p. 34 | Hints to Mothers

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 18, 1883

Hints to Mothers.

NOTHING is more fascinating to a child than the plain, unvarnished narratives of the Bible, provided these are the first presented to him. I can not vouch for children who, from the earliest dawn of intelligence, are compelled to swallow large draughts of "Mother Goose." But if the story of Samuel, for instance, is read to a child—and do not judge me visionary if I say this may be done before three years, just as it stands recorded in 1 Sam. 3—watch his eyes, as he is evidently picturing to himself the child Samuel, his "little coat,"—the reading should begin with verses 18 and 19 of the previous chapter,—the good priest with his dim eyes, the little Samuel laying himself down to sleep, but rising with alacrity, running, when he hears himself called—you may be sure he sees all these far more plainly than we whose minds are lumbered with so many other things. A little quiet talk afterwards about the story, adding no embellishments, but often referring to the open book and repeating from it the identical words here and there, will fasten the nail in a sure place. The very quaintness of the Scripture phraseology catches and holds the attention of a child. I have known a child of but three years to become so familiar with the last chapter of the Gospel by John, through the frequent hearing of it, as to notice the omission of a single word inadvertently left out; and he was by no means a precocious child. He would call for it over and over again through the day, and never tire of it.

A little preparation is needed on the part of the mother in selecting passages, and connecting them if continuous. For instance, take the last chapter of Luke, commencing with the thirteenth verse, and read without any omissions till you come to the last two verses; omit them, but substitute in their place Acts 1 : 9, last clause, reading on through verse twelve. No attempt at simplification

will make the story more captivating. If you have never tried it, you will be astonished at the interest manifested after a few readings. Persevere, and you will soon find that the Bible is the Book of books to your child, and its words "sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb." And what better can you desire for him? Searching "the Scriptures" for this purpose, you will find more sweet morsels for your little ones than you at first imagine. In your daily reading note such passages, that you may never be at a loss. Note the story of Peter, in Acts 12 : 1-19; Moses, in Exod. 2 : 2-10; David, in 1 Sam. 17; the "holy child Jesus," Luke 2 : 40-52, etc.—The Watchman.