p. 15 | MRS. VINA SHERWOOD-ADAMS by Mrs. Vina Sherwood-Adams

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jan 28, 1915

MRS. VINA SHERWOOD-ADAMS

By Mrs. Vina Sherwood-Adams

Our Little Table, and How It Solves Some Home Problems—No. 4

MRS. VINA SHERWOOD-ADAMS

I HAVE planned to give our mothers some more work to do for their children; not because I feel they have too many idle moments on hand, but because all that we can do for our children is so little in the fleeting years of childhood. Yet how deep is the influence of what seems to us only a jot here and a tittle there, when all is summed up in the man, the woman!

I wonder how many mothers had the happy privilege of making mud pies when they were children. I remember the mud marbles, birds' nests, etc., I used to form out of clayey mud, and how mother would sometimes let me bake them in her real oven. But I think she would have hailed with joy “modeline,” the perfect substitute for mud, without the accompanying soiled clothes.

It is of some of the educative uses of modeline that I wish to write. It is a pliable substance, nonpoisonous, antiseptic, so that no germs can exist in it. It may be used several years. Should it become dry, work a little vaseline into it, and it will be ready for use again. It may be obtained from the Novitas Sales Company, Waltham, Mass. Write them for catalogue.

Once again, mothers, come with me and surround our little table with the children. You may take position by folding your hands, while I tell you a story about the dearest little baby boy. He lived in a little cabin by the river-side, with his father, mother, brother, and little sister Miriam. It was a secret known only to the family that a boy baby was in their home. The brother Aaron and sister Miriam were very wise and trusty children; for they never once told any of the neighbor children the secret in their home. How should we feel if we had a little boy baby in our home? Yes, we should want every one to know the happy news. But suppose some one had told us that all the boy babies were to be thrown into the near-by river, how should we feel then? Such word had been brought to this little cabin home by the river. A cruel king, who did not love God but worshiped the great round sun, praying to it each day, had sent out word that all boy babies belonging to families loving the true God should be taken away from them. Now, can you tell me why Miriam and Aaron guarded their secret?

Three long months they had hid the baby, never daring to take him out in the warm sunshine; yet the baby grew, and was now so large they feared they could hide him no longer. The family were very sad. As the mother looked in the dark eyes of her baby, she felt impressed that God would somehow care for her child. It seemed to her that God might need her boy to do a great work for him some day. Who do you think caused her to have these comforting thoughts? As she thought and prayed about her baby, she decided to put him wholly under the Lord's care. So she began weaving a little basket. Then she plastered some pitchy mud all over the outside until every little opening was covered. Inside, she put a soft lining. When all was finished, she tenderly clasped her baby in her arms a moment, then laid him in the basket.

Can you think with what interest the little sister Miriam watched her mother? The mother and little sister walked down to the river's brink, and, parting the tall, grass-like reeds that grew in the water, the mother placed the tiny basket boat right down in the water. Can you tell me why the mother covered the basket so carefully with pitch? The mother told Miriam to stay near by and watch what would happen to the baby. She was not to go to the baby; for the mother wanted him left out there under God's care. The mother then returned to the house. Miriam watched for some time. Though she grew tired crouching there among the reeds, she did not complain nor run away to her play. At last faithful Miriam saw some one coming down to the river. It was the daughter of the cruel king, with her two maids. Will this woman see the basket? If she does, will she tell her father, the cruel king? Such thoughts may have been in Miriam's mind; and tomorrow we shall learn what really happened to the baby boy.

You have been very quiet children, and now you may stand a few moments, while I pass you some materials. (A thin molding board, eight by ten inches; two liberal lumps of modeline, and a molding tool are passed to each.) A mirror is then placed in the center of the table. You may now be seated and take position.

From the modeline we mold the little thatched cabin where the babe lived. Then the reeds, which almost hid the cottage from the river, are made. Next we model the mother, Miriam, Aaron, and the babe. The father is away making brick. Now the little basket is formed, ready to be carried by the mother and Miriam, who will place it among the reeds, and the sister will hide near by to watch. The one having the best basket is allowed to place it on the mirror, which is our river, and each child contributes enough of her best-modeled reeds to form the marshy appearance of the river. The reflections in the glass make it all seem very real to the children.

“It is all very well for one who is an artist to teach children how to mold from modeline,” you say; but just let me whisper to you that it really does not require an artist to teach children how to model. They will be their own artists. Do you remember how with a few hints from mother you let your imagination run far ahead of her suggestions in making mud pies, cakes, etc.? Just so will the imagination of children outdistance the best hints even an adult artist can give, while molding with modeline. There are a few general rules to follow that must be left until another time. Send for some modeline, and be ready to carry them out.