THE LADIES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5576, 13 July 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE LADIES.

LADIES' GOSSIP.

AMOBE THE CHILDREN,

During the summer time Nature, with her abundant brightness and beauty, is a never-failing friend to aid in the children's amusement. But when the cold and stormy weather of winter has driven them indoors, how sorely do tho restless littlo spirits and bodies tax the busy mother's patience ! It is not necessary, however, that the mother should have unlimited means to purchase a museum of toys for tho children or unlimited time in amusing them. Tho socret of keeping children happy, after all, is to teach thorn to provide their own amusement. Mothers should supply tho littlo ones with the raw material of cheerfulness, and instruct the little brain and fingers how to carry on tho manufacture of the desirable element. A writer in Good Housekeeping gives some suggestions as to how this can bo done, suggestions that wo are suro our readers will find help in. Sho says: It passes our comprehension how some women can expsct their progeny to be reasonably good tempered, and yet provide nothing whatever to assure a healthy cheerfulness. They will lay aado for themselves h. bolt of muslin for rainy days' occupation, and regard the smallest amount spent in children's toys a needless expense. A school xia'am boarding in a well-to-do family told us of such a pnsent the other day. The littlo girl had dolle, to bo sure, bat thet vrae all ; and theso had been purchased during some surprising streak of generosity on tho part of the close-fisted father. Old and battered, and minus a wardrobe, pieces of an old shawl were considered fine enough, when fcho dolls were clothed nt all. Anything was good enough for the children to piny with, except tho parlor cane-seat chairn, into which it was regarded n sacrilege to allow a child to t>crnuti>le, much more to play horse with. Before tlio teacher's term was fciught Hie dolls were dressed in nimt calico :;o\vns made fiout remnants left from the quilting. And to the children's delight not one garment of the two whole outfits furnished was sewed on, but made to tiiki: on and ulf, to button iitid unbutton. It in safe to M'iy that the little Kturk girls Jia'l never been so nearly wild with joy, when some odds and ends of gay ribbons and laces wore added for their (lollies' further adornment. Clay pipes and a dii-h of soapsuds initiated them into tho wondrous beauty of tin. , hoapbubble, to tho grunt dismay of tho servant over the prospect of >in increase in washings. Oil-cloth nprotitt t-uved appeased the kitchen goddus.*, and did good service after tho pipes had lost their stems. Bring in the bug 'jf c'othespius somo day when tho children fool fretful, aud build pig pens for them. If they take v great fancy to the pins buy v few dozen to add to their play things. One mother, anxious to finish Homo stitching, quieted the clamorous littl') people with some clothespin doilies, which eho dressed in a few moments from scraps of giujrhara picked up from the floor at her side. Suppose you buy small tack hammers iiud piipcrs of tacks todrivo into blocks or shingles. Empty baking-powder euim with lids, empty bottles without the corks (which are said to be poisonous), large glass marbles to roll f rots one to the other ucroKH the carpet, sinafi brooms to help mother with the sweeping, can all bo included in the list of inoxpensivo toys. To a mother horrified at sight of the dingiest etow-pan in the cupboard, brought by herynnng hopeful into tho parlor, where Hat a distinguished caller, wfissuggestedthoidea of buying cheat) new tinware just for tho children's play houso. Bright, now tin pails filled with the smallest potatoes or apples from tho cellar bin are sure to please. Could the baby hurt himself with an egg beater to whirl about? Mrs. G. allows her little folks to play with tho largo dripping-pans. With a worsted horsoliuc tied to one handle, the beloved dollies are given a fino ride. Whenever a neighbor of curs bakos a batch of ginger cookies her boy and girl hunt up their wooden rolling-pins. Each is provided \yfth a flak board and a wad of :he dough, which i.s frequently dropped on sho floor and stopped on before it is placed n tiny scalloped pann into the oven. This ndulgcnco is granted only cv days just jeforu the scrubbing is done. From the kindergarten dealers, you can ibtiiin a box of pasto-board money and a store " stocked on chairs will count on a rhole afternoon's entertainment. Tcaoh ho oldest children to ' make change.' Uig ip ti tent with a blanket over tho rliningoom fihain , , or lend thnm cast-oft' clothing n which to ' dress up.' But wo go on enumerating ttt rink of the reader's fatigue.

Acting on the advico of a well known con

tributor of this magazines we opened tlio children's underwaistti in front, aed they soon learned to dress themselves with a very little help, and even to button their own shoes. But after the novelty wore off came the tug of war. It was often found easier to pick up ii child and dress it entirely than to coax persistently, and watch to see that it was done. Fortunately this course was not continued, aud after firmly insisting for a few mornings that each should drsss himself as

far as ho wae able, it soon grew to be an easy duty which none thought of shirking. A kiis and a hug from mamma proved sufficient reward. It is wonderful tho amount of holp ono child can ho to a busy woman, if only ho is properly taught. Littlo duties, early assumed, make greater rmoit to follow easier of accomplishment. But if you intend to teach your children to put away their clothincr or toys, provide places, aud insist on their being put thero. And don't yield to them, as you will many times be tempted to do, when thoy complain that they ' don't feol like it.' If you keop a damp wash-rag on a low nail iv the bathroom, there will bo no necessity for you to drop all your work to wipe George's fingers after ho has finished his fruit.

Moat children enjoy brushing their own teeth. Just hore let us offer a word of advico. Begin when your baby is 18 months old to clean his tiny tooth, and keep it up as regularly as you do your own. Dentists will tellyou this is not too early ; that the second sot will be all the sounder. Teach

the children to bo careful of their playthings. The time to have them put away is when they begin to kick them about. Don't have them all out at tho same time. Hide a few for a week. Wo confess we oould not havo hold out as did a friend of oura in teaching hur littlo girl care \wth her playthings. Sho took tiwaf a box of dishes, just after Christmas, for one whole month, on account of tho carolcßS breaking of three plates. This littlo Anna kcops nor toys and handgpmu picture books from ono year's end to another,

as v losult of the lusHoii. And don't forget ono thing more : Teach the bahies to sing. Thero mo so inaay merry jingles for children nowadays. Tliey can often catch the tune of your lullaby, as they elo.se their tired eves in sleep. Somo primary teacher will gladly irive you her school songs, or you can get homo kindergarten plays. Remember, too, the Siuiday-Hchool songs. You will bo rested somo day wlion the littlo folks place

the chairs in a row, open books and sing_ in childish joy as they 'play churoh ' like grown people. Now, in face of all these hints for children's pleasure, one word of caution must be added : Don't do too much ! Don't, get them into the habit of always depending upon you for entertainment, or of throwing themselves upon your hands as soon as one toy ceases to please. Teach them self-reliance. Let them nlone when they are good. Let them sit down in their little rockers and indulge in some original baby reflections. Solitudo is as good for them as for you. Edith.