Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-28
FUTILE P|TCHERS''
GRowN-UPs OFTEN UNwIsE IN
 TALK BEFORE CHILDREN.
asIAttls Pitchers Have Big Ears" and Parents Should Be Careful About Discussing Neighbors in Their Hearing-object Lessons in Lying 1.-The Incompetent Nurse -- Bur dens Upon Childish Mipds-Copy- ing Parents' Faults.

' Nothing stamps home more surely as sweet and refined than entire confi- dence between parents and children. Still, in every household matters come up which should not be discussed in the presence of juniors. This is ,espe' cially true when, as sometimes hap pens, the older ones are talking over questions that concern outsiders, either neighbors or friends. If, unfortunate Iy, something comes to light about q family in the community, which that family would naturally prefer to keep to itself, 1t is to the last degree un.. kind as we'll as unwise to make any allusion to the subject in the hearing of children. The difference between children, 50 far as curiosity is con cerned, is very marked. An inquisttlve child who is also secretive. will finger about, quietly observant. hanging eagerly on the conversation of father and mother, only half understanding what she hears, and perhaps without l Knowing the extent of the mischief she makes, will repeat scraps that she | has heard to the undoing of the pa ! rents. No one can be other than nor. titled if her friends are told things that she has said at home, which were never meant for the public ear.
 The little pitcher is often little | critic, One of these children said to l me: q cannot understand mother. She saw Mrs. coming down the street, and she said to Aunt Charlotte: There is that old cat. I am afraid she I is coming here. She always chooses the most inconvenient time. and can't bear her anyway T expected" went on the child, Ito see her treat Mrs. - very coldly, but she was just as polite as she could be. She said: Dear Mrs. -, flow glad I am to see you. and great deal more. If tell stories, I am punished. But what can I think of mother?"
 What, indeed? If you are going to be social hypocrite you would better keep your little pitchers in the nursery out of sight and hearing of your de ceit. All the precept in the world will not make children truthful if they have object lessons in lying set before their eyes.
 Not a great while ago, beautiful solden-haired little boy. scarcely four startled his mother by calmly utterine an oath in the middle of his play "Why, Harry" exclaimed the mother in dismay. Where did you hear such a word? Do you not know that it is very. very wicked to use such words -assthat?' ., a,orrayo,o s.a 10 ,ruoo
 .Why, said the child, with, honest eyes fixed on her face. s"it can't be SC very wrong. Father and Uncle Fred often speak in that way"
 ..udren are creatures of imitation The words they hear they repeat Evil is not evolved from the recesses 1 of their own hearts. It comes upon ! them as part of the stain and soil oi the world in which they live.
 A great deal of harm is done to chil dren when they are left in the cars of irresponsible and incompetent hire lings. A mother careful of every breath her child draws, sometimes seeks for it nurse who is foreign born, with the very laudable desire tc accustom the child's ear and tongue to French, or German, or Italian, so tha i it may acquire the other language sid' by side with Its native English. Un less the mother obtains for the chile ! a nurse who is pure-minded and sum ciently we'll educated to speak her owl tongue with precision, she may be do ing the child great injury. It is n' advantage to infancy to learn cor rupt and barbarous patois, instead O a pure and elegant language If, in ad | djtion, the nurse be rough and untu tored, and without scruples of con scientious order. the little pitcher vii very probably be filled to the brin with ideas and thoughts that are any thing but clean and wholesome.
 
 The imperative cry of childhood i for something to do. Therefore, g soon as the little one emerges iron the dawning mists of babyhood and bs comes an independent parsonage, wit exactions and demands that are to b met. the kindergarten should open fo 1t . new world. In the multiforr plays and tasks of the kindergarten with the little tables where clay ma
 be moIded and beads may be strung and patterns pricked into paper wit
 pins, a child steps Into a fascinatin
 realm of it's own. Children who ar carefully taught in Kindergarten an
 who are allowed plenty of time fo
 outdoor play. who are healthfully a'
 tive all day and who go to bed earl
 at night, are not in much danger c becoming objectionable little pitcher,
 For the ehildren's own sake, the
 should not too early have burdens lai upon them that they cannot bear. woman who has children of her ON told me that when she was littl thing of six she vas in the room whe her parents were somewhat exercise over the payment of q large bill. have absolutely no money to meet it
 declared the father. For days ther after the child shuddeFed vhsnsvs she saw a strange man turn in at tt gate. and she vas afraid that som dreadful thing was about to happs : in her home long after her. light-hear i ef father and mother had foreoctel , Ll about their transient enberras' ! usnt