tory. Louisa Alcott's short stories contain many examples of children who have helped in the home of to-day. Magazines and newspapers contain anecdotes describing the work of children all over the country who have kept Tree Day or City Housecleaning Day. Cut these out of the magazines. Oftentimes they appeal to young children even more than historical stories. Questions: How can a boy or girl living in a city flat help to make the flat more attractive? Boys can make window boxes and plant seeds; when the flowers blossom it will give a cheery appearance to the house. Girls can keep the flowers in the window boxes watered. Children will keep their lawns watered and cut, the flower beds weeded and watered, the streets in front of their houses free from rubbish, the ash barrel removed immediately after it has been emptied. How can you help your father and mother in their work? Why do you like to help them? Suppose you don't like to do the work itself, do you like to do it because it pleases some one else? Do you like to do work for the sake of getting the work done, and seeing things neat and ship-shape, even when the work itself is drudgery? Back of the actual service there must be the spirit of loyalty to the home life. Show the class that obedience is the fundamental relationship between parents and children in the home and that it is essential to the largest happiness. The stories below illustrate obedience, gratitude, helpfulness, cheerfulness, service. Two quotations from the writings of the Eastern nations bring out the influence of the family through untold centuries: "You have no conception of how many anxious toils your parents bore and of how many painful apprehensions they endured in nourishing and educating you - now which of these things did not require the heart of a father and mother? Can this kindness ever be fully rewarded?"— Mencius, Tsin Sin (pt. 1, chap. XXXIV). "No one is to be looked up to like a father. No one is to be depended upon as is a mother."-She King, Minor Odes. Reading for the children "A Mother's Boy"; "Waiting for Father"; "A Fellow's Mother"; "Little Hans"; "A Little Fairy"; from Little Knights and Ladies, M. E. Sangster. Harper & Bros. "The School Children's Friend," in An American Book of Golden Deeds, James Baldwin. American Book Co. Snow-Bound," John G. Whittier. R.L.S. No. 4. Houghton Mifflin Co. 66 Heidi, Johanna Spyri. Everyman's Library. E. P. Dutton & Co. Reading for the teacher The Community and the Citizen, chap. iv, Arthur W. Dunn. D. C. Heath & Co. Preparing for Citizenship. W. B. Guitteau. Houghton Mifflin Co. The Family in its Sociological Aspects, James Quale Dealey. Houghton Mifflin Co. Democracy and Social Ethics, Jane Addams. The Macmillan Co. The Young Citizen, chaps. XIX, xx, Charles F. Dole. D. C. Heath & Co. THE LITTLE PHILOSOPHER 1 JOHN AIKEN AND MRS. BARBAULD Mr. L. was one morning riding by himself, when dismounting to gather a plant in the hedge, his horse got loose and galloped away from him. At length a little boy in a neighboring field, seeing the affair, ran across where the road made a turn, and getting before the horse, took him by the bridle, and held him till his owner came up. Mr. L. looked at the boy, and admired his ruddy, cheerful countenance. "Thank you, my good lad,” said he; "you have caught my horse very cleverly. What shall I give you for your trouble?" (putting his hand into his pocket). "I want nothing, sir," said the boy. Mr. L. Don't you? So much the better for you. Few men can say so much. But, pray, what were you doing in the field? B. I was rooting up weeds and tending the sheep that are feeding on the turnips. Mr. L. And do you like this employment? B. Yes, very well, this fine weather. Mr. L. But had you not rather play? B. This is not hard work; it is almost as good as play. Mr. L. How long have you been out in this field? B. Ever since six in the morning. Mr. L. And are not you hungry? B. Yes, I shall go to my dinner soon. Mr. L. If you had sixpence now, what would you do with it? B. I don't know. I never had so much in my life. Mr. L. Have you no playthings? B. Playthings? What are those? Mr. L. Such as balls, ninepins, marbles, tops, and wooden horses. 1 Abridged from The Children's Hour, edited by Eva March Tappan. Houghton Mifflin Co. B. No, sir; but our Tom makes footballs to kick in the cold weather, and we set traps for birds; and then I have a jumping pole and a pair of stilts to walk through the dirt with; and I had a hoop, but it is broken. Mr. L. And do you want nothing else? B. No. I have hardly time for those; for, I always ride the horses to field, and bring up the cows, and run to the town of errands, and that is as good as play, you know. Mr. L. What do you do when you are hungry before it is time to go home? B. I sometimes eat a raw turnip. Mr. L. But if there are none? B. Then I do as well as I can; think of it. I work on, and never Mr. L. Are you not dry sometimes this hot weather? B. Yes, but there is water enough. Mr. L. Why, my little fellow, you are quite a philosopher! B. Sir? Mr. L. I say you are a philosopher, but I am sure you do not know what that means. B. No, sir; no harm, I hope? Mr. L. No, no (laughing). Well, my boy, you seem to want nothing at all, so I shall not give you money to make you want anything. But were you ever at school? B. No, sir; but daddy says I shall go after harvest. Mr. L. You will want books then. B. Yes; the boys all have a spelling-book and a Testament. Mr. L. Well, then, I will give you them. Tell your daddy so, and that it is because I thought you a very good, contented little boy. So now go to your sheep again. B. I will, sir. Thank you. OCTOBER: THE INFLUENCE OF THE SCHOOL For the Teacher: VITAI LAMPADA1 HENRY NEWBOLT There's a breathless hush in the Close to-night – And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat But his Captain's hand on his shoulder smote: "Play up! play up! and play the game!" The sand of the desert is sodden red This is the word that year by year, 1 From Admirals All. John Lane Co. |