Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-02
WOMAN AND HOME.
KEEPING THE CHILDREN BUSY AND
HAPPY AT SMALL EXPENSE.

long, rainy days and cold storms of winter
which drive them indoors and crowds them
about the mothers knee, TO sorely try her
wits and patience. An unlimited purse in a
liberal hand can ill the youngsters drawer 70
OVERLOOKING with an endless variety Of in.
genious toys. Even then there is a safety,
and fewer and simpler playthings have
greater interest. Only the children them.
selves can tell us why the weather beaten,
much abused rag doll of the household is
more beloved than angelic, bisque faced
Florinda; or why the rough, irregular blocks
from the factory are more highly priced than
the brightly painted cubes of the toy shop.
Let us tell you of one mother who, like
many Of us, possessed only limited time and
limited purse. Last winter, shut in by
banks of white drifts and cold, biting winds,
she was often called upon to propose some
new pastime for her little girls of and A
years of age. After their small collection of
nondescript toys were tired Of and block
houses lost their charm, Mrs. GoOdhue hit
upon the expedient of paper cutting for an
especial afternoon treat. Her mental vision
of bright eyes put out by sharply pointed
shears suggested the purchase of round
bladed scissors, and of course there must be
two pairs. At first thought this seemed ex-
travagant, if not foolish, but the reflection
that their cost would probably be spent upon
more fragile and less pleasing toys, and the
certainty of long hours of pleasurable quiet
for both mother and children, won the day.
When not in use, the scissors were kept in
Mrs. Goodhues button box on the clock shelf.
A certain corner of the bay window was
given over to the litter, and only in that spot
We're papers allowed to be cut. AT the same
time sheets were furnished and the children
taught to cut nothing without permission.
Patience and unrelaxed flrmness were neces-
sary TO prevent the indiscrminate slashing
of fancy work and articles of dress Fashion
plates, illustrated catalogues and picture
cards, were laid aside for the afternoon en-
tertanments 1t was amusing to notice how
quickly the baby learned to handle the
blades, and actually cut out picture instead
of tearing it, as had been her first method.
We might suggest that for older children
cheap colored papers be provided and the
colors taught.
Frequently Mrs. Goodhue took time to
fashion dolls and dolls furniture, cutting an
outfit for each child, and two miniature
homes We're set up with tables chairs and
beds on the window sills Made of paste
board, these easily stood erect, and if put by
at night answered for another dun days di-
version. If, before the children became too
tired, each tiny scrap of cuttings was picked
up by chubby fingers into pasteboard box or
dustpan it was "a triumphant, happy mother,
as well as babies, who greeted the father at
the close of the gloomy winters day.
Many times during that winter was the
button box raided for the largest and pref
test buttons to string With coarse
needle and "a button tied at the end of
double thread, Eloise and Leslie made long
itpbarn Striutrsi nj short which tbpy
leased their mother to tie about their baby
wrists. From this they came to sowing but
tons on their doll dresses by joining the edge
of hem to one of the four eyelet holes.
Later they learned the right way. Their
mother might have told you that for weeks
afterward buttons were swept out of hidden
corners, and that her supply ran so low that
she was obliged to forbid the box entirely,
and to purchase whole cards of cheap but
tons just for the girls to string and to keep
in box of their own. However, the ex-
pense was little and the amusement unending.
A little school girl stopped in one day to
warm herself. The pleasure Of the children
over her slate and pencil suggested another
purchase and five cent states and pencils
were ready for the mothers next busy day
and the babies cross one. By far the great
est pleasure was the scrubbing of the states
with a small, wet rag. Neglect to put away
the States at night resulted in their being
trod on and when the broken fragments
were carried out, the mother reSoTted TO lead
pencils and paper. AS these were her first
children, Mrs Goodhue may be pardoned
her surprise at the unexpected result. The
white walls of the new home proved too
tempting, and an unsightly scrawl appeared
near the sewing machine ard another near
the bedroom door From that time the PEN
ellis were never accessible unless the mother
was in the room; and even then she was
Obliged to keep strict watch to prevent the
DETACHMENT of wood work, books and for
hidden papers. Older girls might be taught
to draw; or scrap books and paste on the
dining room table would delight and occupy
an otherwise troublesome child. If the
mothers work can go on with few Interrupt
tions, is it not well worth the time taken to
clear up!
1t passes our comprehension how some
women can expect their progeny to be rea-
sonably good tempered, and yet provide
nothing whatever to assure healthy cheer
fulness. They will lay aside for themselves
a bolt of muslin for rainy days occupation,
and regard the smallest amount spent in chill
dren's toys needless expense. A school
ma'am boarding in well to do family told
us of such parent the other day. The little
girls had dolls, to be sure, but that was ALL
and these had been purchased during some
surprising streak of generosity on the part
of the close pursed father. Old and bat
tered, and minus wardrobe, pieces of an
old shawl were considered fine enough, when
the dolls were clothed at all. Anything was
good enough for the children to play with,
except the parlor cane seat chairs, into
which it was regarded a sacrilege to allow
child to scramble, much more to play horse
with Before the teachers term was taught
the dolls were dressed in neat calico gowns,
made from remnants left from the quilting.
And to the children's delight not one gar
ment of the two whole outfits furnished was
sewed on, but made to take on and off, to
button and inhibition. 1t is safe to say that
the little Stark girls had never been so nearly
wild with joy when some odds and ends of
gay ribbons and laces were added for their
dollies further adornment Clay pipes and
a dish of soap suds initiated them into the
wondrous beauty of the soap bubble, to the
great dismay of the servant over the pros
pect of an increase in washings. Ten cent
oil cloth aprons saved the slop, appeased the
kitchen goddess, and did good service long
after the pipes had lost their stems.
Bring in the bag of clothespins some day
when the children feel fretful and build pig |
pens for them. If they take great fancy to
the pins buy fINR dozen to add to their |
plsythlngs. Ono Eoother, anxious to finish
some stitching, quteted the clamorous little |
people with some clothespin dollies, which |
she dressed n a few moments from scraps Of
Bingham picked up from the floor at her
side. Suppose you buy small tack hammers
and papers of tacks to drive into blocks or
shingles. Empty baking powder cans with
lids, empty bottles without the corks (which
are said to be poisonous, large glass marbles
to roll from one to the other across the car
pet, small brooms to help mother with the /
sweeping, can all be included in the list of /
inexpensive toys.