The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1911-09-14


comftpt;, if we send them to schoo
and give them a few smatterine
ideas of religious training, we have
fulfilled our psrts.' But have we!
Suppose we stop and think some,
times that our children are not
merely precious little blessings (or
tormenting little nuisances, as the
case may be- but immortal souls. for
whose destinies we are responsible.
Ard they can't even choose their
parents. Don't you think we have to
try very hard to make up to them
for the parents they would like to
have had?
We teach them, which of course is
right, to honor their fathers and
mothers, but do We think enough of
the respect due them from us? They
are independent human beings, and
we must treat them as such, and not
as mere automatons whom we ex-
pect to teach blind obedience. They
are independent human beings with
independent. desires and impulses.
and one of these is to play. | mean
it seriously. PLAY is to children
what intense, absorbing work is to
grown people," A child may grow
up without education and be healthy
and happy, without legitimate play
he can be none of these.
Of course in the country we have
not the same problems to face re-
garding Fairgrounds for children
which they have in crowded cities.
But we have different problem to
face-that of the loneliness of child
hood. AS the child grows out of
babyhood he requires companionship
with other children in order to de-
velop, just as grown people need So
cial intercourse to keep from becom-
ing narrow-minded. One of the
greatest mistakes we mothers make
is not to provide natural and healthy
entertainment for our growing boys
and girls. If we guide and direct
their natural desire for entertain
ment, supervise and enter into their
frolics, and make friends with their
friends, believe that our children
would belesseager for outside excite
ment and more normal in their en-
joyment of simple things. In short,
we must make them feel that we
understand and sympathize with
them in their little plans and pleas
ures, and that we are not merely
"grown-ups" who have forgotten
what it is to be young. And that
means great deal. am sure it is
one of the problems you will discuss
in your club.
Another point that seems to me
very important in your club work is
that each member willingly and con-
scientiously try to do the part al
lotted to her. Each one of you is
capable of helping the others in
Some respect, and in order to gain
the full benefit from the club, each
member must be honest in her in
tention to do all that she can to
keep her companions and to gain all
the help she can from them. And
this result cannot be accomplished
unless each individual take an active
part in the club work. There is moth
ing more discouraging to your pres
ident than indifferent and half
hearted members, and you yourself
gain little or nothing unless you are
active. | think you have a wonderful
opportunity to benefit yourselves
and thereby your children, and
hope that you will all see it this way
and enter into this little club ear
nestly and gladly.
Have you ever thought of parents
as gardeners and children as the
flowers they have to tend? 1t is a
beautiful idea, | think, and a very
helpful one. God is the Master Gar
dener and we are all under His di-
rection in the great child-garden of
+ba u,orl1 0ur children are tender