Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-03-10

fa MAlker.t IT.. NA t~tr-
CCopyrieht 1905. by Joseph h. Bowlcs)
Nothing stamps home more surely
as sweet and refined than entire conf
dence between parents and children.
Sull. in every household matters come
up which should not be discussed I'm
the presence of juniors. This is cspe-
cially true when, as sometimes hap
pens. the older ones are talking over
questions that concern outsiders. either
neighbors OF friends. IT.. unfortunate
~. something comes TO light about a
family in the community, which that
family would naturally prefer to keep
10 itself. 81 is 90 the last degree I'M
kind as well as unwise 60 make any
allusiOn 20 the subject I'm the hearing
Of children. The difference between
children so far as curiosity is CON
Cerned. is very marked An inQuisitive
child who is also secretive. viii hnger
about. quietly observaut hanging
eagerly on the conversation OF father
and mother. only half understanding
what she hears. and perhaps without
knowing the extent of the mischief
she makes, viii repeat scraps that she
rents No one can be other than NOR
titled II her friends are told things
that she has said az home which were
never meant for the public ear.
The little pitcher IS often q little
critic. One OF these children said 10
me: 81 cannot understand mother.
She saw Mrs. - coming down the
street. and she said 20 Aunt Charlotte:
There IS that old cat. am afraid she
is coming here. She Away chooses
the most inconvenient time, and can't
bear her anyway 81 expected" went
on the child. "to see her treat Mrs.
- very coldly. but she was just as
polite as she could be She said:
Dear Mrs. -. how glad am 20 see
you and great deal more. II / tell
stories. I am punished. But what can
I think Of mother?"
What. indeed2 II you are going 60
be a social hypocrite you would better
keep your little pitchers IN the nursery
out or sight and hearing Of your de-
ceit- All the precept in the world will
not make children truthful II they have
object lessons in lying set before their
eyes.
Not great while ago. a beautiful
golden-haired little boy. scarcely four.
startled his mother ~ calmly uttering
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 60 is
very. very wicked 10 use such words
as that2'
Why" said the child, with honest
eyes fixed on her face cit can't be SO
very wrong Father and Uncle Fred
often speak in that way"
4lren are creatures OF imitation.
The words they hear they repeat
Evil is not evolved from the recesses
OF their own hearts. II comes upon
them as part OF the stain and soil Of
the world in which they live
A great deal Of harm is done 20 chill
dren when they are left in the care
OF irresponsible and incompetent hire
lings. A mother careful Of every
breath her child draws, sometimes
seeks for &c a nurse who is foreign
born. with the very laudable desire TO
accustom the child's ear and tongue
20 French. OF German. or Italian, so that
81 may acquire the other language side
by side with its native English I'm
less the mother obtains for the child
a nurse who is pure-minded and sufi-
GENTLY well educated to speak her own
tongue with precision. she may be do
fng the child a great injury. Ii is no
advantage 10 infancy to learn a cor
rupt and barbarous patois. instead of
a pure and elegant language II. in ad-
diuon, the nurse be rough and untu-
tored. and without scruples OF a con-
scientious order. the little pitcher will
very probably be filled to the brim
with ideas and thoughts that are any
thing but clean and wholesome.
The imperative cry OF childhood is
for something TO do. Therefore. 90
soon as the little one energies from
the dawning mists OF babyhood and be-
comes an independent parsonage, with
exactions and demands that are 70 be
met, the kindergarten should open for
it new world. In the multiform
plays and tasks Of the kindergarten,
be nodded and beads may be strung,
and patterns pricked into paper with
pins, a child steps into a fascinating
realm OF its own. Children who are
carefully taught in kindergarten and
who are allowed plenty OF time for
outdoor play. who are BEAUTIFULLY &C.
tive all day and who go to bed early
at night. are not in much danger OF
becoming Objectionable little pitchers
For the children's own sake. they
should not too early have burdens laid
upon them that they cannot bear. A
woman who has children OF her own
told me that when she was a little
thing of six she was in the room when
her parents were somewhat exercised
over the payment OF a large bill. Il
hayc absolutely no money to meet st.