REARING AN"D TRAINING OF CHILDREN". 201 



ings and stout boots or shoes. In winter some inside 

 soles of felt, or even of thick paper, add much to the 

 warmth and dryness of the feet ; and ear-muffs and wrist- 

 lets, though small enough in themselves, are big rein- 

 forcements against chills and frost-bites that otherwise 

 will come. 



Never hamper and torment childreff with clothes that 

 are "too nice "to be anything but wretched in. They 

 may be taught reasonable care in regard to soiling their 

 clothes, but to see a child in a constant spiritual straight- 

 jacket, for fear the mud-cakes, or the game of marbles, 

 or the jolly romp will soil the knees, or "muss" the 

 apron, or dissarrange the hair, is an indication of idiotic 

 parentage. There are cheap, light, half-wool fabrics, 

 sold in gray, and in brown plaids and stripes, that, piped 

 with bright colors, make up into excellent dresses or 

 blouses for little folks, being just as cool as print and 

 gingham, requiring no starching when washed, and not 

 soiling or rumpling easily. 



Let the children have plenty of sleep. I have seen 

 young children, almost infants, wakened and made to 

 get up two hours before their natural sleep was finished, 

 merely because it was thought best that they should "eat 

 breakfast with the others." Again, imagine yourself 

 in the hands of a giant, and being hauled out of bed 

 while in the midst of profound and refreshing slumber, 

 just for the privilege of eating breakfast with a lot of 

 other giants who grin at you if you are cross, and per- 

 haps vigorously spank you, some one of them, if you say 

 or do anything expressive of your wretched feelings. 

 There are no healthy children who take more sleep than 

 they need; and yet we often see young boys "routed" 

 before sunrise and set to work, with empty stomachs and 

 dizzy heads, at chores that might just as well await the 

 coming of a decent ho-ur. Let us all pray to be preserved 

 from that slashing, mule-headed, and generally ignorant 



