Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-11-25

that Tom had built for me, and it seemed
to me that | was making dismal fail
ure of the wife business.
| Right then and there ] registered q
VOW that even if we had to forego
parties and late company and our pleas
ant long evenings. one thing was GER
| tain, and that was that hereafter [ was
going to get up in time to get Tom a
good hot breakfast
I've kept it, too l hung that blessed
alarm clock by nice blue ribbon right
from the bedpost to within few inches
of my head. And at the very first blast
I grab and muff1e it and leap Immediate
ly up.
Maybe I wasn't nervous the first few
times. All night long / only dozed off,
expecting to hear it spring every min
ute. | also coaXed Tom to retire regu
larlv at half-past 10, so now we are not
so sleepy. And he gets up every morn
ing, too. and sometimes helps me set
the table or grind the coffee. 1t just
seems as If we are two children playing
house-Eugenia Benedict in Phladel-
phia Evening Bulletin.
Mothers "Home Guard"
Indeed | am sure it is war time, for
out on my snow-covered lawn Just be-
yond the big tulip bed stands a fort with
breastworks, a cannon and quantities of
|
eral members of mothers Home guard.
augmented by recruits from neighboring
regiments. They are fierce fighters, too.
and as the missiles fly over the terrace
and the tire is returned by the enemy
across the way, l realize with the great
est anxiety at heart that | am 4 soldiers
mother.
At first | said to myself, it is nom
sense to watch them: go back to your
sewing, and be glad the scene of battle
is near home, so you can care for the
wounded quickly, even put an end to the
war at any time by commanding the sol
dlers to lay down arms and surrender to
you as their superior officer. SO | with
drew from the scene of action and quietly
resumed my sewing. In the evening [
welcomed to dinner my little Home
guard and they all answered roll call
with never a scratch, all arms and legs
intact. and only the kitchen clothesline
full OF wet mittens. coats. trousers and
caps showed that battle had really TAX
Ell place.
ooh! mother. it was grandr' and look
ing at the happy faces, rosy cheeks and
| inwardly thankful l had rot intcrfered
with the fun.
Perhaps in the long run we watch our
children too closely. and fix that at
Inosphere of danger about them, when
they ere in fact blessed with quite good
ervation is developed at birth. a tiny
baby will start and hold onto Your hand
If it feels as if falling from your lap.
| The more we see. the more we find we
must forbid our children. 50 it is wisdom
not to see too much. II they say little
things perhaps not quite intended for our
ears, it is better not to have too acute
| hearing; sometimes what we hear we
can use to advantage for the good Of
their future guidance.
Children are knenly conscious or our
scrutiny. and are embarra ssed if they
think we are listening and commenting
upon their remarks, or little impersona
| tons of "grown-ups" which they enjoy
| immensely. 1t is also we'll to walk
little slowly to the scene of Quarrels,
for if they settle things for themselves
it makes them more self-reiant. Be
sides, it removes that doubt OF just
which one started the disturbance, AZ
most always a question difficult to de-
eide SO by being little slow appar-
entity of hearing seeing. and stepping,
we give little ones q bit more chance
to develop on their own lines, and we
learn better guidance of them.
1t is SO easy 20 forbid children things
without even stopping to look into the
matter from any but our own point of
view. Children have their own ideas
/ also, and though they are obliged 10
bow to ours, it rankles, and if it APP
! pears unjust to them they lose respect
/ for our authority and escape it as soon
as possible: if they rebel at first, then
see justice in our decision after talking
/ it over together, all is well: Mother
did know best after all" is the verdict.
Do not give dishes 10 play with, then
refuse a little food and fruit for fear
of scattered crumbs, or milk and water
fol-, 'cambric tea, for fear it will be
| spilled, else all the fun of the dishes
is gone. Do not have too many toys
in the nursery at once. 1t is good
idea to let some take a Journey" be
repaired and placed in a box on a cup
! board shelf, and after an absence of
two or three weeks bring them forth
on a tired day." such as we mothers
know so well, and they will be received
like new gift. New games spring into
| existence, new possibilities are seen, and
with fresh energy play is begun anew.
A nursery must have a couch for all
times and seasons. Then mothers should
always have on hand dresses to play
lady with. with bonnet and shawl, and
a coat and hat of fathers. Glorious
playthings are these, so harmless, yet
diverting.
Don't forbid boys freedom in climbing
trees; simply don't watch them. The
mother who goes through a self-training
for generals service in the Home
Guard, deserves all the honors Of Of
flee. And later when she retires from
active service. and her grown children
say on occasion, Mother, do you re-
member the day we did this thing Or
that showing how close the relation had
always been between her children and
herself, she receives a compliment worth
all the annoyances and trials of raising
to man and woman's estate, her own
members of the Home Guard jean
nette Young in New England Home
stead
For the Woman