892 
Z5fc*>  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
June  17,^191(5. 
Small  Children  on  the  Farm 
By  “  Mrs  Pastoral  Parson  ” 
Broken  Noses.-  Sitting  Oil  the  porch 
with  a  friend  and  my  first  baby,  about  a 
month  before  the  second  boy  arrived,  six' 
said  to  the  little  one:  "Your  nose  will  be 
broken  soon.  Mamma  will  have  another 
baby  and  then  she  won't  love  yon.”  How 
many  times  I  have  heard  mothers  say  the 
same  thing.  It  is  a  dreadful  thing  to 
say.  unless  you  really  want  to  instill 
hatred  into  the  baby's  mind  for  the  little 
one  that  is  coming.  T  have  heard  of  chil¬ 
dren  disliking  the  new  baby  so  much  that 
they  have  wanted  to  kill  it. 
Teach  Love. — It  is  just  as  easy  to 
teach  them  to  love  and  look  forward  to 
the  coining  of  a  new  baby  as  otherwise. 
They  do  not  feel  slighted  in  the  least,  lad 
instead  are  just  as  delighted  as  the  rest 
of  the  family.  It  isn't  natural  for  children 
to  dislike  the  younger  ones,  but  we  can 
train  them  to,  very  easily  and  perhaps 
unconsciously  on  our  part. 
He  Turrit  Err,.- — This  subject  includes 
a  great  deal.  A  mother  with  her  child  of 
four  years  was  calling  on  mo  one  day. 
The  child  went  from  one  thing  to  the 
other  as  fast  as  she  could,  at  last  she 
opened  the  piano  and  began  to  pound  on 
the  keys.  All  the  mother’s  orders  to 
“stop”  fell  on  deaf  ears.  At  last  she  said. 
“Well.  I  shall  gho  you  to  the  rag  man.” 
I)o  you  think  that  made  any  impression? 
Not  a  bit.  She  lmd  beard  it  too  often 
and  knew  her  mother  was  lying.  Finally 
the  mother  had  to  go.  as  none  of  her 
threats  had  any  effect.  She  said  to  mo 
that  she  didn't  know  how  she  would  ever 
he  able  to  make  her  child  mind.  When 
she  finds  her  big  girl  a  liar,  she  wall  won¬ 
der  how  a  child  of  hors  could  lie.  Other 
things  are  told  the  children  such  as.  "I'll 
put  you  down  cellar  for  the  rats  to  eat 
up.”  or  “I’ll  give  you  to  Hie  policeman.” 
and  still  another  to  bo  threatened  with 
the  reform  school.  It  is  very  surprising 
to  hear  what  mothers  will  say  to  their 
children,  and  then  expect  them  to  grow  up 
truthful  men  and  women. 
“All  Do m. pn  FT.” — I  know  a  mother 
who  wants  her  hoy  to  he  a  real  boy. 
This  is  the  way  she  is  trying  to  bring  it 
about.  He  is  nearly  10  years  old.  and  is 
kept  in  spotless  white  from  head  to  toe. 
and  told  every  minute  that  he  mustn't 
get  dirty.  A  doting  aunt  is  with  him  all 
Summer  long  to  help  see  that  ho  keeps 
spotless.  They  worry  because  he  doesn’t 
seem  to  have  much  appetite.  During  each 
meal,  through  the  whole  meal,  it  is. 
“Dearie,  you  must  eat  your  bread  uow.” 
“Sweet,  eat  a  little  more  of  that  potato." 
“Lovie.  do  cat  more  or  you  can't  have  any 
iee  cream.”  Do  you  wonder  lie  doesn't 
eat?  I  notice  when  he  is  brought  hero  for 
the  day  and  we  till  up  his  plate  with 
everything,  it  is  eaten  with  as  much  relish 
as  my  hoys  have  for  tlieir  good  victuals. 
Let  a  boy  he  natural  and  then  you  will 
have  the  genuine  boy. 
