The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-04-01
aoANOKE, va. APRIL /. 1894.
WHAT SHALL lido WITH THE noYsg"

WnaG SHALL 40 WITH my boys during
these long vacation days?" is question
many fond and anxious mother is
asking herself just at this time when
the children are liberated from school
duties for vacation OF more than the
usual length. The question is, indeed,
a perplexing one, and one which will be
thoughtfully considered by the parents
who are anxious that their children
shall not fall into wild and mischievous
ways during these days of enforced
idleness from their studies-days when,
like the springtime of the year, the
youth is full of new life and energy,
active in body and mind and, like the
young tree, susceptible to the surround.
ings in which it is placed.
Happy is the man, who, in his after
life, can look back upon his boyhood
days and feel that his time was we'll
spent fortunate is he if, during those
long holidays, he has not formed bad
habits, which either he has not over
come or were only thrown aside after
persistent effort. The parents are
largely responsible for the character of
the man by the manner in which they
bring up the boy. The long vacations
are the most trying times in the boys
life, and, therefore, the most deserv.
ing of the thoughtful guidance of the
parents.
What shall l have the boys do? you
ask. Suggest something to keep them
busy for as much OF the time as possible.
Light and interesting work around the
house may need just the attention that
10y can give; let him have a workshop
and few tools SO that he may build a
cart, kite, windmill, or construct
any piece OF mechanism which his fer
tile brain will suggest; let him have
goat or dog or some pet with which
he can have some sport romping
about; get him bat and ball and
help him to organize baseball club
among his playmates; try croquet set
Ga the lawn for his and the girls use;
let him do some gardening in the back
yard, and set out bush or a tree on
NA|NA NY Gnu opoOho w ~ EQ0
summer. These are few things which
can be done for the boy to occupy his
time, afford instruction and amusement,
and, moreover, keep him from tho street
corners and from places where he
should not be.
The studies, however, should not be
entirely forgotten, and the nights can
be very probably employed by miscel-
laneous reading Of such books as can be
readily obtained. The spring and sum.
mer, too, affords opportunities for prac-
tical illustration of tho subjects upon
which the books treat: turn the lessons
on natural science to account and
make the boy q geologist by col
Letting a cabinet of the rocks he can
pick up everywhere; mako him for a
while an embryo botanist with we'll
selected herbarium; turn his knowledge
of the animal life to account bv aiding
him to collect the insects which fly
around us; in facs let him study nature
as now he can best behold her and with
little of the kind mothers help he is
taught lessons which the schools can
never present to his mind
The summer vacation is not without
its place, and with little thoughtful
direction it can be turned to good ac-
count. and the boys made to profit in
some way each day.
Use care, dear mothers, and inter-
est the boys in something that will be
to their advantage for at least part OF
the time.
To Prohibit Pool Selling I'm MARYLAND.