Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1892 — FOR OUR LITTLE FOLKS. [ARTICLE]

FOR OUR LITTLE FOLKS.

A COLUMN OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO THEM. What Children Han Done, What They Are Doing, and What They Should Do to Paae Their Childhood Day*. The Rudder. Of what are you thinking, my little lad, with the honest eyes of blue. As you watch the vessels that slowly glide o’er the level ocean floor? Beautiful, graceful, silent as dreams, they paas away from our view. And down the slope of the world thdy go, to seek some far off shore. The seem to be scattered abroad by chance, to move at the breeze’s will. Aimlessly wondering hither and yon, and melting in distant gray. But each one moves to a purpose firm, and the winds their sails that fill Like faithful servants speed them all on their appointed way. For each has a rudder, my dear little lad, with a stanch man at the wheel. And the rudder is never left to Itself, but the will of the man is there; There is never a moment, day or night, that the vessel does not feel The force of the purpose that shapes her course and the helmsman’s watchful care. Someday you will launch your ship, my boy, on life’s wide, treacherous sea,— Be sure your rudder is wrought of strength to stand the stress of the gale. And your hand on the wheel, don’t let it flinch, whatever the tumult be, For the will of man, with the help of God, shall conquer and prevaiL —St. Nicholas A Small Boy’s View. Small boy—The cat is eatin’ one of her kittens. Mother—Oh, I guess not. “She’s got It by the neck, and is bitin’ it hard.” “That is the way the cat carries her kittens.” “Hum! Mothers never care whether they hurt their children or not, do they?”—Good News. He Knew His Dad. * Schoolmaster—Tommy, supposing :that your father had three barrels of Iwine in his cellar, each barrel conItaining fifty-two gallons, and he’ drank one gallon a week, how long would they last” Tommy—’Bout a month, sir. Schoolmaster—l am afraid you jdon’t know much about arithmetic, Tommy. Tommy—No, sir; hut I know my dad.—Brooklyn Life. He Thought Ahead. Little Jake was involved in the difficulties of learning to dress himself and regarded the buttons 'which [had to be fastened behind his back as So many devices to torment small •boys. One morning he was informed of the arrival of a baby sister, and later 'in the day was allowed to steal into his mother’s chamber to look at the baby as she lay asleep. Jake regarded the small creature with much interest: and the nurse, wishing to know what his thoughts were, asked him softly: “Well, how do you like her? Isn’t she a darling?” “I don’t think she looks much good,” answered Jake with uncompromising frankness. “How soon will she be big enough to fasten my back buttons?” Papa Ate It AU. Coming home to dinner and learning that his wife was out making calls, the head of the house notified the servant that he would have his dinner at once and alone, presuming that his small boy, aged 4, would dine with his mother. The small boy had a different plan, and, acting on it, climbed up into his high chair and waited to be served. The father, supposing that the young man was simply keeping him company, gave him nothing to eat. With a puzzled expression on his face, the boy saw the meal disappear—soup, meat, and vegetables—his own plate all the while empty. As the servant brought in the dessert, the boy’s anxiety greatly increased, although he said nothing. But when the last morsel of cherry tart had gone out of sight, the little chajTbroke down completely. Throwing himself back in his chair, he cried out to the servant: “Oh, Mary, Mary, papa has eaten the whole business!” New York Times.

Pleasure In Giving. The three Carey sisters were objects of envy in the school. Each of them had a somewhat large allowance of money, which was intended to cover her personal expenses. It was the first year in which the allowance had been made, and at the close each of the girls found herself with a little sum in hand. “We can do what we please with it!” exclaimed May. She ran for her hat, and, hurrying to the eandyshop, laid in a dainty supply of confections with which she treated all the girls in school. Jane said nothing, but she spent no money in candy. A day or two later a quaint old Japanese bronze appeared on her desk. “What are you going to do with your spare money?” she asked of Sophy, the youngest of-the sisters. Sophy grew red, but did not answer. May laughed. “Sophy has an ambition to do good in the world,” she said. “She intends to spend her money for a half-dozen instructive books, which she is going to lend to the poor boys in the alley. ” “If I could make them good men it would be better than candy or bric-a-brac,” said Sophy, earnestly. She bought the books, gave them to the boys, and went to their houses several times to explain and talk to them about the stories and pictures. One day, when the sisters were together, Jane asked: “What became of the books, Sophy?” Sophy shook her head. “The boys tired of them in a week, and took no notice of them afterward.” “I have my bronze still,” said Jane, triumphantly. “It is a pleasure to me whenever I see it. Your candy did not last long,” she said to Mav, significantly. “It made us all happy while it did last,” said May, laughing. Sophy sat thinking when she was left alone. Her little effort seemed to have been wasted. The good books had made the boys no better. It had been useless as water spilled upon the ground. Why not buy cap-

dy next month with her spare money; or a pretty bronze? And yet She loved those bad little fellows so much since she had tried to help them! And they ran after her now to speak to her—to shake hands! Her color rose, and the tears came into her eyes. “I will keep on my own way. I like it better than bronzes or candy,” she whispered to herself. —Youth’s Companion. Youthful Replies. One of our school commissioners inspected a down-town public school the other day and examined several girls. Commissioner—Now, I will ask you to tell me the parts of speech of some words you have just read. What part of speech is “Mary Ann?” Little Girl—Noun, sir. . Commissioner—What kind of noun? Little Girl —Common noun. Commissioner—Pray, why do you call “Mary Ann” a common noun? Little 'Girl —Because there are so many Mary Anns, sir. The commissioner smiled and observed to the teacher that the answer ought to pass. On another occasion the commissioner inquired: “You say that all the rivers flow into the sea. Why, then, does not the sea become too full and overflow with all the waters from all the rivers?” The youth addressed eagerly replied: “Because the Ashes drink the water, sir. ” —Comic. Her Idea of It. She was a sturdy little woman of 8 years or thereabouts, comfortably but poorly dressed and carrying a big market basket on her little arm. Her face was pressed close to a window pane, inside of which were Christmas dolls in their holiday finery. A lady who was noticing the little one inquired: “Would you like to have one of those dolls to play with?” “No’m,” answered the child, after a moment’s consideration. “Why not?” “Shouldn’t have time to play with it.” “What can a little girl like y*u have to do?” “I takes care of baby and does the marketin’ for the family.” “Then you wouldn’t care for a doll?” “No’m. It can’t qurril an’ make up like a real baby. 1 like to look at ’em in there best.” The unconscious hit of wisdom in the child’s answer had been voiced by a greater philosopher who, when he looked into the shop windows, accustomed himself to say: “How many things there are that I do not want!”