THE CHILD AND NATURE STUDY ON THE FARM. 211 



once their father had to insist upon their leaving the work of getting 

 the chickens under shelter to him in order to save them from a 

 drenching. 



As we joined them in the care of the chickens, we discussed not 

 only the proper care they should give them, but selecting some of 

 the best specimens we directed their attention to the qualities of the 

 birds, such as form, plumage, etc. Very learnedly they talk of 

 shape, color, combs, wattles, earlobes and sickle feathers. 



They exhibited more interest in the poultry than in the garden. 

 We attributed this to the greater activity of life the poultry present- 

 ed. Our little boy insisted on feeding the ducks for, he said, he liked 

 to watch them shake down their food. 



But when the vegetables were harvested, and they served them at 

 the table, the beam of satisfaction that appeared on their faces, as 

 each member of the family complimented their success, told very 

 plainly they were repaid for their work. 



Whern our oldest little girl was five years old and the boy three, 

 we had the misfortune of being left without domestic help. At the 

 experiment station where we lived we had as stockman a young man 

 of most sterling character. He suggested taking the children with 

 him to the barn, thereby leaving me free to attend to my household 

 duties. This young man was a graduate of an agricultural college 

 and was giving intelligent care to the animals of the farm. 



The children became interested in the work of the barijs, and 

 there sprung up between them and the stockman a most beautiful 

 friendship. Just how he interested them so deeply in the stock we 

 do not know, but the love with which they regard horses, cows, 

 pigs, and especially lambs and calves, is truly touching. They spent 

 hours of time currying and brushing the calves, in cutting up vege- 

 tables for them and in leading and exercising them, and incidentally 

 exercising themselves. Their happiest moments were with the 

 lambs and calves. The knowledge the children gained of the man- 

 agement of stock was considerable, but we look upon that as the least 

 of the benefits. 



They knew each horse and cow by name. They knew the stall 

 in which each animal belonged. They would tell you the mother 

 of each calf, even if the calves were a year old. They lent their aid 

 in getting the cattle in the stalls, they put the feed in the mangers 

 and would even clean the stalls. 



It was surprising the amount of useful labor our stockman se- 

 cured from them each day, not arbitrarily, however, but by gently 



