Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-08-20
Reading TO Children.

Reading TO Children.
HINTS TO THOSE CALLED UPoNi TO EN-
TERT&IN AND INSTRUCT LITTLE FOLK.
Many persons suppose that it is useless
to attempt to read anything to children
under twelve years of age but books writ
ten expressly for them. They think that
IA child can only appreciate stories that
are short and easily comprehended, and
written in the simplest language. But
experience has convinced US that this is a
mistaken notion.
Juvenile works are necessary when
children begin to read themselves, and
until they become so familiar with the ap-
pearance of a majority of words that they
recognize them at glance, and have
ceased to be conscious of the effort of
forming letters into words and sentences.
Before they know the simplest monosyl-
tables by sight, they have an extensive
stock of long words, which they recognize
by the sound ,and whose meaning they fully
comprehend. as soon as they hear them
uttered. And you can read passages from
the most famous works of genius to q
young child, without changing the Ian
guage in the least, or explaining the au-
thor's meaning. Its smiles and tears and
its appreciative remarks (not its questions
for demand for frequent elucidation
and elaboration is usually proof that the
work is not suitable for youthful readers)
will convince you that it thoroughly un-
stands and enjoys the book.
| If you are on the lookout for facts and
fancies that will interest children, you will
find something that will please them in
nearly every magazine, or biography, or
book of travels, or scientific work or
novel, or volume of poems, that you read.
| And before your boy or girl has entered
the names of many of the best writers,
and will know their heroes and heroines
and love them dearly.
When you find nothing in book that is
suitable to read aloud, there is often some
hing interesting that you can relate.
Children love to hear about Mrs. Brown
ing's dog Flush. and James Wilson Is
birds, Shlly and Robbie, and the rest of
his pets, described in the fourth chapter of
his life, by DR.. Hamilton; and about Sir
| Walter SCOTS and DR.. Browns numerous
dogs. They take great pleasure in Bos-
wells charming picture of DR.. johnson
and his cat Hodge, and in the story of the
nightingale and the Jealous robin in
Micheet's Bird" And they arc never
weary of the adventures of Fenella and of
Sir Geoffrey Hudson, the dwarf, as related
in Peveril of the Peak.
All children love ami mails and so, it
would seem, do most distinguished men
and women. In their biographies you will
nearly always find some pretty story about
a pet cat, or dog. or bird. In stern old
John Browns autobiography, it is favor
ile lamb that is introduced, and in Miss
Cushman's life there is delightful ac-
count of her horses and dogs. Stories
about Montaigne's cat, and of Thoreau S
londness for animals and power over them.
will make these writer's names ut least
| might give great many other illustra-
tions of what mean. but these are suffi-
cient.
The stories of Eva and Topsy, in "Uncle
Toms Cabin" and of Harry and Tina, in
:. Old Town Folks" and of Dickens Little
Nell, will be enjoyed best, read in the au-
thor's own words. Browning's Pied Piper
of Hamelin, and the Goose, by Tennyson,
and his May Queen arealso great favorites.
The mere enumeration of Cowper's pets
is amusing TO children; the five rabbits,
three hares and two guinea pigs; the
magpie, the jay and the startling; the two
canary birds, the two gold finches, and
two dogs, the squirrel and the cat, the pig
cons and the pigs! And they will never
tire of hearing you read his paper on the
treatment of his hares Tiny, Puss and
Bess, his letter to the Rev. John Newton
on the escape and capture Of Puss, whose
portrait wrs painted on the snuff. box Lady
Hesbeth gave this poet, and his poems or
the Retired Cat" and on his " Dog
Beau and the Water Lily" Charles anC
Mary Lambs " Tales from Shakespeare
is also fascinating book to children. L
you read the story of the Tempest once tc
a child, it will be called for again and
again, until you cease to enjoy it all your
self.
Little things not five years old will lis
ten eagerly TO the reading of the story o.
the transformations of the companions oil
Ulysses into Swine by Circe in Bryant's
translation of the tenth book of the Odys
sey, and to the account of the confinement
; of the winds in bag by Nolus. and theil
release by the sailors, while Ulysses slept
And they will like to be told about the
Sirens. and about the Lotus Eaters, and tc
; hear the story of how blind Homer wan
; dered through Grecan lands, chanting
these poems to enraptured listeners. No
book do these little folk love better thar
Mrs. Kirklands Selections from Spencer
Fairy Queen, especially the adventures O
Una and the Red Cross Knight. They are
delighted with the lazy dwarf who carries
/ the lovely lady's bag of needments at hi
; back; with her palfrey more white thar
r snow, and her milk white lamb But mex
n to Una herself, the lion is the greatest at
traction and it is necessary to skip tn
lines describing the brave animals death
! as too narrowing to the child's feelings
q In fact, one great secret of success il
3. reading to children books intended prima
: rily for mature minds, consists in KNOWN:
g whit to omit; and how to do il so quckl'
r and skillfully as to make no perceptibl
4 pause.