thing to say to you" The gas was lighted,
the room was warm and cheerful. How
should you like to have me look over with
you the boxes of picture, and paste some
into your picture-books :" said l. They all
danced up and down As they said in chorus
"Oh, yes, mamma; | have so many pic
lures, and my book has not had one pasted
into it since last winter -
"Well," said |, 1" have a plan to pro.
pose. Every night at six o'clock will meet
you here, and we will have nice times
together, in one way or another. We will
have some famous picture-books by the time
winter is over. Monday shall be Wilie's
night Tuesday, Harry's, and Grace shall
have Friday night, as she has then no les
sons to learn. The pictures shall be cut and
put in neatly, and will work with you"
They all ran for their books and boxes, and
to gather stray pictures irom the various hid
ing-places which children always will have.
The chief treasure of my children, almost
from babyhood, is a picture-hook not a
"boughten " picture-book OF course they
have those too--but one which they enjoy
far more, one made by themselves. When
very young they busy themselves, for hours
cutting from paper houses, and cars, horses
and h.. tat,, tnL
nowadays plentifully in almost every news
paper As they grow older they cut them
more neatly aud their quick eyes soon learn
to distinguish finer and nicer pictures from
those more common. Thus the hand is
being trained to be skillful, the eye is being
taught to see correctly, and the habit of OBJ
servation and the taste are being cultivated.
Add to all these advantages the pleasure
and amusement gained for the active child.
A small geography, with firm binding, is the
first book | have selected for the purpose, AS
1t usually has already some pictures, With
little direction and oversight the mother,
rs she sits sewing, can soon teach child to
use a very little paste or mucilage neatly.
As the children become older give them
Patent Office Report" or /" Book of
| Special Laws" q beg pardon of the worthy
gentlement of the Patent Office, and wish to
bear testimony 10 the useful and interesting
articles so often found in their reports but
some giving mere statistics are not so read
| able, all will agree, and these had much bet
ter be used in this way than to stand on the
dusty top shelf of some high book-case.) |
myself look with delight at the prettily
arranged pages of " the best picture-books,
and share fully in the children's enthusiasm I;
wondering at the changes which score OF
years has wrought, as recollect the stiff,
forlorn representations which adorned ca
the books of my childhood
Now, the illustrated catalogues of Harper
and other publishers are filled with grace
full, pleasing pctures-specimen pages Of
new readers, Biographies and other books.
There is scarcely florist but embellishes
his catalogue with lilies, pinks roses and
pansies, so true to nature that we almost in-
,tnctively bend TO catch their fragrance.
Prang's catalogues of his beautiful chromos
have many charming pictures. Even our
illustrated papers and magazines give us ell
cravings, some of which, though not fine or
even pleasing to the eye Of artist or connois.
seur, are very pleasing to other eyes, and al
ford keen enjoyment to child
The hour, tnat Monday evening, was spent
in gathering and arranging my boys picture
treasures, which mad accumulated during
the summer Some were gifts from grand
mammas and aunts, some had been found il
old pape~s, or had been sent as advertise
ments TO his papa. His sister and brother
: also arranged their pictures TO be ready Il
) accomplish much when their turn shoulC
come TO claim my attention. They all wen
to their rest, as happy as birds, tull o
; thoughts aud plans for their books.
Look with me, dear reader, at one OF th'
books, after our winters work was over
/ The frontispiece represents mother, witt
her merry-faced boy, eagerly watching fo
the return of the husband aud father, with
verse or two beneath entitled Who is com
. ing 2" Opposite is brother, with his arm
about little sister, underneath which "
=, read, waiting for Papa Then come tw
/ bird-cages "a fine eagle, just returning t
his nest on the high, lonely rocks pet bir
resting lovingly on the shoulder OF his littl
mistress, and on the margins about thes
u larger pictures small birds OF many kind
Another leaf shows us an old well, with
~ III. orchard the meadow, the dee-tangled Wildwood
ne bridge ani lne roek Where The cataract ielli
I, And e'en the rude bucket that hung IN the we'll.
" Other rural scenes are arranged on the Of
posite page. Turn again, and you will st
two children among the flowers, with a shu
. extract from Dickens "Chid's Dream OF
Star" Another child is trimming her hi
d with flowers, and two Others with baskets
e. flowers, are rambling where young lambs al
t, frolicking or lying on the grass. Lit
le spaces at the sides are filled with some
n Prangs small pictures OF children aud flo,
n ers. These are called the "ohldrens pages
II and the next are "cat pages" \ kitten
r. playing with leaves, recalling TO us the pret
II poem OF the " Kitten aud the falling leaves
Ie another kitten is being taught its letters fro
blocks, by little girl, aud Two Others "a
IS playing-or quarrellng-and an old won'
re is sweeping the two kittens right out
N the ROOM"
le The next page shows us the I" first sno'
Is, lall, suggesting the lines OF JAS r. Lowell
~ while, in the midst OF another winter soel
re- OF iarm-yard, and a Woodland scene vii
r- rabbits, are enclosed the lines
n hear the rabbit lightly leaping
"a lie foolish screaming of tile jay,
= The choppers aNe-stroke, iHi away
IN The camor Of some neghbonng barn-ya
.. The lazy cocks belated crow,
10 or cattle-trainp In rrisny snow,
AT Then comes "A fayorite page of the o
ia mill, and "a willow-brook which turns h
Nj MILL Flowerpages greet us next,
IS pinks and roses leaves, buds aud blossom
r. Our Bible-pages represent Ruth gleanin