The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1906-10-11
BY MARGARET f. sANGsTER.


The fashion of large families has
gone out. Here and there of course
one meets a good-sized family of roll
licking boys and girls, and sees a row
OF bright heads around the family
board. Once upon a time six, eight
and ten children formed the ordinary
family group and nobody wasted a
sentiment of pity Oh fathers and moth
ers because of the number of the lit
tie ones or the multiplying needs of
the young people.
Gradually, at least in the older por-
tons of the country, this condition of
things has materially changed and the
American household is considered
complete with an average sum total
of three children. One child satisfies
some parents and others thank Provi.
dence from full hearts If they have
two, a son and a daughter being re-
garded as satisfactory in the highest
degree.
Recently a tendency is evident in
'dicative of a backward swing of the
pendulum in favor of the larger fam
lily, for which indeed very much is
TO be said. Although the care of in
fancy entails no little strain on a
mother, yet in later years she looks
back on nursery days with a new con-
ception of their intense happiness.
AS children increase in number and
in years they help to bring one an
other up, and the mother of six, vary
ing in age from twelve to two years,
really has less TO contend with and
less daily fret and care than the
mother of a single child.
The problem of the sensitive child
much oftener assails the parent whose
family is small than her neighbor who
has a round ~half-dozen to supervise.
In the latter instance there is very
little time to study the moods and
caprices of a small person who is east
ly wounded, or inclined to NOPE in a
corner when he or she cannot rule
with a strong hand. Be it noted that
the desire to rule with a strong hand
is not limited to people who are
grown up. Solomon said: "Woe to
thy land when the king is a child"
and the aphorism might be repeated
in the home whenever and wherever
a child immature in judgment, selfish
in disposition, and perverse in temper,
sways a scepter over the entire fam
lily.
Maria Is so sensitive" said a fond
mother, abiding to a particularly dis.
agreeable and ill-behaved infant whose
birthdays touched the, borderland of
CnUnn. tChn &c Go r,y .- 800
easily wounded that we all guard hei
from every rough wind. We never
contradict her. We try not to shock
or vex her by opposition. The little
faults she now has we are sure will
be overcome by her good sense when
h is older. In the meantime we try
10 be patient. Love is the only at
mosphere for a sensitive child"
1t is the hour of child-culture and
of the mothers club, and of much con-
sideration and much wisdom in our
dealings with children. Nevertheless.
an old-fashioned woman who grew up
when children had a happy place Of
their own, in the background of the
home. when they romped and played
and studied without too much vigi-
lance on the part Of their elders,
when Daughtiness was rebuked by the
tingle of a switch, and goodness was
rewarded by an extra treat or a
cookie, has her private wonder about
the present clamor over willfu1ness.
Are children really better off for re-
ceiving an early impression that their
moods and lenses are to be taken seri-
ously? May it not easily be that I'M
due sensitiveness would be cured by
less candy and an earlier bedtime?
AS things are, the sensitive child too
often tyrannizes over the others who
have no such trait in their natures,
and who therefore are not treated with
any special favor.
Teachers unanimously condemn par
ents who make too much of this par
ticular feature in their children.
Lucy and Eva would do perfectly
well in school" observed a teacher, IF
only their mother could be persuaded
to let them alone. She watches every
infection of their tones, every breath
they draw, and every step they take.
Three mornings out of five she APP