The Republican journal., 1898-04-07
The Mothers Library.


that she was sorely puzzled by her little
daughter and could neither understand
the child nor control her. Being aske d
II she had read any books on child training
or child nature, she replied with some sur
prise "Why no. as if that was the last
thing to be thought of.
Inc above paragraph appeared in n
article written by Anna NJ. Perry more
than year ago, and as many of the sue
gestions made by Mrs. Perry are worth
remembering they are here given in con-
nection with the titles of books helpful to
mothers and teachers of young children
Much of the reading now a days is done
by women, and the average woman is not
content till she dips into politics, theolo-
gy, domestic science and art as we'll as
fiction and some verse. But does her
reading often minister to her special
needs? A mother work for her children
is the nobest of all professions, but how
many mothers try to train themselves for
it by any kind of study?
No child can be brought IN by A book
and no two children can be treated exact
ly alike; but, as Mrs. Perry says, ''the
mother who will read and study the best
books written on the subject will find not
only a new interest in her children but
fund of suggestion that will help her meet
difficult problems.
There are few books more valuable to
those engaged i'll training little children
than DR.. Bushnells Christian Nurture
Q022. 15.) Our own Nh Mills said Of this
not long ago, IL would that every one of
us who have anything to DO with children
might read this book, which merits bind
ing in cloth of gold. Dr.. Bushnell
makes everything of the Christian at
mosphere in the home
Beside 'Christian Nurture Mrs. Per
7 ry places Spencer's Education lO43 22)
, and Froebels Education of man QO52 "a. J
? These three are classics and mastery of
f them will aid any mother in guiding her
children.
, Another book full of kindly given sug-
, gestions is Mrs. Malleson's Notes on the
Early Training of children (1O54 26) This
, writer urges, as a general principle, the
idea of laying as little stress as possible
on the faults of children. ''NNe must
avoid rousing these, for in activity faults
l grow as virtues do. We must fix our low
ing energy on all the good traits in the
7 child.'
, How John and l Brought Up the Child,
by Elizabeth Grinnell (2l1.21 is not the
story of a father and mother who never
, made any mistakes The errors are
frankly recorded and it is evident that
, not fancy but experience points out the
I wholesome truths here laid down In a
! very bright and entertaining style William
/ ii. Smith has written story for teachers
. called The Evolution of 'Dodd," giving
his struggle for the survival of the fittest,
! tracing his chances, his changes and how
, he came out. (2ll. POI
Mrs. Hannah w. Smiths The Science
of Motherhood Go54 25) is gem She
writes for ali who have in any way the
care of the young. whether mothers,
nurses OF teachers
A Study of Child Nature from the
kindergarten Standpoint by Elizabeth
Harrison is valuable in showing the i'm
i, portance of Kinderg irten study. "We
must cultivate women, who are the educa-
tors Of the race, else new generation
+ cannot accomplish its task
Probably the most entertaining book in
this st is by Kate Douglas Wiggin called
Children's Rights, book of Nursery
Logic, Q054.27) The informality of
these talks and fund of anecdote from
which the author readily draws make
; her pages delightful reading She says,
''The Kindergarten aims in no way at max
; ing infant prodigies, but at putting the
, little child in possession of every faculty
he can use, at bringing him forward on
lines he will never have to forsake, at
teaching within his narrow range what he
will never have to unleacu, and at giving
him the wish to learn, and the power of
helping himself"
An article entitled The kinderg arten in
the Mothers Work by Mrs. f. P. Bond
appears in a little book edited by Mrs
Wiggin called The kindergarten QO51. y
testifies of the great help and pleasure
the mothers themselves have gained from
the study of methods used by the kinder
gartner.
Another book which might have been
called "Cbips from kindergarten Work
shop is Froebers Gifts, edited by Mrs
Wiggin and her sister, Miss Nora Smith
QO52.32)
If mothers who cannot possess all of
these books will make an effort to get
them from our Free Library, they may
r find what will help in the training of
happy, healthy children.
Belfast Free Library, April 1, 1898.
, | They tell me that Cranston has gone off
through the country giving readings from
his own works"