The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-08-28
Looking Backward Along
The Child's PdthwuY
BY EDITH BRANDS

1t was the custom of the young
mothers of Friendship Circle not only
to draw upon each others experiences
for help in solving problems with re-
gard to the development of their lit
tie ones, but to learn all they could
from visitors, also. They were already
realizing how helpful it is to listen to
any one who is really able to say,
"This is what | did and these are the
results"
Mrs. May brought Mrs. Boice to
visit the Circle. This lady had known
most of the mothers in their girlhood.
She had brought up a family in the
neighborhood, and then, being a
widow, had taken up civic work for
children in another city. Her young
Hest son had recently entered college.
Most of the mothers had known him
as little curly-haired boy. They had
heard he had grown into a very fine
young man.
To bring out the helpful ideas they
wanted, they asked Mrs. Boice this
question: "What did you do, for John,
the effect of which you can see to the
present day."
Mrs. Boice said, "I am glad you
asked that. There was a sequence of
events that the rest of US brought
about which, simple as it was, benefit
ted him greatly.
"When John started collecting
treasures, and this he did very early
his father gave him a box with lock
and key into which he could put the
small things he loved
"He first gathered brightly colored
pebbles. Later he had a variety of
things-a twine ball to which he add
ed from time to time, some small
wooden blocks, some discarded keys
some nails and bolts and buckles. He
liked to take them out and play witt
them and often did this.
"One day playmate gave him q
card with life-sized blue jay on it ir
natural colors. He had seen blue jays
and the colorful card delighted him
That day marked the beginning o1
his interest in bird pictures. He be-
gan to collect them, and soon, one al
a time, he discarded the other treas
ures from his box, utilizing the space
for picture cards.
y "On his fourth birthday his fathe
and / gave him little table all hi
own, and his brothers and sisters pu
their pennies, nickels and dimes to
gether and bought him a chair. Thel
we selected a comfortable place in
good light and placed them there.
"After that, Johns evening habi
was to sit at his table, spread out hi
picture cards and arrange and rear
range them until he was sleepy. Fo
brief time only he would ask, regard
ing a new bird, What is its name
holding up the card for one of us t
tell him. Testing him one day, foun
he knew them-every one.
Identification of the birds in tn
y orchard, fields and woods followe
naturally. 1t was not long afterWard
D-I think he was six and half
when he began to be interested in tn
trees, and little later his attentio
was extended to plants of all kinds.
"From that small start at home, II
developed so great an interest in gain
ing knowledge of the trees, tn
plants and all living creatures, tha
throughout his grade school years h
was asked, from time to time, to tax
the younger children on bird walk
and botanical excursions. Such serN
ice to others helped him to advanc
in Scout work and to develop leader
ship.
Long before this he had outgrow