Report.—­Dorothy and Sylvia swept, Cecil mended the wall of the house, Josie took the children down to the beach (the sand tray), and I dusted.  We looked into the larder and found that yesterday’s greens were going bad, so decided not to buy more.  Then we took the babies for a walk.  We noticed how many nasturtiums were out, how the blackberry bushes were in flower and in bud, and the runner-bean was in flower, and the red flowers looked so pretty in the green leaves.  We looked at the hollyhocks, because I have told the children that they will grow taller than I am, and they are always wondering how soon this will be.  The children found some cherries which had fallen, and Dorothy said how pretty they were on the tree.  I called attention to one branch that was laden with fruit, and looked particularly pretty with the sun shining on it.  We also looked at the pear tree and the almond.  Everything has come on so fast, and the children were ready to say it was because of the rain.

After rest, we went to the Hall to see the chickens.  To-day they were much bigger, and Sylvia said had “bigger wings.”  We were able to watch them drinking, how they hold up their heads to let the water run down.  The rest of the morning we made curtains, and the children loved it.  There was much discussion and at first the children suggested making them all different, but they agreed that curtains at windows were usually alike.  Mr. and Mrs. Harry nearly quarrelled, as one wanted green and the other pink.  I suggested trimming the green with a strip of pink, and they were quite pleased.  Mrs. Loo and Nurse chose green which was to be sewn with red silk.  Sylvia said, “A pattern,” and I said, “You saw something red and green to-day,” and she called out, “Oh! cherries.”  She cut out a round of paper and tried to sew round it, holding it in place with her other hand.  I suggested putting in a stitch to hold the paper.  Cecil was absorbed in sewing, and it seemed quieting for such an excitable boy and good for his weak hands.  One child said, “Fancy a boy sewing,” so I told how soldiers and sailors sewed.  They sewed just as they liked.

These notes are continued in Chapter IX., where they are used to show children’s attitude towards Nature.  Though separated here for a special purpose it is clear that there neither is nor ought to be any real separation in the lives of the children.  Their lives are wholes and they continually pass from one “subject” to another, because life and its circumstances are making new demands.  If it rains and you cannot gather the lettuces you have grown from seed, you take refuge in happy pretence; if it clears and the sun calls you out of doors, you take your doll-babies for their walk.

CHAPTER VII

JOY IN MAKING

     I, too, will something make, and joy in the making.

          ROBERT BRIDGES.

     Built by that only Law, that Use be suggester of Beauty.