A CHILD'S ENTERTAINMENT OF VISITORS
A child should be held strictly to account for treating little visitors politely and hospitably. A small tea set and simple refreshments are a great help. Occasionally a child should be allowed to invite a guest or two to the family luncheon, and for his guests a special dish and decorations should be provided. Given high standards of conduct and opportunity to judge others, children learn early to The Choice of Little Friends make wise choice of their friends. One day a little friend of the writers' helped a playmate put on her wraps, opened the door for her politely and smiled as she said good-bye. No one knew anything was the matter so perfect was her self-control, until she came to her mother with red cheeks and snapping eyes. "I'm never going to invite Elizabeth Brown to see me again. She threw my things around and broke a teacup, and she never apologized."
"What did you say to her, dear?"
"I didn't say anything. I couldn't because she was my visitor. But I just boiled inside."
She was entirely right. The little visitor was ill-bred, and abused hospitality. A lady shows no irritation, no matter how boorish a visitor may be, but she is careful to cut from her list of acquaintances anyone who is so lacking in breeding as to make her "boil inside."
CHILDREN'S CORRESPONDENCE
As soon as a small person can write at all, he should have note paper and be encouraged to write to relatives, to thank people for gifts and to answer his own invitations in proper form. And, of course, a letter to a child should not be opened before he sees it. A letter is a very personal possession and a beautiful mystery. The child's right in it should be respected and his pleasure in it be unspoiled. If his letters are opened, it will be difficult for him to understand that he should never open or read another person's letter. Do not be afraid that he will be secretive about his correspondence. A child always runs to his mother with a letter if certain of her interest, for he wants to share his pleasure. And he will consult with her anxiously about how letters should be answered.
