St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-09-11
FOR THE FAMILY.
Our Children's Reading.
What shall our children read?

least interest all, 1or SO much OF child'S
character is formed by his reading.
A practical knowledge of subject
often differs widely from theoretical
one, so il my theories do not coincide
with your experience, shall be glad to
have you speak.
Earlier than child can handle books,
he is attracted by them, wants to look
at them and is interested in the pictures.
Then it is not long before questions come
about the pictures and the desire to be
read to. How soon very small child
will learn to know by heart the little
stories and rhymes its mother reads to
it and will ask for such and such stories.
The little child early shows prefer
ence for certain subjects and shows it's
individuality in it's choice.
The little boy is interested in the
exciting adventures of the fox, while the
more gentle-natured sister wants the
kitty story.
1t is worth while for the mother to
take time to read to her child and as the
child grows older to know what he
reads. Don't buy the child a book simply
for its pretty cover without looking into
it. See if it is worth getting and get
books worth keeping.
Let the first stories be such as to teach
a child to be kind and helpful for the
children are very easily influenced. |
think children should ifpossible land
a little self-denal usually makes it posi-
ble) be furnished with plenty OF good,
bright reading. Take paper or maya
zine for the little ones. or course the
Youths Companion is in every home
where there are young people to enjoy
it, and the older people need not be
ashamed of enjoying it too. But before
they are quite old enough for that there
are others. The Nursery was the little
magazine | looked forward to eagerly
as a child, and only gave up with reluc-
tance when too old for it. Nearly every
child is delighted with book OF his own,
and whenever one is bought see that it
will bear reading many times. With the
wide range of books and authors from
which to select, the choice is not always
easy, but among so many good things
do not choose the bad,
If we could only realize how much
good or bad may come to child from
simple neglect on our part AS to what he
reads, we should be more ready to wake
nm TO the Importance of this subject. The
more | think OF it, the more | wish II
some way our interest could be aroused
We, as Christian mothers, must reach
out our helping hands and hearts tc
guide and direct the children, else how
shall we be able to give our account tc
our Master when He calls for it II W.
want our boys and girls to grow VI
pure, we must provide reading suited tc
them as one important way. Let III
have especially interesting books to1
them for Sunday, so they will look for
ward to the day with pleasure. Teacf
them the Bible in such way that the,
will learn to love it. Do not say yot
can not afford to buy books. You cal
better afford some money spent II
Sunday books now than what thel
Iawlessness in the future without then
may cost you.
If we ourselves only cared half as muc
about food for our mind as tor GU
body, our public libraries would be NOR
widely patronized. Ruskin says, M
book is worth anything that is no
worth much, nor is it serviceable until
has been read and re-read and loved an
loved again and marked so that you ca
refer to the passages you want IN H.
firmly believe this. In my own llbrar
the books love best are the ones nav
read most, among them the ones ha
when only child.
Some say, 1.-The children will rea
what they want to and you cant mel
it." Perhaps not, if you have neve
tried to help it by putting them in tn
way of reading good books. If yo
have, they will usually prefer the gooe
A dearly beloved and most respecte
teacher of mine once told our l'teratur
class the following about herself;
1t was in connection with novel reao
ing. When child her father found her rea'
ING a novel of which he did not approx
He took it away, gave her course
reading for six months, which she strlctl
followed, then he returned her book an
said she might finish it ii she wanted t'
but her taste had risen above it and ST
only destroyed it.
This is not the place tor names
books. hut such can easily be toun'
Look in the library for books just !.
children and see how rich field there
Any teacher quickly sees the dliieren'
between the children who are well rea
and those who are not. The first are
much more interested in their scho
work and do the best work. Let us ea'
do our part in getting the best reading II