Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-01-27
His Unful6lled.
Duty

Thomas, what are, you doing?"
asked Mrs. Prinster of her husband.
"Er-did you speak to me, dear?" re-
turned Prinster, suddenly aroused.
"Only half dozen times. What are
you doing?"
II am chasing cat up liberty
POLE" replied Prinster, frivolously.
did you think was trying to read
the evening paper?"
THAT is just what wanted to talk
to you about"
about the evening paper?"
mo, about that yellow cat busi-
ness"
II suppose-oh, well, we'll let the
paper wait. Your voice tells me that
am in bad. and you might as we'll
get it off your mind first as last
What is my particular crime?"
Last night you got up at midnight
and gave little Dorothy drink OF
water"
"Yes, she cried for it half dozen
times and I decided that you were
going to pretend to be asleep until
got up, so L"
II was asleep"
Perhaps you were, but the sigh OF
satisfaction you gave as l started to
climb out of bed sounded mighty real
istic."
well. 1 didn't start to talk about
that"
Forgive me for mentioning It."
Where were WEI"
"You were just giving sigh Of re-
lief and I was just starting through
The, chilly night to the bathroom to
get drink for Dorothy"
ooh, yes. Well, you gave her the
drink and put the glass on the dress
er and came back to bed"
Funny you know all that-you be-
ing fast asleep all the time"
We'll, you did"
Il know it, but I fail to see why
such actions on my part should be
cause for comment, adverse or other
wise. Now, If had given her the
dresser and put the glass on the bed
and gone to sleep in the bathroom, or
II l. had given her the bathroom and
put the dresser to bed and curled up
In front of the crate, or"
when you returned to bed the poor
child was lonesome and nervous in the
dark and she wanted to be sure that
her daddy was awake and keeping her
company, so she thought she would
say something to assure herself that
he had not gone to sleep, SO she said:
'Bessies going to have birthday to-
day"
Il believe remember something OF
the sort"
Il don't remember know Iswas
frightfully sleepy"
you growled: I don't care II she
is going to have pink monkey with
wooden shoes. ! want to 60 to sleep. !"
Ibid I say that?"
Yes; then she was silent for a lit
tie while until the dark began to
make her more nervous, and she
called: Daddy and you said. WHAT
and she said, Are you awake?' and,
you said, No, am fast asleep; don't
you hear me snoring Home, Sweet
Homer"
well, well! I'd make hit in
vaudeville, wouldn't II"
You might, but you are not making
a hit around here with that sort of
humor, and hope you will stop 1t.
When the child wakes up in the night
she is nervous and needs comforting
and the right sort of parents would
not be cross with her, but would talk
to and comfort her and keep her mind
occupied until she went to Sleep" {
"Yes?"
Then this morning" pursued Mrs.
Prinster. "she asked you what you
had in your mouth, and you told her
that you had pair of rubber over
shoes and a box of matches" y
Il did?"
Eyes, you did. Now, what have you
got to say to that?" N
only that am sorry have been
so thoughtless. l deserve your scold-
ing. l promise never to do it again.
Now, let's forget all about 1t and 60
down to the moving-picture show. You
believe that parent should be always
ready to respond to the child?"
II certainly do"
THAT a parent ought to talk to the
child at midnight and never be cross
or short with her, no matter how
sleepy the parent may happen to be-.
Indeed, l do. Now, what are you
grinning about?" !.
Il was just thinking how unfor-
tunate it was for Dorothy that you
were fast asleep while l was perpe-
trating all those unkindnesses last
night Now If you had"
Il will have the children ready in
just a moment. Which picture show
are we going to-"
Ii