St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-31
TRUSTING OUR CHILDREN.
Proof of Their Mothers Conf
dence Will Make Little Ones

Proof of Their Mothers Conf
| dence Will Make Little Ones
Happy.
| Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher.
None are soproud and happy as young
| children when they first understand
that their parents have confidence in
their honor and in their faithful per-
Torrance of such duties as are COM
mited to their care. This feeling of re-
sponsibility, awakened by this knowl-
| edge, in little children, brings to them
| their first sensation of self-reSpect.
| They soon learn that faithfulness is alb
solutely necessary to the satisfactory
execution of any work they may be
| called to perform. Thus good seed is
daily sown, which, in after years. will
| yield abundant harvest, and repay all
the trouble it may have cost to prepare
| the soil to receive.
| 1t is not easy work to train children
| into such habits, and if conscience would
| abSOlye the mother she would, doubt
| less. prefer to do herself all the work
she assigns to the child. But such les
| sons are a part of mothers mission,
| and should never be delegated to an
| other.
AS soon as young child has learned
| how to do certain things, it is wise to
| leave these small "choreS" for the child
| to do alone, when the mother is not look
| ing on. Should some trivial thing be
| not done exactly right. no great loss
will follow. Just say to the little three
or four-year-old child:
Mamma must go out for a little
while. l don't like to leave this room
IN such disorder. But Willie is such
helpful little man, Pm sure he will put
all these playthings up nicely before
supper: and when Jennie has finished
her play she knows just low mamma
likes to have her doll things folded and
put away. When l come back the room
Will he very nce-I know"
This proof of their mothers conf
dence will make the little ones happy,
and they will try to merit their moth
er's appreciation. 1t may be necessary
to be a little short-sighted when over
looking the work. Let all criticism wait
awhile Appear pleased, nay, be
pleased, with their childish efforts.
Give as much sweet praise as is
judicious-and perfectly truthful-to
gladden. their hearts and make them
eager for other efforts. When not
called to put playthings away it may
be we'll to say in an easy way-but not
fault finding tone: Il think you had
better put these books on this shelf in-
stead of putting them in the box with
the other things. They might get in
jured there, you know. And, Jennie,
dear, / would fold this little dolls dress
this way"
Gentle hints, interspersed with as
much approval as can be conscien-
tiously given, will so fix the lesson in
their minds that it will not be long be-
fore they will be proud to do such
work without being told. yet knowing
that mamma always has general over
sight of it all.
Year by year increases the trust and
responsibility: but accept the work
they do, and the care they try to take,
as a love Offering to save your time and
strength, and it will not be long before
willing hands and happy hearts can
really tighten your laborS. At the same
time your children are learning the
lessons which will prepare them to be
useful men and women, aid a JOY and
honor to their parents.
AS early as possible teach your chill
dren to do errands outside of the house,
in time, out of time-if need bet buy
groceries, or little shopping, just i'm
portant enough to tax their taste and
discrimination a little, the first steps
toward more important work later on.
A child can be taught, through love
and confidence, to euioy labor and re-
sponsible cares. But if. instead, par
ents sternly command a child, watch
every act with constant suspicion and
fault-fnding, then labor is made a
drudgery, and cares of any kind be-
come terror and loathing to the
young. Under such training children
become stubborn, or. if naturally timid
and loving, they are neryously fearful
of being blamed, and this fear leads to
deceit and falsehood as the means of es-
cape, and only by Gods Grace is the
child saved from shipwreck and ruin.