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Show r 1 KATHLEEN NORMS Care of the Aged Bell Syndicate. WNU Fenturea. By KATHLEEN NORMS FRANCES CARSON of Se-attle Se-attle writes me a variation of an age-old problem. This is a part of her letter. "Seven years ago, when my husband's mother died, we moved into the old family home with his father, saving ourselves a high rent and giving giv-ing our three children welcome wel-come space and a garden to play in. Frank's father was then 60. He never had been a good husband or a good father. fa-ther. Everything about the house was run down and there were many bills over' $2,000 in all. Old Mr. Carson Car-son had had a slight stroke. When he had done anything at all, he had been a chemist and used the entire third floor of four rooms and bath as his laboratory. "For more than five years I took care of the house, my father-in-law, three boys and finally a baby girl. Frank and I cleared up bills by plenty of sacrifice and hard work. "All this time, Gramp, as the children call him, was an irritable and trying burden. His breakfast had to be carried upstairs to him and he wanted his dinner at four, believing in eating only two meals a day. He was very ugly with the children and they avoided his company. com-pany. That laboratory upstairs was a constant menace. Has Second Stroke. "A year ago Gramp had a second slight stroke. Giving him the impression im-pression that it was merely for observation, ob-servation, we got him into a home. We have left him there. Twice he has taken taxis and come home and twice Frank and Billy, one of the "... after all. be is old ..." other brothers, have taken him back. It has made us sick with compunction and worry, but we have been firm. "Meanwhile," Frances' letter goes on, "I have put the top floor in spick-and-span order and rented it furnished for a sum that wonderfully wonder-fully helps out our crowded budget. If Gramp came back, there would be no other place to put him, I'd lose my rent and have to let him once more reduce the top floor to confusion and disorder. "But meanwhile, also, our friends have taken it upon themselves to plead Gramp's case. After all, he is partially disabled. After all, he is old. Can't we. they argue, put up with a little extra work and inconvenience in-convenience for the sake of an old man who was once rich and prominent? promi-nent? Even our minister has spoken spok-en gently and gravely to both Frank and me. "These good friends, of course, can't see the daily weariness and strain of it," Frances concludes her letter. "Mine are fine boys, but constant criticism and nagging upset up-set their nerves, as they do mine. Sons' Had to Work. "Incidentally, not one of the sons finished high school, for they all had to' work in their middle teens. Their father often was absent from home for long periods. They feel no resentment, they want him to be comfortable. But they don't want him around. Does this sound utterly utter-ly wrong and heartless?" Your father-in-law is reaping what he has sowed. He is physically physical-ly cared for, well fed and comfortable. comfort-able. Your own household goes on more smoothly and happily without that additional burden. With four children, a garden, tenants, meals and housework, you have plenty to do. Rise above the maddening ' interference in-terference of your friends, to whom Gramp evidently is making an appeal. ap-peal. If you can get your doctor to say that Gramp is far better off where he Is. keeping to meal hours and controlled by the routine of an institution, by all means do so it will give you a usable weapon. But whether you get that or not. assume a firm attitude, saying to everyone with mild sympathetic amusement that poor Gramp would not be happy anyway and is really an institution case now. Let it go at that. |