NEBVors  Habits. — After  children  have 
been  in  school  a  year  or  so.  they  will  form 
peculiar  habits.  My  two  oldest  have  each 
had  their  turn.  When  you  see  them  mak¬ 
ing  all  manner  of  faces  every  minute  and 
twitching  the  head,  don't  think  they  have 
&t.  Vitus’  dance  and  send  right  off  for  a 
child  specialist,  unless,  of  course,  your 
child  is  of  a  very  nervous  temperament, 
and  you  have  reason  to  think  he  is  over¬ 
worked  in  school.  But  the  average  child 
is  simply  imitating  some  other  child. 
They  should  he  broken  of  this  habit 
though,  for  if  allowed  to  grow  it  might 
turn  into  something  more  serious. 
Socks  Ox  Children* — Do  not  put 
socks  on  your  little  children.  I  know 
they  look  pretty,  but  stockings  are  just 
as  pretty  and  a  great  deal  better  for 
them.  I  know  of  three  doctors  who  say 
socks  should  never  he  worn.  There  is 
something  about  having  just  part  of  the 
leg  covered  that  affects  the  teething 
Don’t  risk  the  child’s  health  for  the  sake 
of  looks ! 
Being  Fussy  At  Tiie  Table. — Wo 
boil  the  small  potatoes  with  their  jackets 
on.  The  other  day  a  man  remarked  when 
he  saw  my  husband  peeling  his  at  the 
table:  “My  children  wouldn’t  touch  po¬ 
tatoes  like  these.  They  would  just  sit 
and  look  at  them.”  Think  of  bringing 
yOUl*  children  up  to  he  so  fussy  that  they 
can't  cat  a  good  potato  because  it  is 
cooked  in  its  jacket  and  small  in  size! 
Our  children  oat  what  is  put.  before  them 
or  go  without.  Never  ask  a  child  if  it 
likes  a  thing.  Do  you  know  the  reason 
for  this  fussiness?  Candy,  pie  and  cake. 
When  Hunger  Starts. — A  child  be¬ 
gins  to  feel  hungry  about  a  half  or  three- 
quarters  of  an  hour  before  meal  time. 
He  comes  in  for  something  to  stay  his 
hunger  till  meal  time.  So  many  mothers, 
instead  of  giving  them  a  piece  of  bread 
and  butter,  will  give  two  pieces  of  pie  or 
Henry  Closson  Gilbert,  Two  Years  Eight 
Months  Old 
cake.  When  they  come  to  the  table  the 
appetite  has  been  spoiled  for  the  sub¬ 
stantial  part  of  the  meal  and  an  abnor¬ 
mal  craving  takes  place  for  more  sweets. 
Consequently  very  little  of  the  whole¬ 
some  food  is  taken  and  more  pie  and  cake 
is  stored  away. 
Sweets  Occasionally.  I  believe  in 
sweets  occasionally  and  if  judgment  is 
used  there  will  be  no  trouble.  We  have 
candy  in  the  house  all  the  time,  right  in 
full  view  of  everybody.  On  an  average 
of  twice  a  week  a  couple  of  packages  of 
wafers  are  Opened  and  passed  to  every 
one  in  the  family.  We  have  eight  in 
family,  so  you  can  see  that  the  little  ones 
do  not  get  enough  to  hurt.  them.  They 
arc  perfectly  satisfied,  however,  and  their 
stomachs  not  upset.  By  never  allowing 
them  to  have  a  great  deal,  they  haven’t 
the  abnormal  craving  for  sweets,  so  there 
is  no  desire  to  go  into  the  candy  on  the 
sly. 
