The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-12-20
CHILDREN AND POLlTENESS

"The greater man, the greater cour
teSy." In every home opportunity
should be made for the little children
to practice consideration and care for
something weaker than themselves.
The cherishing instinct, both in the
individual and the family, needs cul-
tivation and direction. 1t is mani
tested in the love of little girls for
their dolls and in the devotion of
boys to their pets. If this quality of
nurture, is not exercised or properly
directed, it withers; for affections
must be exercised if they are to de-
velop. We often see spoiled children
in American families where all their
desires are gratifed without effort on
their own part and they are given no
opportunity to serve Many mother
virtually makes a slave of herself for
her children, humoring every whim,
and relieving them of all care, trouble
and responsibility, only to find when
they are grown that they are utterly
selfish and inconsiderate.
Unfortunate, too, is the only child
or the youngest member of the fam
lily, who is overindulged, with no more
dependent member of the household
to call forth his tender feelings.
For the child without companions
in the home, the parent should pro-
vide occasions that require service or
sacrifice for others. Arrange to have
his friends come frequently to play
with your little one, and share his
toys, suggesting that the little guests
must have the best.
Adaptability is gained through com
partnership with ones equals. From
association with boys, little girls learn
something of fair play, and become
acquainted with the sturdier virtues;
while, from girls, the boys learn to
have a chiValrous attitude toward
womankind
The instinct of nurture is developed
through the care of a garden or pets,
for child must exercise thought and
put it into practice, in order to obtain
results. Then, too generosity and re-
spect are stimulated by sharing the
mother, head of lettuce for a neigh
Dor, an extra kitten for playmate.
If pets have young, the child's
mother should call attention to the
care of the mother for her little ones,
and her courage and self-sacrifice
whenever the young are endangered.
A child should be taught to take en-
tire charge of his pets, to weed and
care for his garden, if he is to re-
ceive the full benefit in character de-
velopment and achieve the self-re-
spect which comes from responsible
ties accepted.
Then, too, good manners which
spring from consideration are as es-
sential to the happiness of the world
as are good morals, and parents
should be examples of both to their
children. How often virtuous people
make us unhappy by their lack of
tact! Courtesy and graciousness
smooth out the rough places of life.
A tiny boy of three can raise his hat
and one of five can rise at the table
and push mothers chair into place.
When older people enter room, chill
dren should rise; in fact, they should
be taught to practice all the little
daily civilities. But courteous man.
ners are taught slowly, "for precept
must be upon precept, precept upon
precept; line upon line, line upon line;
here little and there a little" Many
man of good character has greatly
limited his usefulness by his lack of
polish" because his mother, either
from stupidity or over-indulgence, neg
lected his social training!
At this momentous time, it is espe-
cially important that all means pos
sible be employed to foster the in
stinct of caring for the weak and de.
pendent.
Bertha Johnston.