The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-02-10
EMPLOYMENT FOR CHILDREN.

'I'm sure / don't know what to do fol
jamie, said young mother to me not
long ago. '1'ye bought him every kind
of toy there is and he's tired to death OF
them all. | suppose, when he can read,
then he'll be interested in his books; bat
now, it's really dreadful He has to have
everybody amuse him all the while, and
it takes all my time or his nurses, so we
don't get anything done
"What sort Of toys have you got for
him?' ! asked
ooh, everything" she said YEARLY.
''There isn't a thing you can name he
hasn't got. Things thar wind. and things
to be drawn on wheels, aud fishes to sail
on water, and picture maps, aud blocks,
and drums, and all sorts of denominations
that make noise. Those are tie only
things he really cares for. If III let him
have his drum fastened on aud go all over
the house drumming, he's contented !
do believe he'd drum all day"
docs he know how to wind up the
|
Eyes, he knows how but he won't do
it" she replied That's the trouble.
He wants us to wind them up; and he
won't play with even his blocks unless
Sarah or sit down and play with him;
he'll build as long as We do: but it's
awfnlly tiresome. If Sarah weren't the
hacf N turad oirl in Tho xrorld eI,asd he
worn ouI. / wish he had a brother or sis
ter. don't belive it is as half as much
trouble to take care of two children as it is
Of one. They'd be occupation for each
times day, and says what will do now,
mammal and I'm at my wits end to
think of some way to amuse him. What
a relief hen he's out taking his walk! /
believe shall send him to the Kinder
garten, but hate to have him shut up in
a room with twenty other children. I've
been around to them ALL and there isn't
one where the air is good; not one where !
could stay three hours myself without
getting headache from the close, hot
air. I'm sure | don't know what to do
Probably there are thousands of moth
ers in just such dilemma as this to-day.
Jamie is bright. active little fellow,
five years of age. Ii he had been taught
in the outset to amnse himself he would
never have come TO be the helpless and
dependent child he is now; but the mis-
chief was done before he was three years
old He was his mothers first child; and
she is a woman SO full of motherly affec-
ton that, when first this sweet. beautiful
own baby was lain in her arms, the days
were not long enough for her to gaze Into
his face and study his wonderfuiness. AS
be grew tn know her, TO show preference
for her. she became his slave, and The
slave of her own joy in him. The greater
part Of his waking hours were spent in
her presence. and she was ia one way or
another miEistering to him perpetually.
When he was old enough to enjoy play
things, his pleasure in them was hardly SO
great as hers in seeing him, aud helping
him enjoy them. Instead of his holding
them in his own hands, turning them over,
investigating them, finding ont what TO do
with them, she held them up for him,
showed them to him, shook the rattle,
danced the doll, turned the Kaleidoscope.
His amusement was all fed to him, as
much as his oatmeal porridge; till he
came TO expect the one as much as the
other and to take it in much the same
way Luckily the digestive apparatus of
stomachs is so placed that even the fool
ishest or fondest love cannot rob 4 child
of the opportunity to acquire tue habit of
digesting his food for himself. But his
mental apparatus for receiving, digesting,
assimilating, impressions and knowledge
is at the mercy of those who bring him up;
and the number Of wretched little mental
dyspeptics with whom nothing in the way
of occupation or amusement agrees
very long, is pitiable. The nurseries of
rich people are full of Them. The melan-
choly professions of them on city side
walks, taking what their minimizing
parents suppose to be exercise" is a
heart-breaking sight And the men and
women into whom they will presently
grow up will be only just so many more of
those most hopeless Of all adult human
creatures in the universe; men aud wo-
men apparently educated, refined, we'll
hammered. well principled perhaps in a
way. but without individuality Of purpose,
without speciality of interest or aim. or
even appreciation Of interests and aims;
creatures that bear no more relation TO
the thinkers. and doors, and enjoyers of
this world than if they were Of a totally diff
ferent order OF beings. These are they
who represent and embody the great vice
of inertia in human affairs thing dead
lier than deprayity itself, and a far greater
hindrance at first to good. The fatal seed
Of this root of mental hyperirepliy is sown
il. nurseries, even in cradles, and one Of
the first young shoots of it is the question
s'what shall do -
Very poor people are never IN danger, no
matter how iondly they love their child
rem. OF committing this bInnder. The poor
woman's baby is put down ON The floor aud
left 10 amuse himself, which, SO long as he
is well he invariably does with the great
est success. When he is hungry re cries,