314 ANNUAL, REPORT OP THE OfE. Doc. 



SO carelessly? Keview what has been done to make the flower; what 

 the roots did, and how soil and water helped them; what the stems, 

 what the leaves did, and how the sun and air helped them. Place :■.. 

 fully developed, wide-open flower in the hands of each pupil, cau- 

 tioning them to hold it hj the stem and not to hurt the flower. Have 

 them observe it carefully, and tell all they can about it, with as few 

 questions as possible. 



Another interesting subject is the falling and coloring of leaves. 

 October is the month of painted leaves. Their rich glow how 

 acquire a bright tint just before they fall, so the year near its setting, 

 "October is its sunset sky, November the later twilight." What a 

 beautiful tribute to the autumn leaves this is bv Henry D. Thoreau. 



Our best literature abounds in tributes to autumn. Autumn tints 

 and fruits have ever appealed to artist and poet, and the child and 

 the poet are near akin in their love of beauty and nearness to nature. 

 No more beautiful study can be desired than autumn leaves, their 

 beauty of color and beauty of use. Their summer work is done. 

 The tree no longer need® them to breathe, and throw out water, and 

 make food. How beautiful is their leave-taking! They clothe their 

 old mother with all the hues of sunset. Then quietly, contentedly, 

 they slip away. 



Good Mother Nature knows what a burden to the tree they would 

 be, how they would catch the winter wind, and hold the snow. 



They have other work to do. They drop down not to die. Oh, no! 

 To cover seeds and plants from the winter'® cold. To nestle quietly 

 through the months until in the spring and summer, water and air, 

 the two great workers of the world, with their humble helpers, the 

 worms, turn them into food, from which other plants make new 

 leaves and flowers. What busy leaves! Resting, yet always work- 

 ing, always helping. 



Let children play among the leaves. Have them collect and press 

 the most beautiful, and decorate their rooms. Dwell on their beauty 

 of color, form and use. It matters little whether the children can 

 draw and describe them exactly. It matters much, however, 

 whether they love them and appreciate the beauty with which God 

 has surrounded them, understand better the significance of the 

 season of — shall I say death? No, of transition, preparation for rest 

 and for other work. 



This will give the point of view the vantage ground from which 

 teacher and children can see so much in leaves. 



Our literature teems with beautiful thought.^ about autumn. Read 

 them to the children, let them commit them to memory and you will 

 bp surprised how much they will learn. What fi beautiful lessoij 

 Longfellow gives us in the following stanzas; 



