The Red Cloud chief., 1880-09-23
HOW 10 MAKE CHILDREN RE.
LIABLE.

their responsibilities are in danger Of
watching their children too closely.
It is surprising how early in a child's
life this surveillance becomes a source
of annoyance and irritation, through
the first instructive emotion of self
respect, and how soon the little ones
learn to tie sly and deceive, hoping in
that way to escape this watchfulness
il possible. They conceal their child
ish sayings and doings If they are led
TO feel that they are suspected Of some
thing wrong. If they are unable to
understand what it is, they at least
realize that their parents do moi trust
their honor. They may not be quite
able to put their annoyances from this
cause into words; but let this idea creep
into a young child's mind. and his per-
ceptions grow old fast. Nothing SO
soon develops the evil most feared as
this overwatchfulness.
Teach a child while yet little that
father and mother are inclined to COM
init some small matter to its care, and
without the least show of doubt or fear
that the little one will fail; and those
parents who perhaps have forgotten in
some degree the spirit OF their own
baby days will scarcely be able to real
ize The happiness this trust has be-
slowed. The importance of the trust
will, of course. be gagged by the age
of the child. Begin this teaching early.
Take care that the small pupil is not
taxed beyond its capacity, but let it
distinctly understand that the parent
is in earnest, and fully believes that the
commission will not be neglected.
None can estimate how this event in a
child's life will be fixed in the young
mind-the first time it feels that its
parents have turned to it with loving
confidence for the performance of some
little duties, and that they have trusted
to its honor. Nothing SO clearly awak-
ems self-respect as the feeling OF re-
sponsibility which m with the
knowledge hat they are trusted; and
the care and faithfulness which even
the youngest understands will be nee
essary to execute the work to the
parents satisfaction are good seed
sown, which in later years will bear good
fruit, and amply repay all the trouble it
may have cost to ~preparethe soil for its
reception.
, That such teaching is not the easiest
of all maternal duties every mother
knows full well, and all would much
rather do the work than be subject to
the tediousness and annoyance of drilling
n child. But this is the mothers mis-
sion. not wisely delegated to another.
First show child precisely how to do
certain things. Perhaps the lesson must
be often repeated before it is done
well; but after some trials begin by
leaving those little chores for it to
do alone when the mother is not
near. The more trivial the better
at first. For instance, say to the
little two-year-old: 'Mamma must
go out a few minutes, but she don't
like to leave the nursery in such dis
order. Will not my little man pick up
all the blocks and playthings he is not
using, and put them away just as
mamma likes to see them? And
Jennie also will, l know, fold her dolls
clothes Just as l have shown her, and
lay them neatly in the drawer when her
play is over. / am sure this room will
look very nice when mamma returns"
If the training is begun early it soon
becomes easy for little folks to do many
things well. How proud and happy
these miniature men and women feel
when they have this token of their mo-
theirs confidence in their ability to care
for such things as she intrusts to them!
and of course it will be often necessary
to be a little short-sighted, and to pass
over a few items that will bear i'm
provement; but don't point them out
at once. Let the mistakes or defects
wait. Appear pleased with the first
effort. 1t will be time enough when the
next trial is made to say, Il would fold
this little dress so' or, II would put
these books here just So" But give rs
much sweet approval and praise as is
judicious to gladden. and encourage
them in every effort. Gentle hints may
be i~nterspersed with all the approval
consistent with truth, and it will not be
long before the mother will find her
little prattlers quite competent to take
q large share in keeping their play
room and bedrooms in creditable order.
But if these lessons are not begun early
and made pleasant, children will have
acquired the habit of being Wdited upon,
and will learn to prefer it to helping
themselves.
Each e as a child can bear it, the
importance of the trust and responsible
ty may be increased. If the labor is
accepted as a lo~ve-offering. to save
"mOther's" time and strength, there
will soon be found willing hands and
happy hearts, ready at all hours to
tighten the labor and save many weary
steps, while at the same time the young
are learning a lesson that will do them
good all through life. To prevent these
little duties from becoming wearisome
as the child natures. vary the lessons
by changing often the nature of the
trust. Try some small thing that will
tax the taste or judgment a little. Send
the child out to buy something OF no
great importance, so that If any mis-
take is made no harm will follow, yet
still important enough for the child to
feel the necessity of care and thought in
selecting. This will soon learn them
to exercise discrimination and judy
ment in small things, and prepare the
way to exercise these gifts in larger
matters.
An expedition of this kind rises be-
fore me as one of the brightest of child
hood memories. 1t was q time OF much
sickness both at home and in the neigh
borhood. Mother was i'll, the elder
children either on the sick-list or abb
sent. 1t was necessary to have sup
plies from the "shire town." twelve
miles distant, where most of the impor-
tant shopping in former days was done.
and foreign groceries purchased: The
chaise was at the door, and father,
ready to start on the Journey, was max
ing out the list of items by mothers
bedside, when he was summoned in
great haste to see q patient
Here was q dilemma: The purchases
must be made; the patient must be
cared for. What vas to be done? In
the south hall door / was playing with
the baby, so near the sick-room I could
not fail to hear the consultation between
father and mother. He must 60 to his
patienf. but who could be sent for the