128 NATURE STUDY AND LIFE 



Kline and France in their study of the Psychology of 

 Ownership have shown that extreme selfishness, the desire 

 to own and to keep, is normal to childhood. Through its 

 natural exercise and development the child learns in the 

 only real way possible to appreciate the property rights 

 of others. With adolescence he blossoms into altruism, 

 which, unless blighted, ripens into valuable life work. 



Another point, attested by common experience, is that 

 unless effort is put forth toward attainment of an object, 

 its value is not appreciated. The most worthless things 

 for which a child has hunted or into which he has thrown 

 his work become the treasures of his life. The most 

 costly things, no matter how beautiful or interesting, 

 lavished upon him without this inner relation to his will, 

 remain but so much rubbish, " pearls before swine." 

 What can be better calculated to call forth a child's best 

 activities and, after due patience, to crown his efforts 

 with possessions of solid value than cultivation of fruits 

 or flowers .'' And what other occupations stand in such 

 fundamental relation to life and civilization ? Other " his- 

 toric occupations " are special and technical, besides being 

 dead and antiquated, in comparison with this ; while this 

 must remain perennially in vital relations to life. 



The way in which parents approach this problem will 

 naturally vary with differences of opinion. But those 

 who appreciate the point of view suggested will begin by 

 apportioning to each child, at three, four, or five years of 

 age, some little plot of ground that he can call his own. 

 They will furnish him, or allow him to earn, tools of his 

 own, — a trowel, rake, seed box, — give him a place to keep 

 them and instruct him in the proper care of them. They 



