Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-03-31
SOMETHING Poa THE cHILDaEH

SOMETHING FOR TIE cHILDAEH.
Many young people sperd much Of their
spare tine In getting coilsctioas Of this. that
And the other-s.onrs. shells, bugs ard eggs
something f9r which they have a n.tural 4
taste. As I look over nv list Of young
trieafis. See one with strong. sharp creep.
sr. bound 20 bis feet climbing 70 the very
top OF tall pine Tree for rhe purpose D.
roooing crows nest OF 4 couple OF eggs
% increase the collection which alraadg 4
represents nearly every cemron bird Of .h-
deld aad wood. | see another skakinz
siong the muddy back streets Of large city
with . basket on hi. arm ia which be hopes
70 tack Assay fes shells ard snsils for his
collection. He does no, expect TO hnd the
missing link bet~een man s1d monkey bu;
he believes the link has existed. and tina,
some day he will able 10 convince people OF
the fact,
AIo. her il out with big straw hat 10 his
band for the parp1.e Of ca-chi z Il besa'i
.gl bG-.+rfiy has ma f0- several iays b zen
.eea aitt.ss rear ,irtie pGi he Of Nate : Isl /.
A. the bend in the road lie his n1ties4 tas
~ aud beauty Of is ~IaE4, aad n nks 10
1tnseif What a spl-nlii atiiiio1 il will
De 10 ny collection OF butterflies, bugs and
beetles Perhaps you. my young friend.
are do BS quite business ~ collecting odds
and ends 4pd little Of everythtpz-this is
ali very we'll But let me ask how many
Of you have begun to get . collection Of
books? Ii this 10 = matter about v hich you
have thought but little, then | urge you to
begin now. but mark the ex preston, Q col ,
lection Of books not trash in book form
No. & collection Of mental and moral
poison, but Of Just such books as you will
aiways be wiliing to soeni your spare time
10 reading Just such book, - you will be
| Wiling to admit are your best fr ends. l
cannot half express my contempt for the
| yellow covered trash, and much 0 her not in
| yellow covers, but - beautifully bound A.
he puresI and best literature. cannot
say half express my conte mpt for books, the
| reading of which not only rob one Of on.'s
| time, but leaves one not one whit better or
| ~iser. but too often far less limo ;ent than
vas that one before reading them. Break
ne X adventures, hair BREATH escapes, sDar-
| ring and bruising are not subj .cts from which
you will draw the most profits BILE life lessons.
| Select books as you do your friends not
for the pleasure of their society for an
hour or q day, bu, for lifetime. II you
iesire to start a library and do not know
what boohs would be best for you to read.
submit the question to your parents. your
pastor or your tea :her. They surely will
consider that you are . genuine bay. and
need just such reading a. will feed and sus.
tain the genuine bay nature within you, and
/. little later. j ret such IS will enlarge and
| Envelope this same nature into q manhood
that shall be neither mentally nor morally
dwarfed. but in all i,s attanments perfect.
There are plenty Of good books. just such
~ should adorn the shelves Of every boys
library. and just such A. every boy should
read lille he 10 yet boy. Do not dispsir
because you can not purchase your volum mes
by scores, but rather be satisfied with
single book at 9 time, which if careful ly
read, will do you more good than score of
books that stand in their respective places
during your entire boyhood and about which
you really know nothing. Beware of books
that urge you close to the lin, between
light and wrong, better by far read none a,
all than one that sh ortens the di.ta ice of \
pure conscience between yourself and i'm
pure thoughts wild adventures and wicked
acts. Bu good books are plenty and are
placed at prices 80 ress ,nabie that boy OF
very ordinary means can have all he ought
to read. if he IS only willing to buy one or
tWO AT u Time. anu tuthp uOJ', you VIII
enjoy the getting of books one at time
aud reading each one rs you buy ii, much
more thsn you pc sibly could complete
collection, tine price of which WAS no sscri-
dce whstever for you. There is an excite
ment too in earning mon y for such pur-
pose, littie BY little, and when you are older
YOU viii be able to relate whole set Of
stories. each one Ringing on the desire for
the earning of the money or the satisfaction
in reading some particular one of your col
lection. Perhaps one will remind yoa of
the first money you ever earned, shovel ing
your neighbor's sidewalk, another will re-
mind you Of pail of ripe juicy berries you
brought home from way over the hIll-your
clothes torn ard your hands and arms
scratched and bleeding your thoughts the
while bent upon another new book for your
library. Another will bring fresh TO mind
some school mate who gave il to you and
ask. j you 10 read il with care. Aud 80 on
through the whole list Each one viii tell
It's own story as you stand ~ the fGl!ness of
Your manhood ard look with pride upon
.our collection of books you got together
~hen you were u boy That yeu NAV
.hoose safely ard we ard re- only such
a. vii give YOU pleasant thoughts when
YOU are Older grown Is the wish Of
Yours sincerely, g. d.