The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07

mlBub as we'll lOEUlo Iu6 SRGIQg OL dAl
sweets and pickles. Yet who would
think of trying to live and bring up
a family on sweetmeats and pickles9
I have an idea that the best thing for
a busy mother would be to read along
a certain line OF science, and to en-
gage her children with her in both read
ing and observation. She could do the
reading at first, and the children could
help with the observation.
Farmers wives would have the best
opportunity for this, as all their sur
roundings are favorable. Let us take,
say, the study of geology-a big word,
but an easy study. A good little
book to begin with is 1.-THE
Worlds Foundations" Not a word
of this book but that any woman
can thoroughly understand and enjoy,
and it's pages furnish stories for the
children far surprising fairy tales in
interest. Let the children once get
started to looking at the hills, the
bluffs, the rocks, the coal-bin, with a
scientific eye, and the world is full of
interest to them.
remember, as a child, in Iowa, how
I use to chip at the limestone rocks,
pick up the bright pebbles, break
open pieces of flint, all full of streeks,
and Observation-Disclosures, with
not an answer to all my childish ques-
tioning. remember the theme of con
Versation among US children-and the
mother, too-and contrast them with
the enthusiastic discussions of some
country children I know now, who
have their intelligent collection of
minerals, plants and bugs.
Locality has something to do with
determining what one would best take
up as a Study. Country people have
a choice of nature studies, while city
people can take up some branch of art,
literature or science. Besides the
pleasure and knowledge mother and
children could get out of their reading
and observation, it would serve ad
mirably to keep young and old out of
mischief.
The various women's clubs afford
help to many women's lives, but the
little home club of mother, father and
children will prove not to be despised
and the annual dues can be invested in
books and home apparatus needed.
Ispeek first of geology. After read
ing the book 1 mentioned and getting
a good idea of the earth's foundations,
procure First Lessons in Minerals "
by Mrs. Richards, and a set of .speci
mems to study. After examing and
carefully studying these, you can start
out to find specimens of your own.
Soon a cabinet will be required, and
here will be pleasant work for all, il
you make your own cabiHet.
0, l see how it will all grow into a
fine collection and a little scientific
library, and will be followed with the
study of plants and herbarium, Of in
scots, Of birds and animals, and all the
delightful subjects nature so alluring.
4 ~ AOIN5 OA9 W SAO OOOLGA HObAAS4
and her children; and not a home duty
will need to be neglected! The heav
ems are above US all, in city and coun
try, and it is delightful on a starlit
night to scan the wonderful expanse Of
world above US.
A good, clean newspaper is a neces
sary adjunct of the home, but the
daily paper is useful only to the bust
ness man and is wholly unfit for chill
dren, and a waste of woman's time
All the news worth reading will be il
the best weeklies and will be some hat
winuo we'd of it's chaf. Avoid vast
ing time and strength ovtr sensational
news that has no earthly value. 1t il
as bad as the habit of neighborhooC
gossip and scandal, and, like these per
nicious habits, it grows on one.
know an elderly woman who never
lets an an item or a column Of the
public scandals and crimes slip, though
she loudly processes her religion and
would be Mortified at the sight Of 6
novel, however clean.
Speaking of novels, when n is
tired, or for any other reason wishes
to read something easy or pleasant,
she might as we'll choose a good, we'll
written novel as a weak, trihlng Oh
wicked one. Some of the pleaeantest
stories give US the most correct ideas
of the habits OF people; besides, a good
novel is always a model of good Ian
guage and often a bright interpreta'
tion of character. If l had not read
George Eliot's novels 1 should certainly
do so as 1 had opportunity, as we'll as
D:zL.--S 80 4&L1~ nEa-ln~I