Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-01-14
Yaaies' Column.
FOR MOTHER

s'Do tell me, Mrs. B., how it is you
are sitting down sewing, your room
so tidy and coy before ten o'clock,
when your family is larger than mine.
Nv rooms are in utter confusion, and
| am now weary enough to 90 to
bed, getting the children ready for
school, after being walked up SO ear
ly with their noise and frolic. The
clock had not struck four this morn
ing when Eddie must be taken from
his crib, and there was no more
sleep for his father or me; and it is
SO nearly every morning
LET me answer you, Mrs. A., in
a few words. My children are my
little helpers, not hinderers, having
been taught thus to be since they
were old enough to understand any
thing; and happier children you can
not find, for it is true in their case as
with older ones, they find it more
blessed to give than to receive and
are on the lookout to see where they
can use eyes, hands or feet for papa
and mama, even little Minnie saying
this morning, Mamma, what can we
do to help your [ told her she was
my little helper, by remembering
what papa said to her the morning
before, and keeping quiet, so papa
and mamma could sleep, for at their
first attempts for frolic in the morn
ing their father lets them enjoy it,
then says, Had a good timer and of
course they say, Yes Then he
tells them in simple language of
their fathers and mothers labor for
them until, sometimes, late in the ev-
ening, and their need of all the sleep
they can get; and would it not be
better for them to be very still and
have their frolic some other timer
And we have no further trouble;
nine times oat of ten they go to sleep
again, if not the self-denial is good
for them. they are making a sacrifice
for papa and mamma, and it strength
ems their love, though they realize it
not.
Then [ give to each a work to do.
One week Arthur sees the wood box
filed each day the kitchen stove
ready to light early in the morning.
Willie the same week fills all my Or
ders for groceries. feeds the hens,
cares for the bird, etc. The next
week they change so as not to make
it monotonous. So with the girls.
Ella sees to the diningroom one
week, Bessie to the chamber work as
far as able, and they alternate.
Charlie, who is but six, is man of all
work, we say, doing what he can to
help the rest. Each pays fine of
one penny week if anything is for
gotten, putting it IN the 'forgetful
box Charlie calls it, but it is the
charity box of the family, father,
mother and all putting in, if hat,
slate, book, broom, etc., etc., are
out of place.
In this way they remember better,
and there is no lost time Or confu-
sion in getting ready for school or
church. And it is astonishing what
little hands and feet can accomplish,
how many steps save a mother. And
so working together we get through
the sooner, and as the children say,
have more time and relish for fun
and frolic all together We enter
into their games and plays if posi-
BILE, and into their studies and read
les and readings, each in turn, save
the three younger, selecting book
to read, then father or one Of the
children reading so | can sew. | en-
ter into the simplest, asking and an
swering questions as though one OF
the older books, and also try to in
terest them in good magazines anC
papers, for if they are not supplied
with good reading they will seek the
bad. Though one with our children
, we endeavor to do naught to lesser
their respect or reverence, and from
I. the first demand implicit obedience
t therefore have but little trouble, an(
> q great comfort in our children. An(
| feel they have more real love fo
us than were they idle and disobedi
ent, and also more likely to love anC
obey their heavenly Father whel
d they hear his call, which | trust tht
!, three older have heard and obeyed.
5 II see it all, Mrs. B., but it will
up hill work with me. [ did not be
gin right, but [ will do my best
;. thanking you more for the secret o
/ your happy home than for the yeas
[ came over to borrow. May you
words be as leaven, working unit
IS my home becomes, with Gods help
70 such as yours; for | was saying yes
terday, your Arthur, Willie and Bes
sic were as full of fun and frolic a
any children, yet showed, even i
se their games and sports, their trainin
! II Il