First Lessons.—­The mother’s first lesson is usually in regard to taking off his hat or cap.  Teach him to remove this as soon as he enters the house, as soon as he begins to go out of doors alone, and the habit will become life-long.  It is very charming to see a child of either sex rise to open the door for a visitor, or stand while she talks to him.  One often sees boys of seven, nine and eleven years of age occupying the seats in a car while the ladies stand.  No mother should permit this.

Whether a child should say “father” and “mother,” or use the more babyish form of “papa” and “mama” is a matter of parental choice, but the preference in some circles is for the former.  A blunt “yes” or “no” is not thought polite from a child; he should say “yes, father,” “no, mama,” “yes, Mrs. Smith.”  “Ma’am” as a form of address is quite obsolete.

Most parents make the mistake of believing their children as absorbingly interesting to other people as they are to them, and bring them forward so prominently that they become tiresome.  A good rule is for the mother to allow children to greet the visitor and then send them away to their play.  The spectacle of a little child primly seated on a chair and “taking in” the conversation with eyes and ears is not wholly edifying; while to allow a child to hang on a visitor or monopolize the attention makes the youngster a nuisance.

      Manners and social customs 727

Children’s parties.

There is nothing children love better than a party.  It takes so little to make them happy that the exertion is well repaid by their pleasure.  A few games, a light supper, an inexpensive souvenir, and they have had “a perfectly splendid time.”

For children from five to twelve, the best hours for a party are from three to half past five.  This gives time for all to return home by six o’clock.  Few mothers wish to have their children out evenings at that age.  Where the children are old enough they should write their own invitations.  They should receive their guests themselves, the mother standing in the background to see that they do it properly and to second their welcome.  The little host or hostess should early learn the lesson that she must study the pleasure of her guests, not her own, and be taught the courtesies required of her.

Games.—­The first thing is the games, which are suitable to the children’s age.  Little ones play romping games, like “Cat and Mouse,” “London Bridge,” etc.; those a little older enjoy a peanut hunt or a peanut race, or supplying the donkey with a caudal appendage.  Many novel games are possible.  Or the children may be asked to a doll’s party, or an animal party.  To the one they bring their favorite doll; to the other their teddy bears and cotton elephants.