Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-01-22
NUMBER 2.
JuUenite Reading.

be formed in the juvenile mind. But 1t
is not by accident or chance that 80 de-
sirable a result is obtained. Just as chill
dren may be taught to eschew vulgar
words, to refrain from coarse and rough
actions, and TO avoid companionship with
rude and Improbable associates, so they
may be taught to avoid what is gross and
coarse and Improbable in books. A pos
tive taste for what is true, aud pure and
high always is accompanied by distaste
as positive for what is untrue, impure
and low. The same pains that is be-
slowed upon children TO keep them clean
and healthfnl, il bestowed upon their
minds 10 create in them positive tastes
for what is intellectually and morally
heslthful and clean will be as efficient In
one case as in the other.
The mother may begin so soon as the
child is old enough TO call for story TO
tell it true stories, interesting stories.
and stories with moral element SO inter-
woven in them that she will rarely need
to give other perceptive instruction. Of
all stories, most children love true stories
the best, and especially those in which
animals bear large part. BY skilfully
catering TO this taste a love for original
observation may early be iostered and
made TO embrace, not the observation OF
animals alone, but of flowers, of miner
ais, and OF all the objects OF nature with
which the child is familiar. AS q help TO
the parent in this regard "Hooper's
Child's Book Of Nature" is an excellent
assistant. Children love wonder stories,
and this taste may be very innocently
granted. In Miss Muloch's fairy tales,
in Jules Verne's books, in Hans Christian
Andersen's writings, in Du Chaillu's
tales of the gorilla country, in the Won
der Series Of Juveniles there is nothing
that can harm, while there is vast
amount OF entertainment, amusement
and instruction. For historical writings
Abbott'5 histories are pretty good, and
for Jolly, healthful entertainment, Miss
Acott's writings are at hand.
II parent really wishes to cultivate o
love for general literature in b is children,
there is no lack of books; indeed, so nu-
merous and in such variety are juvenile
books that what 10 select is often the per-
picking question. An introduction to
our classic writers should be given chill
dren at an early age. Let them become
familiar with the story of the Lady OF
the Lake" of "Enoch Arden" OF Evan
geline," of Chauces's "Grise Ida" of the
"Fairie Queene," OF the plots OF Shakes
peare's plays, with occasional tastes OF
these various authors in their own lam
gusge, and they will soon be able to 60
TO the original poems for themselves.
and gather the sense OF what they read.
though much of the phraseology may be
new and puzzling to them. Free trans
stions OF authors a little above their
comprehension when read in the authors
own words will quicken their apprehen-
sion and whet their appetites Tor higher
and higher styles OF reading.
While thus familiar with the use OF
books, children should be taught TO ham
die them carefully, with clean hands, and
so as 10 wear them out as slowly as pos.
sible. When they are tired OF reading
one book it may be put away till their
appetite for il returns. but if q sufficient
variety of books is provided they will
hardly tire Of any one book. The iuve-
nile library should be kept where it is en-
trely accessible to the children, so that
they may as naturally and easily pick up
book to read as they would pick up
toy to play with. Long rows of untn-
gered volumes are pretty enough to look
at, but far from agreeable to The discrim-
mating parent as those worn out with
incessant use of childish fingers-books
out of their covers, it may be, but bear
ing uncontrovertible proofs that their
conte nts have been transferred to the
| minds of those who have thus worn
them.
Children who have abundance and va
riety OF reading in which they take
lively interest will rarely be vicious or
troublesome. They will 60 from their
play TO their books. from their books to
their play, without any rsstle'sness to
work off in mischief. Then, too, the
ideas they acquire of various matters
will help them materially in apprehend-
ing their school studies, give them ia
cility in the expression of their ideas,
and make all their tasks easy.-N. 7.
| Tribune.