The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-15
PRESENTS FOR THE BOYS
A WISE MOTHER WHO KNEW JUST
WHAT HER YOUNG SONS LIKED.
She Bought Things Upon Which
They Could Exercise Their In
ventive Faculties.


ping expedition with the mother of two
boys, nine and twelve years of age and
afterward L visited the room of those same
boys, and 1 came away with the convic-
ton that that woman was a wise mother
and that her boys were fortunate, indeed
Il am going into the sewing chine
rooms" she announced as we went up the
street. 81 want to get the boys a sewing
machine" L almost gasped in astonish-
ment. Nothing will please them better
L know she added I'm answer to my look
of amaZement. Then she turned to a clerk
in the store and said: Have you any old
machines to sell? Not for ordinary work,
you know. but for my two boys, to use
to run little mechanical contrivances with.
Just the lower part would do, without the
head, but if l can get one with the head
which will sew a straight seam | would
rather have it," The clerk looked nearly
as much surprised as 1 had, but by this
time | had begun TO recover and to grasp
the situation somewhat. why do you
want the head?" l asked.
'Oh, the boys know how to run a ma
chine, and 1 would prefer that they have
one of their own to using mine, for they
are continually wanting to sew something"
But what do they sew?" l asked for
had no boys, and L didn't understand
why, sails for boats and iceboats, stuff
for tents and awnings, and they make car
penters' aprons, and flags, and, oh, 1 don't
know what ALL
The salesman began to look Interested
too. He asked us to excuse him minute
and pretty soon he came back and said:
I'VE not allowed to sell any second
hand machines here, but for your purpose
1 find that we can make an exception for
we have plenty of such machines as you
want
And so. after few minutes looking. a
bargain was made for a machine which
would not only furnish power for small
machinery by means of its treadle and
large wheel, but would sew seams in a
very satisfactory manner.
1t was after that visited the boys work
room. for i felt sure that il must be differ
ent from the ordinary room over which
boys preside, and L was not mistaken. The
room itself was large and light, and was
given up absolutely to the boys. In one
corner stood the newly installed machine
and | was assured that il was one of the
finest presents they had ever received.
When / went in the usual band was off
and a long rope reached around the wheel
and through two pulleys fastened i'm the
opposite wall. 1T is fun" the younger
boy explained. Just 10 run the wheel with
this, but my brother Is making an attach
ment like something we saw i'm an elevator
once, and when that is done we can hoist
things with it,"
Along one side of the room was a sub
stantial work bench, with an orderly array
of tools above il.
THE whole room." said the boys mother.
lis a growth. We began by giving the
boys something each year which they could
use and exercise their inventive faculties
upon. things which they could make other
things with instead of something that they
could nlaV with and of in,
hour"
row of book shelves showed that tn,
boys knew how to handle their tools. and
upon the shelves We're books of travel
| healthy stories of adventure books about
animals and others which gave directions
for making traps. boats. pieces of furni
ture and all the hundred and one things {
| boy is interested in.
On small table stood a little instrument
| which | had TO examine before | discovers
| what it was. Ii was simply the kew ane
switchboard of a telegraph instrument
\ without wires. The boys had the Mors,
/ alphabet, and they had learned to tick of
messages TO each other across the room anC
| To read them by sound. This year Christ
/ mas Is 10 bring them electrical battery
/ and small motor, and have no doubt bu
| that within few weeks they will have
| wires attached TO their switchboard anC
connected with a similar instrument i'm 5
| neighbOring house where some boy frien,
| lives.
| On the table beside the telegraph instru.
ment was good microscope which is :
! source of unfailing interest for there are
/ always things to be brought i'm anC
/ examined.
! 1t will not take them long to arrange al
/ electric bell i'm their room after the batter
4 les are in their possession. for this is one
| OF their cherished plans for the future
! and they know exactly what needs to b,
/ done and just how the results may be &C
| cOmpliShed.
Besides the book shelves which the hoy,
have made for themselves. there is a Yer,
/ respectable cabinet in which they have
/ placed all sorts of curiOSities and relics
which they have picked up here and there
or which some interested friend has giver
/ them.
In corner of the room stands a small
printing press and case of type II ha.
| not thought of that. said their mother
until one day my attention was called L
! the exchange column of boys paper. an,
| / noticed that nearly every bow who ha,
written the exchange wanted a printin,
! press and was willing 10 trade for il any
| thing that he had. apparently. This opene,
/ NY eyes 10 the possibilities of such an out
| lit, and of how much boys enjoy the pos
10 our boys. Ii has proved one of the bes
! investments We have made"
Il was once asked she added. IF / wa
not afraid of making jack of all trades
/ Of the boys. by letting them experiment
I along so many lines. but / think il will b.
/ by this very means that we will discove
( Just what each ones natural inclination
I leads TO. and a knowledge of. general me
| chanics Will not hurt them. surely. on
| might as well object TO teaching a chill
( education. because perhaps he may make
-pecialty of mathematics when grown uT
| IN any case, my boys happily an
Sasily occupied all the time, and they ar
ontented at home because they are inter
! estsd here. IIrTTA ID COWLES-