Putting  Things  Away  From  Chil¬ 
dren. — I  had  a  young  woman  work  for 
me  a  short  time  who  had  a  little  gill  the 
age  of  my  youngest.  That  baby  was  into 
everything.  The  mother  couldn’t  do  much 
for  me  because  she  had  to  watch  her  baby 
so.  T  would  say,  "Do  spat  her  bauds.'’ 
bat  she  wouldn't.  She  thought  the  baby 
too  small  to  understand.  The  first  time  a 
baby  reaches  out  to  take  things  is  the 
(ime  to  train  it  not  to  touch.  If  they 
aren't  trained  then,  your  control  is  very 
hard  to  get  later.  On  our  tenth  anniver¬ 
sary  Mr.  Gilbert  gave  me  a  very  hand¬ 
some  china  closet.  One  of  my  neighbors 
was  almost  horrified  that  T  would  dare 
have  such  a  tiling  with  my  throe  boys. 
Just  because  1  have  three  strong,  healthy 
hoys,  have  I  got  to  wait  till  they  are 
grown  men  before  I  can  have  anything 
nice  in  my  house?  I  hope  not.  We 
grown-ups  are  just,  as  apt  to  smash  it. 
Nagging. — We  aren't  naggers  either. 
My  children  have  full  run  of  the  house. 
Every  room  is  used,  and  well  used.  We 
aim  to  do  a  little  at  housekeei  mg  and 
a  great  deal  at  home-keeping.  My  house 
is  neat,  hut  not  set.  I  know  a  woman 
who  is  an  excellent  housekeeper.  She  has 
brought  up  six  children  ;  does  all  the  sew¬ 
ing.  washing  and  ironing.  Her  house  is 
spotless  from  cellar  to  attic.  IIow  about 
the  children?  They  look  as  though  they 
hardly  dared  breathe.  She  is  a  farmer's 
wife.  too.  She  would  not  allow  a  Christ¬ 
mas  tree  because  of  the  litter.  One  of  her 
girls  once  said  if  there  was  a  speck  of  dirt 
in  Fnrope  her  mother  would  sec  it.  They 
look  grouchy,  and  arc  grouchy.  Give  me 
the  happy  home  and  a  little  dirt.  While 
my  children  use  every  room,  they  do  not. 
abuse  the  privilege,  and  they  are  not 
spoiled  in  the  sense  that  they  have  their 
own  way.  T  aim  to  have  them  mind  from 
a  desire  to  want  to.  rather  than  being 
forced  to.  Of  course,  I  don’t  say  that  they 
always  do,  lmt  as  a  general  thing.  1  will 
say  though  when  they  get  a  little  unruly 
it  is  always  from  playing  with  children 
who  are  never  taught  at  home  to  respect 
and  look  up  to  their  elders.  It  is  strange 
how  quickly  such  children  can  influence 
others- 
The  Fighters. — We  try  to  teach  nur 
hoys  never  to  start  a  fight,  hut  if  others 
pitch  into  them  to  fight  hack.  It.  will 
usually  work  out  all  right  that  way  un¬ 
less  there  happens  to  he  one  in  the  crowd 
who  is  u  sneak.  In  that  ease  the  father 
will  have  to  settle  the  difficulty.  For  in¬ 
stance.  my  second  hoy  is  not  a  scrapper, 
hut  a  hoy  who  is.  and  in  his  room  it 
school,  was  always  picking  a  fight  with 
little  George.  One  day  he  came  home  wet 
to  the  skill;  This  sneak  had,  slipped  lip 
behind  him  and  pushed  him  into  a  ditch. 
In  a  case  like  this  the  parents  have  to 
help  out. 
Gotxg  To  Church. — My  four  children 
went,  three  times  yesterday.  Some  one 
remarked  that  we  had  them  well  trained. 
Well,  perhaps  that  is  it.  lint  1  am  more 
inclined  to  think  it  is  because  they  are 
allowed  to  look  at  hooks,  or  write  on  a 
pad,  or  do  something  quiet  but  active 
during  the  sermon,  and  consequently  do 
not  mind  sitting  still  and  never  make  a 
fuss  about  going.  Another  thing,  their 
stomachs  are  not  upset  beforehand,  so 
they  really  have  no  reason  to  do  anything 
nut.  of  the  way.  When  I  say  “look  at 
hooks,”  etc.,  during  the  sermon,  that  only 
applies  to  the  two  little  ones.  The  two 
older  ones,  of  course,  are  at  the  age  now 
that,  they  can  understand  most  sermons 
and  on. toy  them.  As  my  husband  lias  told 
you  before,  “wo  enjoy  our  religion.” 
