The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-30
DUTIES OF A MOTHER
How to Conduct Herself in the Pres
ence of Her Children.
MRS. c. M. SAWYER'S PAPER
Read at a Meeting in the Freshly
terrain Church Parlors--t IS Fa-
vorably Commented Upon
"A Valuable Lesson.

deep interest and received much favor
able comment was read by Mrs. c. NJ.
Sawyer at the mothers meeting in the
Presbyterian church on Friday after
noon of last week. Its subject was the
entertainment of children and Mrs.
Sawyer advanced ideas all her own
which are not only practical but inter
esting and are here given for wider
circulation. Mrs. Sawyer said:
"A duty has been assigned me to-day
which / assure you ii is with regret
that i feel myself so wholly incom-
petent to perform; yet in my simple
way and limited time, / want to prove
TO you the Importance of the undis~
turbed flow of mirthfulness i'm our
children. This subject, the amusement
and entertainment of little ones. is to
me almost a heavenly one. Children
before they have become hardened by
the gross influences of earthly sur
roundings are the choicest production
of Gods laws. They are pure, limo
cent, beautiful and wonderful and so
little understood.
THE first struggle of a child is for
something to sustain it's little animate
nature, and when that is supplied with
proper care to warmth and comfort.
sleep follows. In few days when the
little helpless treasure thoroughly
awakes from her dreamland, we are
glorified to Sc: the reflection Of mirth-
fulness b-it htening every little fea-
ture. This the first and only expression
invested in mortals which cannot be
found in the animal kingdom. This
expression of mirth. gradually devel-
OPS, until the unsurpassed burst of
laughter comes from the little soul.
What wonder then that we as mothers
welcome this intelligence as one of the
most essential things to protect.
strengthen. and guide in our children.
"A child with a light, bounding heart,
is like brilliant ray of light from
heaven, while a sad irritable child is
TO be pitied. not blamed. Why this diff
ference, although they maySc born and
nursed by the same tender hand, no
one rule. or proverb can reach. Deep
study and unfaltering care. is the only
means whereby anything like a salts
factory result can reward us. Has not
the one child through sympathetic
channels taken into it's own little self
unhappy and disagreeable surroundings
in which the mother was powerless to
overcome? Yes, thousands. With what
special care and attention must this
unfortunate little ones life be guarded,
and all that's bright, happy and joy
Gus showered over IL.
Now, how can we bring our infiu-
ence to bear effectively on those two
opposites? First, | enter into discipline
and regulate and teach them unadul-
terated confidence and obedience A
child is very young indeed, when II ex-
hibits confidence in the mother and as
the child grows that confidence ripens,
and / must remark right here, shame
on the mother or father either, who are
responsible for the child's existence, IL.
through thoughtlessness or ignorance
they allow innocence to detect i'm them
dishonor or falsehood, in any way
Young minds are quick to perceive an
injustice, and IL they are not treated
fairly and squarely they remember II as
long as they live. and are bound to dis
respect that much of their government
Again, obedience is easier maintained
than regained, after a year or so of
careless neglect, why allow a child to
do that which will require stern and
sever treatment later on? When water
has once rushed uncontrolled dam IL
up as secure as the skill of workmen
can, and 1t will break out somewhere,
sooner or later and seek its old chan
mel.
The child who has never been taught
the folly of disobedience, suffers from
It, and brings to the home unhappiness
and dishonor. by which the best amuse-
ments cannot elevate.
Therefore. l say. we must protect
our little ones against such disorder
anu ihNicSSntSS, anu tnen every virtue
within their nature will assert itself /
This is not all. Our children are full of
life, and we must devise means of
amusements, and interest them them at
home with choice associates. Here. too.
the ever watchful eye of mother must
be present. Dare we send our little
ones off to seek entertainment for
themselves, be IL good or bad? or do |
we personally wind ourselves in and
out. round and about them. helping |
the ones who are naturally slow and |
conscious, and curbing those who assert |
TOO much Importance. No place Is |
there a better oportunity to throw our |
influence effectively. than TO enter into |
the joys and frolics of the little people /
Some may say it's unbecoming, the |
dignity of a parent to play ball puss In |
the corner. housekeeping. or to take a |
sleighride on row of chairs arranged /
by the bright, business like little boys |
i say no. The mother who gracefully |
accepts such a ride, will be the first |
one invited to ride with him when ne |
can drive a real horse.
You may say, Il have no time 20 |
throw away, when there are so many |
things that must be done to protect a |
well organized home. Yes. but do we |
not spend hours. days, yes weeks |
mending broken hearts settling dis |
putes. amounting crushed toes mashed |
fingers, and bruised heads. / have |
found by experience that in entertain |
ing little people my time was well |
spent. but i have not one minute in |
which to allow them TO cry. Laughter /
Is sweet music. but crying. l dare not /
say what IL Is like. My idea is this: /
II you are in the kitchen have the |
children there; IL in the dining room.
chamber or parlor. take the babies. or /
IL you live in a house with but one |
room. still keep them with you. Inter /
est them In your work; teach them TO /
manufacture amusements out of prac- |
teal life. 1t is not necessary to buy /
them whole farms. meeting houses or /
railroad systems from the officials |
down, but let's teacn them TO conjure |
their own industries and machinery. |
No one can afford TO have a house fun /
of broken toys. It's absurd A dough /
man. clay marbles. ragamuffins or saw |
dust pies have charms that cannot be /
found in worn out store toys No one