River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-24
GIFTS FOR THE CHILDREN.

Very Strong or Very Inexpensive Toys
the Most suitable-Children should BE
Taught Practically the JOY and Blessed
ness Of Giving.
In the thoughts of every mother gifts
for the children are uppermost at this
time of giving, which is especially the
children's own. AS soon as they are old
enough to understand the difference
between mine and thine they should be
taught practically the joy and blessed
ness of giving. When the tiny fingers
begin to fashion little articles of orna-
ment or use, as they do so early in
the kindergarten. or under careful
home training. they have the material
for gifts of their own making. The
pride and delight which a child takes
in being able to say: II made this
myst IT," makes one feel that they are
deprived Of legitimate source of pleas
ure, part of their birthright. IL they
are denied the opportunity. All chill
dren have generous impulses, some, Of
course, in a far larger measure than
others, but in all they should be Guilt
waited and stimulated. never repressed.
The mother has room for the exercise
of much wisdom in choosing the pres
ents to be made to them. Far too much
money is wasted every Christmas in
purchasing toys which are played with
but for a few hours or days. then
! broken and cast aside. II this expendi-
ture were INDUCED in solely by per-
sons who could well afford to be ex-
travagant IL would be bad enough. but
they are not the only thoughtless ones.
Those with small means, who have to
refrain from buying many things they
would like to possess, will throw money
away on some fragile plaything that
they know viii not long endure the
rough treatment il is sure to receive.
| We must remember that children do
not see things from our standpoint.
A heautifully-finished toy appeals 10
VS. b. its ingenious construction or It's
excellent workmanship. These line
points are lost on the child of three OF
four to whom ii is given. His rltrained
eye does not perceive nor comprehend
/ the details which have charmed us.
To him il is only something to be played
with after his own fashion, and when
careless usage speedily reduces ii to
wreck he contemptuously losses 1t
away or grieves over its altered condi-
ton. according to his disposition.
Either very strong OF very Inexpensive
| toys are the most suitable for little
children. AS they grow older and can
be taught to care for them they may
be intrusted with more delicate and
costly ones.
We all know playthings that have
been handed down from one generation
TO another and still delight the grand
children of their original possessors.
/ have in mind white china lamb that
belonged to one who was a little child
nearly 100 years ago. She did not stay
in this world long enough to outgrow
the childish treasure. 1t was given to
another sister of the same name who
succeeded her, and when she, too, passed
away, to a third. whose daughter still
has il as one OF her most valued pos
sessions. Time has ipcrusted 1t with as
sociations and made what was an insig-
nificaut trifie a relic of inestimable
worth to those who understand them.
A substantial dolls house will give I'M
told pleasure to family of girls, who
will extract from it some of the bliss
of real housekeeping, and learn much
| that is useful in managing II. Some
children are naturally careful and 10
requires little effort to make them take
care of their belongings. Others seem
incorrigibly careless and wasteful; they
show the spendthrift disposition even
in early childhood. These need ju-
dicious training and il will in time bear
fruit, although TO the discouraged
mother the task often seems hopeless.
Ladies Home Journal.