St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-04-28
SYMPAT THY WITH CHILDREN.

SYMPATHY WITH CHILDREN.
One of the prettiest sights in the
world is a flock OF bright, eager chill
dren gathering about gentle SYM
pathetic woman who has forgotten
her cares and important duties to en-
ter into the pastimes OF youth.
What a divine gift is sympathy No
need to entice the children to her;
they read in the eyes and smile a
welcome which they, guests of the
world, are always craving from
grown people, who are the custo-
dams OF all knowledge and delights,
and who dispense or Withhold at will.
They feel keenly the injustice of be-
ing shut out Every day dawns up
on some interesting and unfamiliar
scene, and speculatlOns crowd their
little brains, and questions rush to
their lips without order or premedi-
tation. What make their goblets of
water Sweat ?''-why do people
have to wear clothes why can't
babies talk ?-what are worms good
for? These are some OF the queries
that assail the first grown person
they can get to listen. Frequently
they are hastily silenced by elders
who have no time to give them;
more often they are turned away be-
cause the person addressed does not
know how to answer them. Moth
ers, whom a thousand frittering
cares have made forgetful of school
lore, are called upon to describe the
habits of ants, and to explain the
principle of lightning-rods; they are
called away from sewing and cake
making to look at some object which
has excited lively curiosity in little
mind, and in the hurry of the mo-
ment they rarely give the matter
serious thought.
Sometimes they are inclined to
say, petulantly: Don't bother me
go to your father-gO to your teach
er; | don't know anything about
This is d mistake. To the child,
his mother is all-wise, and she should
be cautious of shaking that sweet
confidence When asked about
something entirely out of the range
of her experience, moments ret1ec-
ton advises a wise mother to explain
frankly that that matter must be re-
ferred to a person especially concern
ed about such things. She can not
be expected to describe precisely how
a gun is made, but the promise to let
him see an armory some time will
show an interest in his ideas, and
preserve his respect. A peep into the
proper book will sometimes qualify
one to give the needed inform alton,
fc nj
ed
ecdote in one of her stories, which
sounds natural. Little King Ar
thurs mother is obliged to plead
ignorance upon some subject he has
asked about. He responds gravely
But, mamma, you ought to know ~
Which rebuke she takes to heart, and
studies up the matter in hand to sat
isfy him.
OF course, one has to discriminate
between importunate chatter and
honest curiosity. But a plea for an
interesting hearing of the child's
ideas or feelings should not be disre
garded whatever else remains I'M
finished. One can not estimate the
effect of cold rebuff upon a sensitive
child. The world, a moment before
glowing with beauty and alive with
agreeable suggestions, grows sud
denly dark and still, faith dies, and
everything seems against him. A
little sympathy cheers the present
moment. and is remembered with
gratitude long after the scheme en-
Enthusiastically unfolded by the child
has become absurd to his ripper years
Mothers who see each day some
odd manifestation, preserve with
wonder the extreme diversity of their
children's natures. Some are born
utilitarians, and have not the small
est federation for superhuities. A
lovely pair of little eyes will turn in
differently from beautiful object to
ask succinctly, What is it for ?"
while others will dilate with pleasure
at the sight of exquisite forms and
color, betraying purely sensuous
gra tihcation. Thus early in life is
drawn the sharp line between the
mechanical and the artistic tempera-
ments.
Children see everything and under
stand comparatively nothing, so
their query nearly always is, not
What is it?" but, why is it ~ In
stinctively, they search in the mys-
terious depths of reason for an all
embracing law which shall explain
the use of things. They cannot be
hastily dealt with; half truth is a
pernicious truth to them, for they
will fill in lines to suit themselves. I'm