Show Faith aith Essential l lIf If Youngsters Trust Parents STAKES MISTAKES WILL HAP HAP- HAPpen HAPpen pen pert and ancl children often re regret re- re regret gret them as much as their parents Confidence comes much easier if i f child chilel is sure he lie will ivill receive fair treatment for f or self admitted self admitted mistakes By y MARION BROWNFIELD BETTY D B ETTY aged 11 11 was in the kitch- kitch kitchen en washing the dinner dishes while her father and some relatives were visiting in the breakfast room adjoining Betty often did the dishes alone She now proceeded methodically to stack them as she had been taught to do Then she prepared the he soapy dishwater and placed a second pan to rinse the dishes in All AU the time however one ear car was straying toward the I pleasant conversation nearby Moth Moth- Mother I er was across the hall putting the thelast thelast last stitches on a dress Betty was to wear on the morrow and the little lit lit- little little tle girl was dawdling in order to enjoy the chat Daddy was having with the company Suddenly Betty breathed a pro pro- prolonged prolonged prolonged longed Oh Oh Daddys Daddy's head appeared in the kitchen doorway Break some Some- something Something thing he inquired The hot water did explained Betty replacing a tea kettle of hot water on the stove The guests in the breakfast room smiled at the explanation e But Bet Bet- Betty Betty Betty ty bravely held up a cracked tum tum- bler Too bad said Daddy Id better go and tell Mother Betty marched gravely out of the kitchen Id give anything if my boy George would own up when some some- something something something thing like that happens remarked Cousin Harriet I 1 scold him and scold him but it doesn't seem to tomake tomake tomake make any impression Hm said her husband it makes him afraid to confess Betty back in the kitchen ap ap- approached approached ap- ap approached the the breakfast room door holding the cracked tumbler She smiled at her father Mother says I must be sure to have the rinsing water cool enough to put my finger in But she says not to worry about this particular glass because it was wasa a cheap one Betty resumed her dishwashing humming softly to her her- self Well its it's a sort of habit I think Her lier father said in an undertone to his his' relatives this up but Bettys Betty's mother never makes it hard for a child to tell her anything She says confidence is the one thing she wants from the children And we find that they themselves are as regretful over a mistake or an acci acci- accident accident accident dent as we are We simply talk it over and sometimes not too often use it as a basis for a future re re- reminder reminder re- re reminder minder to avoid repetition Honesty Is Natural for Ted When we gave Ted his new bi bi- bicycle bicycle bi- bi bicycle cycle I told him to be careful where he parked it not it-not not to leave it long in unfamiliar surroundings He was pretty careful the first month Then he forgot one day and left his wheel wheelin in a vacant lot down near the rail rail- railroad railroad railroad road tracks while he pitched an impromptu ball game And it was stolen inquired Cousin Harriet No when he went for it apparently apparently apparently it was all right Then he dis din discovered discovered covered about half a dozen of the parts were gone I Well said Cousin Harriets Harriet's hus hus- husband husband band I expect he didn't relish tell tell- telling telling telling ing you I INo No said Teds Ted's father with a laugh he He commenced though by saying You were right Dad about my bike Its It expensive complained Cousin Harriet the things these youngsters do I would whip George if he disobeyed me like that Teds Ted's father shook his head out of date Harriet I said to Ted What happened Son He then told me just what had happened and what was missing Well I told him it was his job to earn back those missing parts Ive been thinking it over Dad he said so I asked Mrs Clark down the street if I could mow her lawn and she said she would like to have her car cleaned It'll be every two weeks Dad To have to work for something like that will make a n man of him himl approved Cousin Harriets Harriet's husband We must go Cousin Harriet Harrie t arose Betty hurried from the kitchen and an d soon returned Mother wants you u to see my new dress she said Cousin Harriet looked around the th e kitchen It was unmistakably in or or- order der Your wife must take a lot of o f time time and n trouble trou le training the chil chit I Bettys Betty's father hesitated How much dared he say Well Wen an ounce of prevention prevention- he ven ven- But after all nn children arc are people they people they are seldom intentional miscreants that miscreants that is if you treat them themas as ns if you expected them to be re reo If If If you you well well take it for Cor granted you know National men Association |