i8o THE ADVENTURES OF A NATURE GUIDE 



formation and inspiration; it is creative, rouses 

 effort, and gets results. 



In brief, then, all we are trying to do may be 

 stated as follows: We found that every child 

 wanted to learn. He asked questions. He was 

 interested. Our opportunity lay in the rightful 

 answering of questions. These answers must ap- 

 peal to the imagination. We tried in our answer 

 to continue and multiply this interest by showing 

 him something new, and more than he was expect- 

 ing. 



Often our answer was part of a story. But we 

 answered with words, stories, demonstrations, ex- 

 cursions, and even books. He was led into larger 

 interests. Nature interested him most. Nothing 

 discouraged him so long as he was interested. In- 

 terest made play out of work. We have never 

 found a lazy child. 



These answers gave impressions; gave a variety 

 of mental experiences and resources. They pleas- 

 antly compelled reasoning and creating — started 

 the unquenchable imagination. In a short time 

 a child was telling of his interests, talking about 

 his experiences. He was learning; he had begun 

 to create and to express. He was interested in life. 



Doctor Arnold said that if he could teach his boys 

 but one thing, "that thing would be poetry." 

 Poetry, of course, sustains and develops that 

 strange but almost all-masterly faculty called 

 imagination. And it is doubtful that any influence 



