more of the child, and to require that he produce not
only something original, but something which shall, though simple, be
really beautiful.

Inventions in borders are a new and charming feature of this gift, and
the circular and oblong tablets as well as the squares and various
triangles are well adapted to produce them. The various borders laid
horizontally across the tablets may be divided by lines of sticks, and
thus make an effect altogether different from anything we have had
before.

Mathematical Forms.

The work with forms of knowledge, as has been fully shown, will be in
geometry than in arithmetic, to which indeed the gift is not
especially well adapted. In addition to the study and comparison of
the various forms, their lines and angles, we have a great variety of
figures to be produced by combination. We can make the nine regular
forms already mentioned in the introduction in a variety of ways, and
thus give new charm to the old truths. We must allow the child to
experiment by himself very frequently, and interpret to him his
discoveries when he makes them.

The Seventh Gift in Weaving.

The square tablets afford a valuable aid to the occupation of weaving,
as all the simple patterns can be formed with them, the child laying
them upon his table until he has mastered the numerical principle upon
which they are constructed. We can easily see how these same patterns
may be further utilized as designs for inlaid tiles, or parquetry
floors. Thus the seventh gift may introduce children to subsequent
practical life, and serve as a useful preparation for various branches
of art-work.

Seventh Gift Parquetry.

It is easy to see when we begin the practical use of the tablets that
the essential characteristics of the gifts in their progress from
solid to point are now becoming less marked, and that they begin to
merge into the occupations, which develop from point to solid. The
meeting-place of the two series is close at hand, and, like drops of
water fallen near each other, they tremble with impatience to rush
into one.

The inventions which the child makes with tablets he now very commonly
expresses a desire to give away, or to take home with him,--a thought
which he seldom had with the gifts, wishing rather to show them in
their place upon the tables. As this is a natural and legitimate
desire, a supplement to the seventh gift has been devised, consisting
of paper substitutes for the various forms