Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-08-24
INDITLDCALITY OF CHILDREN,

What more can l give my children than 1
am giving, them?" asked an anxious young
reares OF sav ma asv who had
they would be benefited by q little whole
some neglect, was the reply. 1t was the re-
S sun t on keen observation and recognition OF
ne Iact that the children in question were
MI IN continual state of worry by being
"aiched. The mothers eve and care was SD
oi,lhipiesent that their spontaneity was
Suechtu. ana, as one remarked, life for them
was one eternal DON'T
Sld another in recalling "reminiscences Of
J Jarsd o.; mnen | was child was rem
utleu mlseIaole oy being constantly watched
ana trained. was very fond of being alone
at times. could give no reason for il hut
biang !" Say III unoeeupled rooms, or find
there TO amuse myself with my own PLAYS and
tancieS. My mother was suspicious that this
meant evil of some kind, and constant suryeil
lance and reprimand for going off by myseli
childhood"
Nothing should be more carefully respected
and guarded than the individuality of child.
The atmosphere of home should be that OF
love and safety, in which ali the natural in
elinations of children should be allowed 10 act
Sp' ntane0uSly. Their wishes for employ
menIs and possessions OF their own shouts be
respected, their tastes in matters of food and
ere consulted in SO far as is consistent with
The convenience OF those around. We have
heard grown up people Tell the distaste they
had when children To certain kinds of food
which they were compelled TO eat. or certa n
wear. 1t used TO be rule In many families
brought up in the Puritan style tnat enid
must eat all the cruSts of his bread, or all the
fat on his meat, or all the food on his plate.
such rules are harbarouS, and We trust nearly
ob>olee, yet children'S taste in food on Oh II
lie more considered than it is. Food that is
dlSiaNeiul should never be forced upon them,
and 10 procure for them food which they en-
Joy Will in most cases be 10 procure such food
as their systems require. So of taste in dress.
Children will sometimes have an antipathy to
no r lion ANTS
prefer ence for others. Ii possible these
tastes should always be respected, guarding.
OF course, against encouraging or fostering
vanity.
SO of the occupations and emplovments of
children as far as possible they should be left
to follow their own inclinationS when they are
harmless. If your little girl would rather play
with hammer and tacks than with dolls, why
let her have them, and see that she has
BOARD, or box, or place where she can
Drive them without reproof. If your little
boy always wants TO hitch the chairs up for
horses. and can enjoy himself happily as an
imaglnaiy stage driver why, set apart GER
Tested and unmatched. III he begS for tools,
let him have them; ii he wants pencils or
paints, procure them for him. The only way
by which parents can secure the confidence of
their Children is first to show confidence in
them. Confidence must be Won; it can never
be forced, not even from the lutte ones who
play around our knees.
happy childhood is the greatest heritage
parents cal give to their Saildren. Its mem
DRY Will brighten and cheer the whole of life
To be happy it must to a certain extent be
unreStralned. The home play ground should
have no dangerous places from which child
rem must be forbidden and guarded. And in
the shelter of the home and the playground,
let the young spirits develop freely, Spontan-
eously, happily. Let them have their little Sc
cretS, their own possessions that no one shall
interfere with. their own plays, and. so far as
is consistent with the welfare and comfort of
others, their own way. Life will discipline
them harShly enough when parents can no
longer shield them from sorrow. Happy the
home and happy the child who can look back
and say. as does beloved English author:
We'll, have been happy once, have been
child! / have been in heaven, L have
stood in the smile and lain in the arms of one
OF Gods angels. | was the happy child of a
gentle. loving mother.
Oh that garden, of my early home, where /
and the flowers grew up together, [ and
Time were playfeiiows then: feared him
not. / once saw a picture which had for its
subject an hour glass standing on a pedestal,
and child looking calmly and Steadfastly at
ii. In vain-So Interpreted the picture-in
vain the sands were falling fast aud unremit-
tingly; the child looked calmly on. What did
it care for time? 1t was not afraid of all its
past, or all its coming hours still less that the
hours would cease TO flow for 1t. In one sense
the child is living in eternity. With all its
microscopic vision it has no bounds on its fu-
ture. 1nsectlike, ii beats its little wing in
the quite limitleSs air.
But the light of that garden, and the light of
all the world to me was my mothers love, my
mothers Smile.-[St. Louis Post.