The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-04-20
NATURE FOR CHILDREN
BY Edith NJ. Patch, Entomologist,
University of Maine. Author of "A
Little Gateway TO Science"


University of Maine. Author of "A
Little Gateway to Science"
Mystery and Surprise. A tied pack
age OF a locked room or shut drawer
has an attraction for a child because
it contains something unknown and
stimulating to his curiosity. Any
mystery fascinates him, and most of all
the mysteries of life Itself. Fortu-
nately he is surrounded by miracles
that he can watch, for life is every
where abundant. The mystery of a
plant, with roots and leaves and bios
SONS sealed within a tidy box called a
seed or folded in a tightly wrapped
brown parcel called a bulb; or the
secret that the cocoon holds, from the
remarkable creature that spun itself
inside to the same creature, wonder
fully transformed, that will make its
way out; or the egg under the patient
breast Of old biddy, from which the
new biddy breaks its way into larger
world than the locked shell, are mat
tiers such as the questioning mind can
pry into with no harm to its own
healthy growth. To see life develop
ing is an experience stimulating to
knowledge and imagination alike, and
one which is easily within reach of
any child. For country child can
gather seeds from the fields and sow
them, or transplant bulbs to wild
flower garden Of his own while city
child can discover the curious habits
Of a sprouting bean or find out what
beautiful green member of the lily
family is hidden within an onion bulb,
joy to be had with garden no bigger
than a handful Of dirt in vegetable
can.
Interest and Companionship. The
faithful care Of pet, whether it be
a plant that was once seed, cater
pillar that will one day be butterfly,
or a chicken that loses its fluffy down
and sprouts funny feathers that look
like tiny paint-brushes, will awaken
an interest in the thing watched and
tended, which will grow into sense
Of companionship in its presence.
Many an otherwise lonely hour is
eased in some such simple way. II
we grown-ups are prone to overlook
the Importance Of such a possession,
the chiId's own estimation Of its value
comes home to us with startling illum-
nation now and then. as is illustrat-
ed by the small boy who took his
treasures to a dearly loved neighbor
whose husband had recently died.
"Aunty," he said earnestly, 1--WE
brought you my tadpoles cause I
thought you'd be lonesome"
Responsibility. The interest in one
life, intimately watched, naturally
reaches out to other live things not so
near. The bird in the bush the whistl-
ing way Of something in the cir. the
hoppy tracks OF a rabbit IN the snow
the friendly squirrel in the park.-be
rome matters for sympathetic atten-
tion.-a feeling that, If rightly guided. /
develops into a proper sense Of respon-
sibility for decent treatment Of bird
and beast and blossom doomed to dwell
with u1 on this earth and IN need q
protection against the ruthless hand u
nan.
Free Instruction. In this school. en-
-iching the pleasure Of the child and
making him a Predetermined denizen
Z the world, tuition IS free to all FOR
he teacher. Mother Nature, charges
% fees and her lessons may b. read !
" any child. young or old, who watch
= well
a