The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-06-29
AN ECHO FROM THE KINDERGAR.
TEN.

1t is promised that your readers know
somewhat of the practical play-lessons
which are given to the kindergarten
children daily, and which inculcate
moral and religious thought, while af-
fording great pleasure and amusement
to the little waits.
This day, the practical play-lesson
was barrel making; standing in a close
circle the children represented the
slaves, their encircling arms the hoops,
and timing his blows by the little song
notes, the wee cooper, using a chubby
fist for hammer, drives the hoops into
position with great show of muscular
effort. (How they do love to play"
things are real.
When this supposititious barrel was
finished, the teacher remarked;
"Well, Johnny; now that it is all
ready, what are you going to put into
your barrel?"
"The answer came with great
promptness; Whisky" : sensation
among the visitors, mostly ladies from
the w. G. t. U.
Teacher, blind to the blank looks
about her-wise little woman that
said, quickly: "Oh! Johnny, wouldn' t
it be better to put something into your
barrel that we all like, for you
know you want to divide with us,
and some of us don't like whisky.
don't like it one bit, so you couldn't
give me any," "Well, I'd just as lieye
-apples-in the barrel, if you'd
rather piped the happy little voice,
all innocent of the shocking nature
of his first proposition, but very willing
to oblige.
Another childish voice: "Teacher,
Johnny's papa keeps saloonr' and in
the chill hush which follows, the sensi-
tive child learns first of the dishonor
which attaches to whisky in barrels"
and excepting saloon;" he knows now
that this means disgrace, and the prob
able loss of love his hungering heart
has received in this school home.
With face and voice all quivering
he seeks the teachers side: Don't
you love me any more cause my papa
keeps saloon" breaking into sobs
which shook the delicate frame.
Very tenderly the teacher drew the
weeping child closer, and said: Eyes,
dear, we do love you ever so much, but
teacher is so sorry papa keeps such a
place as that. +"
Not many weeks after the above
scene, the following occurred:
At the close of q Temperance meet
ing, a man made his way up to the
speakers desk, and asked for pledge
to sign; his request was gladly met,
and the friends near by fell into talk
with this new brother: In answer to
the inquiry, what had led him to take
this important step, he said: "I'm
agoin' to put the credit where it be-
longs; yer see I've bin keepin a saloon
fer some time. I'd had mighty bad
luck fer years, and SEEM other men
maxim money easy, sellin' beer and
whisky, | just locked up my conscience,
and opened whisky shop; mind We,
never liked the business, but there's no
tellin' when I'd quit it, if it hadn't
been for them ere free kindergarten
schools, and my little chap, who was all
ers comm home and talkin' about the
things he larned from them teachers that
he nigh about worshiped. Tother day
he got hold of my hand, and lookin'
up into my face with his great blue
eyes just like his dear dead mothers
afore she'd cried the shine all out of
'em and said-sort o. 'fraid like: Papa,
won't you please take the whisky out of
your barrels, and put sunthin' in 'em
that won't do nobody no hurt? Apples
is good. Besides, said he, gittin a
fresh grip on his courage, 4 don't want
the other boys sayin' that my papa
keeps a saioon-it hurts me so here
And I'm blamed if the little critter
didn't put his hand on his heart, and
the tears just a streamin' down his face.
That fetched me, and the upshot is,
I've gin up the miserable bizness, and
am bound to earn an honest livin' or
die tryin', you just bet" and the great
burly mans eyes were not the only dim
ones, as friendly hands grasped his, and
earnest voices promised helpful effort in
his behalf.
Verify, ga little child shall lead them"