“It is a comfort to have such intelligent women to take charge of them while we are busy attending to the affairs of the society. Not only ours but every child has everything to make them happy and contented, and all are bright and healthy. Such a contrast to the homes shared with grownup people! Those who have charge of them giving their whole attention to them and no scolding or faultfinding! Just a continual guiding and patience while the young minds are expanding. The merry laughter and fun always acts as a tonic after I have been there. Everything is done in such an intelligent manner. The way those women study the dispositions of each child and bring out only the best in each is wonderful.”
The next day the little ones who had been rebellious were so much better that they were allowed to have their table where they could see the others. One remarked: “I wish we could have flowers.” Another asked: “Can’t we have a linen tablecloth instead of the oil cloth?” The nurse said, “Yes, when you stop spilling your milk and food on this.” “And the nice dishes with flowers on them?” another said. “Yes, but you must learn to use your knives and forks correctly first, and then you may sit at the long table.”
“In this way they were taught to look upon each improvement as a promotion and tried all the harder to be neat so they could be with the rest, so you see punishment was not necessary, for one child taught another unconsciously.
“The flowers in the garden were enclosed so the small children could see but not reach them, and this was done to teach them to love nature; but the wire fence shows that restrictions are a part of their education, and as soon as they can be trusted or are old enough to understand they may go among them. They are not for show alone or beauty. The older ones work among them and consider it a privilege to weed or rearrange them.”
“Yes, I see,” said Mrs. Vivian, “and I think the idea of making them useful is a splendid one.”
“Oh, we do,” continued Tom. “The older children always help to gather the fruit and a strict account is kept of their labor and we place it on their shares. During the fruit season our school hours are short, for we consider industrious habits of just as much value to them as book learning. The kindergarten is kept up the same for the small ones. The work keeps the children out of mischief and makes them self-reliant, and as their future is provided for there is no need to hurry them. During the heat of the day they rest or amuse themselves. Our strawberries pay well and the children do most of the gathering. The boys also climb the fruit trees while the girls pick the lower branches for all other kinds of fruit. Their playing, sleeping and resting is all looked after. They are only allowed to work about two hours a day and we look upon it as the exercise that is necessary to develop muscle and strengthen the body, and the brain being occupied at the same time, while they are breathing good, pure air, will make them stronger men and women.
“The most of our great men have lived at some time of their lives in the country, or were so surrounded by nature that they have been able to breathe the pure air in their earliest childhood. Certainly their clear brains have proved the virtue of it. It is wonderful what children can do on the farm when protected by the laws of the society from overwork, and it will be a benefit to them all their lives, for without healthy bodies you cannot have expert brains or well rounded lives.
“The surroundings of large cities are responsible in a great degree for the crimes committed there. Money is such a necessity, there being no other exchange for labor, it has got to come some way. Then the poor, stunted brains with only enough animal cunning to realize their present necessities, steal. Are they responsible for their action, especially when their labor is at a discount or no work to be had at all? All their muscles are stiff and in need of exercise that some regular employment would give them.
“We are not rearing children to amass fortunes for the idle.
“The society was growing rapidly, branches had sprung up near every city with their full equipments of industries, all being separate at first. Each one as they had proved their ability to manage their own affairs were applying to the original society to unite, and we are ready to do so,” Tom explained to his wife and mother.