The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-12-21
s1rGnrsrLnNs FOR TOYS.


 wonderful capacity for enjoyment, and to supply them with sources of inno- cent pleasure is the duty of every pa rent A lady once said to me:
 "I have often known what 1t is to want money, out do not think that the gift of a million dollars could give me half as much pleasure as l felt when was six years old, and papa bought me a little pewter tea set as reward for keeping the baby quiet l set it in the window where the sun shone upon it, and standing little way off, regarded it with a feeling akin to awe. Had 1t been pure gold it would not have en- hanced it's value in my eyes. I don't know how long I stood entranced, but the baby woke and brought me back to earth"
 Surely it is worth while to spend @ little time and money in the purchase of some such gift, the memory of which shall survive through many painful eX- perienes of after life. It Is a great mis- take to suppose that children generally appreciate toys in proportion to their costliness. If they do, 1t is to be de- plored as an evidence that the object for which playthings were intended has been frustrated Half century ago, the little girl who was the possessor of a Dutch doll with high back comb and painted hair was the envy of her less Fortunate companions, and even if it was minus a limb, or the paint was worn off it's face, 1t was deemed worthy of such affection and respect as I have never seen accorded to the walking and talking dolls of our day, with their long lashes and golden hair. Aunts and grandmothers condescended to notice the doll, using it as an object lesson for the future mothers, helping to design it's clothes and giving instruction in the art of sewing. Glimpses of the child s character and disposition, too, were of ten obtained while she played with her doll and made believe" that she was real mother, not a lady of fashion, de- voting herself to the details of an ex- travagant toilet. Where children have a great variety of toys their attention is naturally divided, and they care but little for any of them; in that case it is a good plan to remove some for a sea- son, that they may be more appreciated when they are returned.
 Toys of every description are to be found in most nurseries but not many are chosen because, while affording oc- cupation, they also excite ingenuity, A few suggestions in this respect, al- though not all novel, may be found use- ful.
 A box of blocks is an excellent toy, and will often keep a child employed for an hour at a time, building houses and gaining knowledge of construction.
 A dolls house is another desirable plaything. You can get one complete in every respect by paying a large price for 1t, but your children will be just as we'll pleased if you give them one of nome manufacture. A tool box, or any box divided into compartments, will an- swer, and if you will spend little time and thought in furnishing 1t, you will be surprised to find it not oriy a labor of love, but a source of interest to your- self.
 I knew a family of six little girls whose father, Presbyterian clergy man, made all the furniture for their dolls house. With small pieces of we'll seasoned wood, a jack-knife, and sand paper, he fashioned chairs, tables, sofas and even bedsteads and bureaus, which he afterwards stained and vanished. Most of the work was done while the little people were sleeping, and his wife said she never saw him happier than when he was surrounded by his chips unless 1t was in the morning when he was greeted with joyous exclamations from one or another of his little daugh- ters who had discovered a new treasure in her dolls house.
 Not many fathers are willing to take so much trouble, but it is easy to pro- cure little sets of furniture in any toy shop at a trifling cost For carpets, a piece of printed flannel or rep answers niely; paper of all colors and various small patterns can be found at all sta tions, and put on with little paste or mucilage. Curtains are easily ar ranged, but the windows give more trouble. After the opening has been made with a knife or saw, a small piece of mica, such as is used for stoves, can be fastened on the inside with a frame of cardboard covering the edges, and narrow strips of the same to represent the sash. Pictures can be cut out of ad. vertising sheets and framed with gilt paper. People who live in the country and cannot obtain what they wish from the shops, are often surprised at theil own ingenuity, and would be gratified il they realized how many dollars they could save by their eXpedients.
 Some children take pleasure in cut ting out pictures or figures, or in draw ing from imagination. l knew little girl who cut out birds and animals with remarkable accuracy, when she was scarcely three years old. She is now 6 distinguished artist. Sharp pointed scissors, of course, should not be giver to children, but they can be had very short with founded blades.
 A tool box or printing press will keer even young boys out of mischief, ant afford them a great deal of pleasure, es pecially if they are called upon to dt work for the family.
 Fretfulness is often caused by wan of occupation, and many a child ha! been given a dose of medicine when { little congenial employment would have been quite as efficacious A mother needs to have endless resources within herself in order to meet the constant demand for something to do.'' whic1 is so perplexing to those who are not ac customed ito children and cannot ente1 into their feellngs.-Babyhood.
 CITY MISSION ENTERTAT TNNENT
 The entertainment postponed iron last Tuesday evening on account of th