ch retains the best characteristics of childish pl

lowed, is the best initiation of industry; for

sonates characters, with costume and mimic gesture. He also undertakes to represent whatever thing interests his mind by embodiment of it in outward form. Advantage is taken of this, by Froebel, to initiate exquisi

cube, the sphere, and the cylinder. These two Gifts belong more especially to the nursery series, and were

e first, to give lessons on the harmonies of colors; and the

indergarten with the Third Gift, which is a little wo

terials to be transformed by their personifying and symbolizing fancy are few, for so much do children enjoy the exercise of imagination, that they find it more amusing to have simple forms, which they can "make believe,"-first to be one thing, and then another,-than to have elaborately carved columns, and such like materials, for building. There is nothing in life more charming

ode which he calls "Intimations of Immortal

seer

hose trut

oiling all our

ld among his ne

darling of

work of his own

lies of his mo

n him from his

t some little

of his dream

elf with newly

g or a f

ng or a

hath now

is he frame

ill fit h

f business, lo

will no

be thro

new joy a

actor cons

me to time his

persons down

gs with her in

ssful artist. The child seizes whatever materials are at hand to give objectivity to what is within; and he is only baffled in the effect, because he is not developed enough in understanding, and has not knowledge enough to discover or appreciate means appropr

hought, a row of chairs and footstools, arranged in a line, makes a railroad to his

t the teacher is to suggest means of carrying out whatever plan or idea he has. What is cultivating about the exe

ry. Thus even with the eight blocks, five may be a flock of sheep, one the shepherd, one a wolf who is seen in the

onfusedly laid together, of which she says, "These are rocks, which are very dangerous for ships, but which are scarcely ever seen, because the water dashes over them, especially when there is a storm, or when the night is dark; and that is the reason the light-house is put here. Whenever sailors see a light-house, they know there is danger where it stands; and

explain their constructions. There is no better way for a teacher to learn what is in children, their variety of mental temperament and imagination, than by this playing with blocks. Some will be prosaic and merely imitative; some will show the greatest confusio

back, and putting one in front for the seat; the Kindergartner going round so seriously to see if each block was adjusted exactly, and stood squarely. When, at length, the chairs were done, the children took hold of hands, and recited, simultaneously with the Kindergartner, a verse of poetry; and then sang it. I could not understand the words; but the conversation, while they were making the chairs, had helped the several

, and which the back side; which the upper, and which the under side; and are able to describe a cube by its dimensions; also to know how to divide the whole cube into two, four,

ental form; and the four blocks taken off can

ll them to take another small cube, and place it opposite, in the same way, one-half on one cube, and the other half on the other. Already they will find the figure is symmetrical, or, as they may phras

ck half a block towards the front. This will make again a symmetrical form. Again, they may be told to move the front block half a block farther to the right; and then move the opposite one to the left, and so on,-which will make another figure. Their

t each of the four blocks to make a symmetry. Often, a form of the series given, is anticipated; but, if no suggestion is made by the children, the Kindergartner must choose, and ask if so and so would not be pretty. But in no case must the engraved forms be given as a pattern. Imitat

zes. The generation of forms by crystallization, and by vegetable and animal organization, follows the law of polarity, which is alike the law of the human and the mode of the divi

he larger number of the Fifth and Sixth Gifts, the child comes, by being led perpetually to put down opposites, in order to

o of isosceles triangles-one acute and one obtuse-affording means for an infinity of forms of beauty; so that

s brought out in the combination

color. The children are taught, by the colored balls of the First Gift, to distinguish the primary and secondary colors, and to arrange them harmo

sheets of diagrams, if they may be s

by it. This weaving may be turned to much account for innumerable ornamental articles which the children are delighted to make, in order to have something of their own, to give to their friends, at Christmas, New Year's, and birthdays. Our woodcut gives the

very child should have a piece of this paper, pricked in the crossings of the squares, and be taught to use the needle and colored thread, so

es, preparing sheets for sewing, and then making a series by pricking symmetrical forms;

per. Immediately these lines must be so drawn as to correspond and make forms; and it is perfectly wonderful to the child himself, to find how, by following the rules given, he goes straight on to make the most complicated forms and beautiful designs. When I was in Dresden

must not be forgotten; vi

aking forms with sticks, and in pea-work; which last is done by having sharp-pointed sticks of various lengths, and constructing squares, tri

, which they clumsily represent, so the square of paper can be used to develop ideas of

g begins with nothing but a square piece of paper, which, by following their thought, is made into hundreds of beautiful forms; and thus they learn to respect in themselves the power of thought applied to work, which is nothing less than creative. By cutting off a piece of the folded paper

of the children should be called to the fact of this endless capacity of development of the simplest and most uninteresting form, by the exercis

ly be learned in a Kindergarten training

, and one which is very fascinating to children, who of

tever else may be employed, must be previousl

hands. Wax, prepared with oil, is more expensive, but far cleaner than clay; and it has th

empted. In their formation the child finds great delight. Irregular forms are, however, the easiest. The children are encouraged to imitate birds' nests, baskets, candlesticks, and various fruits: apples, pears, strawberries, also some vegetables, and especially flowers;-whenever it is possible let them have the natural objects before them. Afte

on and invent forms, beautiful vases, pitchers, &c. When they begin to make heads and human figures, a teacher, who understands the principles of drawing, can bring to the

etings which have already taken place, have all been signalized by impressing upon the commissioners of education of some State, the value of Froebel's culture to the interests of art,-fine and mechanical,-followed by its adoptio

w, order, beauty, and love (which are all one in the last analysis), is incalculable; and that it can be done most easily and certainly by beginning with the c