Show home education the childs first school is the family froebel A CHANCE TO HELP by lucia mallory hilda brennan was sitting on her front porch when I 1 was walking by one evening Q wont ont you come up lucia called hospitably its been a long time since ive had a good visit with you As I 1 accepted the invitation and sat down beside my friend I 1 noticed that her right hand was awkwardly swathed in a gauze bondage bandage why hilda what happened to your hand I 1 inquired you must have hurt it badly oh no hilda replied lowering her voice as she turned to look into the house the fact is I 1 burned it just blittle a little when I 1 was starting to wash the dinner dishes I 1 could easily have gone on with I 1 my work but jane was so solicitous and wanted so much to help that I 1 let her wrap up my IQ and finish the dishes all by herself they wont be very thoroughly done but I 1 can look them over when I 1 use them just then six year old jane came out of the house smiling with the satisfaction of ahie achievement 1 I washed all the dishes for you mother she declared it and put them away too julia and beth want me to come out in the yard to play with them now call me if your hand hurts or you want anything wont youia you yes dear hilda answered smiling at her daughter my y hand is very comfortable and im having a nice visit with miss mallory it will be time f for or you to go to bed in half an hour all right mother ill come in when you call me jane skipp skipped edl away to join her play playmates maten how wise you are hilda to let jane feel that you need her help 1 I always as w w se ES cs that lucia the little girls mother confessed 1 I used to send jane out to play when she wanted to help me it seemed too much bother to teach her bungling little fingers how bow to do the things that I 1 could do so easily and quickly myself then before long I 1 noticed that my daughter contented to stay at home she kept asking to go over to a neighbors house to play a house that was not nearly so sunny and attractive and well kept as mine there were no children there so it puzzled me one day I 1 went over there and found jane standing on a kitchen chair rolling out a bit of cooky dough with a huge rolling pin A good deal was on her face and hands and the part that was left 1 1 the board looked sticky and y 1 biot 0 t very clean but jane was having a delightful time see my cookies mama she exclaimed mrs storrs says I 1 may take you some when they are done 1 I let her stay to finish her baking but I 1 decided then and there that my daughter should not have to go away from home to have good times like that now she always helps me with my baking and she is careful to see that her hands are spotlessly clean when we begin jane does things surprisingly well too her mother went on proudly A six year old is not ready for any prolonged effort of course but helping mother is a privilege that no little girl should yvor ver be denied I 1 am ashamed that ever thought it too much trouble |