The  .Sensitive  Child. — We  have  one 
very  sensitive  boy.  He  will  be  six  next 
week.  From  the  time  he  entered  this 
world  until  six  months  ago  he  has  been 
my  shadow.  A  great  many  thought  I 
humored  him  too  much.  In  one  sense  I 
humored  him.  and  then  on  the  other  hand 
he  has  to  mind  llie  same  as  the  rest.  But 
one  thing  you  can’t,  do  with  him  is  to  try 
to  fon-c  him.  It  has  only  been  a  year 
that  I  have  been  able  to  leave  him  home 
for  the  day.  Always  before  he  went 
everywhere  we  did.  Did  I  spoil  him? 
Not  a  bit  of  it.  Could  any  mother  have 
a  little  sensitive  fellow  just  for  the  day. 
when  lie  looks  at  yon  with  his  whole  heart 
and  soul  in  his  face,  pleading  with  you 
not  to  leave  him?  I  was  one  of  those 
children.  It  seemed  to  me  life  was  not 
worth  living  when  my  mother  left  me.  A 
little  child’s  suffering  is  as  great  for  them 
to  bear  as  our  big  cares  are  for  us.  Why 
let  them  suffer  more  than  is  accessary 
when  it  is  so  easy  to  prevent  it?  Now  that 
he  is  older  and  knows  that  1  will  come 
home  when  I  say  I  will,  he  is  content  to 
let  me  go.  IIow  much  more  he  loves  his 
mother  for  it  to-day  than  he  would  had  I 
forced  him  and  broken  up  that  beautiful 
love.  Keep  your  children  loving  you. 
Teach  them  to  obey  and  he  respectful  and 
you  will  find  their  love  is  stronger  than 
when  they  are  left  to  bring  themselves 
up. 
The  Strap. — But  in  the  training  ;lo 
not  have  a  strap  hanging  within  reach  it, 
a  moment's  warning.  I  do  not  say  we 
never  have  to  whip  our  children,  but  it  is 
certainly  very  seldom  necessary.  I  have 
noticed  the  children  who  are  whipped 
every  little  while  are  sneaks  and  liars. 
Do  Not  Insult  The  Children. — IIow 
sorry  I  felt  for  a  big  boy  of  14  one  day. 
lie  had  come  home  from  school  for  his 
noon-day  dinner.  The  time  for  being 
back  in  school  was  half-past  one.  His 
mother  at  a  quarter  before  one  wanted 
him  to  take  a  note  to  some  friend.  He 
said  to  her  very  quietly  and  pleasantly 
that  he  didn’t  think  lie  would  have  time, 
as  he  had  to  he  in  school  by  one  o'eloek- 
Now  instead  of  this  mother  speaking 
kindly  to  him  about  it.  she  looked  at  him 
with  an  expression  if  looks  could  kill — 
that  would  have  killed  him  on  the  spot, 
and  almost  yelled  to  know  will/  he  lmd 
to  he  there  at  one.  Wlmt  did  the  hoy  do 
then?  Just  as  any  sensitive,  high-strung 
hoy  would  do,  became  surly  and  ugly.  She 
pitched  into  him  then  and  made  some 
very  insulting  remarks  to  him.  That  boy 
lias  my  deepest  sympathy.  This  mother 
thinks  she  is  a  good  Christian  woman 
and  splendid  mother.  Her  throe  hoys 
have  to  come  into  the  house  like  eats  in 
the  night.  You  would  not  know  there 
were  any  hoys  on  the  place  if  you  didn’t 
see  them.  They  are  starved  at  home  for 
life  and  play.  Above  all  things  keep  the 
confidence  of  your  children.  As  long  as 
they  tell  you  everything  both  they  and 
you  are  safe. 
Nature’s  Model  for  Cream  Separator 
