Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-07
The Juniors, The
Parents and
Teachers

| occupation he paused, gazing slcihiy
and reproachfully at microscopic
trayed the possibilities of unlimited
mischief.
! What is it, Peter?" inquired teach
er.
Peters cherub countenance flushed.
and he exclaimed quite tragically,
t"That girl--that Katherine-won't say
Thank you'll"
A wave of excitement crept over the
school. There We're little shocked muir
murs and looks Of disapproval What
! was going to happen?
"Oh. yes, Katherine will say THANK
you" remarked teacher, composedly.
II did say it," responded the little
sinner 81 said a teenty Thank YOU pig
enough for a baby doll but Ill say it
again--rll say it bigger. Thank YOU
! Peter Lanihan!'' and this last in
| stenorian roar startled even the Guide
| of Youth.
| Isn't that naughty child p remark
ed one earnest young lady born to set
the world right. The teacher looked
into those forty pairs of eyes, but did
not speak for a moment.
Katherines laughing, blue orbs gath
cred in themselves a little mist of APP
prefension Was this dear friend about
| to fail her?
mo" at last said the teacher, calm
ly, katherine is a darling little girl.
She does not mean to be naughty; she
just forgets."
A look OF passionate gratitude flash
ed over the child's face and a little tear
gemmed the rosy cheek.
'Ill say Thank you lots of times
exclaimed the little one.
I'm sure You will responded the
teacher cordially, and for the rest OF
! the session Katherine was almost OPP
pressive in her politeness to every one:
j So the drama of child-iife unfolded
hour by hour and the teacher often felt
herself at school and the children her
| instructors.
Over and over was it impressed upon
her that after all. courtesy must be an
! inward quality. bearing the same rela-
! ton to conduct that the perfume sus-
| tains to the flower.
Did she show those careless children
the best essence of herself. she recelv-
ed from them like quality in equal
measure. All, it was more than that,
the measure heaped up. overfloWlng
with the prodigality of childhood.
1t came to her very poignantly how
divinely ready is the heart of Childhood
for all things true and high.
The knowledge of it awoke both
humility and terror in her soul. until
she remembered the wonder OF the
through his faulty and human instru-
ments.
Children with all their trust and un-
consciousness are still capable OF
shrewd observation. or does some splr-
itual instinct give them the power TO
distinguish between what is interior
and abiding and what is merely surface
and transitory?
| Francis is very polite said
/ thoughtful little girl. but like Tom
better
why do your" inquired her interest
ed mother.
Francis does not tell the truth,
and he cheats in his lessons. Ten is
rough. but he doesn't pretend
If children are quick to detect incon-
: sistency in one another. they are GER
J tainly not blind to the same fault in
; their elders, and they are equally APP
precative when fair play is given
them.
There may be fear in the adult
mind that he will lose the respect OF
the child if he ever owns himself in
the wrong, but this is needless ap-
prehension.
deep calleth unto deep!" The same
nobility Of soul that prompts the con-
fession will appeal to a like nobility In
the little one A mother once told this
incident to the writer: II was irritated
and slapped my child because OF some
carlessness on her part. I repented in
stantly and said, oh, Milly. forgive
mother! She didn't mean to, and She
so sorry I know you didn't said the
little thing sweetly, That's why l
didn't cry"
dear teacher in great city school
was about to resign her position. Some
tiny first-graders dictated a letter to
, her, each child contributing sentence,
some of which we will quote:
Dear Miss, I love you because
you are SO kind"
II love you because you say Good
Il love you because you have little
smile every day.
II love you because you said once.
, What a dear little school.
Was it not heart Of gold that could
remember after several months q
chance kindly expression?
There is much to be taken for grant
ed in the practical training of the
, youhg child We must accept the fact
that he Is naturally selfish. wishing to
possess many things for the sake Of
possession. and inclined to hold on to
his possessions for the same reason.
Now this is not evil in itself at the
beginning. 1t results from that law OF
nature that is concerned in establishing
personality as it's first work.
The normal child Is noisy, thought
less, persistent. and this. too, is ma
, lures provision Happy the mother or
teacher who can distinguish between
depravity and the transient manifesto
tons of the healthy young animal. For
tunate are those who are always will
ing to learn the secret Of guidance. and
to patiently apply that knowledge
which is just sympathy with the child
in all his manifestations.
ITO know all is to forgive all" AS we
, grow in our understanding we realize
SEVEN RULES FOR THE JUNIORS.
/. Use one side of the paper only.
2. Write neatly and legibly, using
ink or sharp lead pencil.