The American Child by Elizabeth Mccracken With Illustrations from photographs by Alice Austin 1913 [Illustration: COMPANIONS AND FRIENDS] to My Father And Mother PREFACE The purpose of this preface is that of every preface--to say "thank you" to the persons who have helped in the making of the book. I would render thanks first of all to the Editors of the "Outlook" for permission to reprint the chapters of the book which appeared as articles in the monthly magazine numbers of their publication. I return thanks also to Miss Rosamond F. Rothery, Miss Sara Cone Bryant, Miss Agnes F. Perkins, and Mr. Ferris Greenslet. Without the help and encouragement of all of these, the book never would have been written. Finally, I wish to say an additional word of thanks to my physician, Dr. John E. Stillwell. Had it not been for his consummate skill and untiring care after an accident, which, four years ago, made me a year-long hospital patient, I should never have lived to write anything. E. McC. CAMBRIDGE, January, 1913 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION I. THE CHILD AT HOME II. THE CHILD AT PLAY III. THE COUNTRY CHILD IV. THE CHILD IN SCHOOL V. THE CHILD IN THE LIBRARY VI. THE CHILD IN CHURCH CONCLUSION ILLUSTRATIONS COMPANIONS AND FRIENDS THREE SMALL GIRLS THE BOY OF THE HOUSE "DID YOU PLAY IT THIS WAY?" THE DEAR DELIGHTS OF PLAYING ALONE "THE CHILDREN--THEY ARE SUCH DEARS" A SMALL COUNTRY BOY ARRAYED IN SPOTLESS WHITE THEY PAINT PICTURES AS A REGULAR PART OF THEIR SCHOOL ROUTINE THEY DO SO MANY THINGS! THEY HAVE SO MANY THINGS! THE STORY HOUR IN THE CHILDREN'S ROOM THE CHILDREN'S EDITION IN THE INFANT CLASS "DO YOU LIKE MY NEW HYMN?" CHILDREN GO TO CHURCH INTRODUCTION One day several years ago, when Mr. Lowes Dickinson's statement that he had found no conversation and--worse still--no conversationalists in America was fresh in our outraged minds, I happened to meet an English woman who had spent approximately the same amount of time in our country as had Mr. Lowes Dickinson. "What has been your experience?" I anxiously asked her. "Is it true that we only 'talk'? Can it really be that we never 'converse'?" "Dear me, no!" she exclaimed with gratifying fervor. "You are the most delightful conversationalists in the world, on your own subject--" "Our own subject?" I echoed.