Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-13
OCCUPATIONS OF CHILDREN.
HOW THEY MAY BE BOTH AMUSED AND
INSTRUCTED.
Some Work and Some Play-The Old
Fashioned Sampler-How to Make
Bamboo Portieres

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needs relaxation, and many a mother i
often at loss to find something to anus
her child, or thinks SO little about it tha
1t becomes matter of no consequence t,
her, I the children are left to their owl
| devices id amusement where the,
will.
How easy it is to find employment O
some kind for them, even if it is ever Sc
trifing, for any novelty pleases child.
How often we read of the dreadful
things that children do for the want O
amusement, and how much better it is tt
| fill every hour of their life with some
occupation
As a child grows older and the mind ex
pands, many are the puzzling question:
| that are asked, and if one is too busy with
ones own daily duties the child is
relegated to the usually ignorant nurse fol
amusement. This is well enough for the
very young children, but as they grow
Older they need the services of cult
| waited, educated governess, so that they
will be instructed properly, and not have
to fall back on their own resources.
Good books for children are ALWAYS
accessible, and when they are tired OF
reading, the various amusements which !
am going to speak of can be INDUCED in.
A piece of canvas with the letters of
| the alphabet worked across the top from
side to side, and the Roman figures up to
ten, with motto to finish out the piece
| of work, forms one of the samplers that
our grandmothers were so fond of making,
and which it is now becoming the fashion
for little girls to make. | have lately
seen one that was worked over hundred
years ago, and the motto on it is as follows:
This work in hand my friends may have
When 1 am dead and laid in the grave.
Random work, done with worsteds on
canvas, is very easy for child to do, as
there is no set pattern, and it can be
worked in any design, provided all the
stitches are crossed the same way.
Bags of various colored beads can be
kept in the bureau drawer to be brought
out when the worsteds fail to please, and
these can be bought for % cents What
mother does not remember her own de-
light when child in making necklaces of
these bright, shining gold and silver and
glass beads. Little clusters can also be
strung together and sewn on silk or tulle
dress, and what child is there that would
not be delighted to find she could help to
make something that she could wear to a
party or dancing-school?
Not only do children care for what
pleases the eye, but they like to see some
of their work completed. They are like
grown people in this as well as in other
respects.
Stringing beads with pieces of bamboo
to make portiere is a pleasing occupation,
and where there are many children in the
family each can choose a different color,
and arrange the pieces according to their
fancy.
Dissecting maps of all countries can be
bought for 81 and upward, and the pleas
ure of uniting these irregular bits of wood
is instructive as well as amusing. | have
seen child puzzle over piece of New
York, wondering where it belonged and
not allowing any one to assist her in find
ing the place for it, which she discovered
eventually by turning it upside down.
In this way child becomes familiar
with the positions of the countries and
States, and it would be a good lesson to
ask them from which State or country the
different articles in the room come, or how
they could travel from place to place.
Stone blocks can be bought by the box
for small sum, and miniature tower of
Babel erected in a short time without the
confusion of tongues This gives one
first lesson in architecture, which develops
as the child grows older.
A debuscope is small triangular box
open at one side, with two pieces of look
ing-glass arranged in it to form a right
angle. When this is placed over piece
of bright colored cloth, of whatever design
you please, it is reflected in the glass, and
by placing it on the table one can retain
the picture as long as one wishes. In this
way the debuscope has the advantage over
the kaleidoscope, as the latter changes at
the slightest movement.
Paint boxes are always in great demand,
as nothing amuses the children more than
bright colors; also tracing states teach the
Importance of making straight line.
These can be bought for 90 cents and up
ward, and as child grows older and i'm
proves in drawing the pictures that come
with the states are more elaborate, and
this early training has often been the be-
ginning of an artists career
Making allumets or tapers is another
way to occupy children, and let it he their
duty to keep the allumet box filled, and
they will soon begin to find that they are
of some use in the household and objects
of some Importance, instead of being in
the way, as children too often find they
appear to be regarded.
Scrap books are to be kept for the rainy
days. And what treat they are, and
how child enjoys the pasting in of pic
lures. They soon learn how to select the
best positions and to classify the subjects.
/ have seen children's scrap books that
| could hardly believe were made by
them, so neatly and beautifully were they
done. These books can be bought for 80
cents or more, according to size, and they
always have bright, fancy covers to attract
the eye.
Stamp albums are more particularly for
boys, believe, although little girls like
them, too, and these cost only IS cents.
A sheet of stamps Of all countries does not
cost much, while envelopes filled with
stamps can be had for the small sum of
i've cents. This certainly gives a child
a good idea of foreign postage.
The graces and shuttlecock and battle
door cost 81 25 each, and these are pretty,
graceful games, not only for young chill
dren, but for those of larger growth, and
compel certain amount of healthy exer-
else. Cup and ball is quite difficult
thing to manage, but / have seen a child
catch the ball fifty times in succession.
which, of course, requires correct eve
and good deal of practice. They cost
% cents and can be bought at any toy
store.
The games of Lotto and letters are
instructive, as well as amusing and serve
to occupy many pleasant evening.
In the autumn the interest is awakened
in the gathering of the turning leaves.
These must be pressed between newspapers
until the dampness is all absorbed, and
when they are quite dry they are beauti-
ful 10 decorate room with.
A frieze of these is very effective, espe-
cially if the wall paper is of light, deli
cate tint. The panels of the doors also
can be decorated by pinning them in
large clusters or trailing them like vine
The leayes are easily kept in place with
tiny baby pins.
Making paper and wax flowers are