St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-12-29
The Necessity Of Play.

There is not one person who has at
tained majority, few who have ever
entered their teens, but will agree that
work, in some form or other, is n ne
ceSsity. There is a great deal express
ed in the two lines by James Mont
gomery:
! Labor, the symbol of mans punishment
Labor the secret of mans happiness.
We all find out, sooner or later, that
an idle life is n miserable one, yet too
many of us strive hard TO love work for
itself, instead of understanding ut the
outset that the end of work is to enjoy
leisure. We would be far more sue
cessful with our children if we took
care not only to teach them how to
work, but to show them what Il zest
this very work gives their play.
| hold that children too soon forget
how to play in this nineteenth century
and as for men and wOmen-they need
play, recreation, badly enough, but
how few of us know how to get it!
do not know that much can be done for
those who are in middle life; when
tired from hard study, they take up
light literature when feeling the need
Of exercise, they go for sober walk,
with them, and come back a little more
tired than when they started.
Would that men took the Bible, at
least Christ's sayings, more literally
There is such a world of every day
physical happiness as well as spiritual
blessing i'll his warning, Except We be
converted that is, turned around,
changed) and become as little children.
We cannot enter the kingdom of heav-
en- Now what can be nearer pure
heavenly happiness than that enjoyed
by healthy, happy child, as he runs
and leaps, delighting in Gods free sun
shine, the glorious sky and delightful,
invigorating wind ? A few grown peo-
pie know what it is to enjoy Il run, to
forget all cares and troubles i'll the
very Joy of living Oh Gods beautiful
earth, and so, at times, playing like
children, find that kingdom which is
"within you" But too many could not
understand such a simple matter as IL
race, or an hours skating, or battle
with the surf, giving one perfect hap
piness.
Now, as | have said, we can't do
much for such people, but we mothers
can do very much in bringing up our
children to segard good play as nearly
as holy and pleasant an offering to G Od
as honest, faithful work. We should
share our children's sports, and, though
it may he anything but play to us at
first, we shall find it not only a won
derful help in winning our children's
hearts, but the effort will save us many
Il doctors bill. Is it any wonder that
your little daughter of twelve or tlir-
teen begins to stOOp, and looks langud
! and pale, when game of rOmps is on
ly enjoyed by ''children," and the won
derful feeling of womanhood is drawing
her, in spite of her lOngings for "fun. -
to copy her mother-her ideal (how can
we thank God enough that this is so p
of all that is lovely Join in the romps
yourself, if it is only in the way | saw
a weakly, delicate woman rOmp with
her boys, by sitting in corner and
trying to catch them as they ran past
# her chair,-and you will see the girl's
It roses blooming again, and will heal
j less querulOusness i'll her voice.
5, Boys, too, need to he guided little
;, as to play. Teach them how to form
clubs, study mp Lacrosse, if You ar,
+ happy enough to live near open fields
;, and take time to make uniform cap,
and shirts for the bOys.-nOt only you
boy, but for friend or so. One hOu
of work, tying to give pleasure t'
your children's friends, will teach then
more of true charity and benevOlenc'
, than all the talk in the world. "I'v,
- got the best mother in the block" sale
n "A little chap the other day and whel
the other boys demanded proof, h,
pointed proudly to the flag she ha'
made for the company" the epaulette
that adorned every one of the squad
and announced triumphantly, "An'
she's a-bakin' gingerbread for the hui
of us. Any of your mothers don
that ?"
!, | wish some one with the tongue q
' an angel could show mothers what Op
. portunities they ale losing. | meet wo
men in the streets, day after day, VIII
have boys of eight, ten, or twelve, q
girls from six to sixteen, and yet thes
mothers are alone. How often do yO
see a young mother with her boy {
Is twelve, and younger ones, hangin
l. about her and what a beautiful sigh
every one finds it when they do see it
III | remember, when girl at schOO
OF having, as a subject of composition
IA (Which is the Greater Incentive to In
dustry, the Fear of Punishment or til
Hope of Reward ?" How my youn
: teacher must have smiled as she rea
,, my closing sentence, 81 can't tell ver
well, as always have the fear of pun
in ishment, but my children are going {
ess have the hope of reward !" But now,
of happy mother, with my boys about m
.rv | endorse that girlish resolution. I'll
hope of a hearty romp, a long, deligh
full walk, with IA penny round" fl
candy, has swept my sitting-roOT
cleaned our door yard, made a quie
faithful nurse of very unquiet lit
six year-old, and helped me out of
many difficulties that | wonder mo
mothers do not try to meet the gre
necessity that exists among us all f
play Hope Ledyard in 5. 5. Times
lsO
de The new station of the Signal Sc
20. or vice on Pixies Peak is to be of ston
fortyfOur by twenty-nine feet in siz
= 1t will contain an office, receipt,
room, dining room, kitchen and ty
bed rooms. The work of cOnstructi'
and will not be easy, for everything viii
Pire goes into the building, except t
II stone, must be packed" up the trail