Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-16
DUTY TO OLD FOLKS
DIFFERENCE FROM THE Chill
DREN is THEIR DUE.
those Who Have for Lifetime Been
Eager Workers Do Not Want to
Set With Their Hands
Folded

There should not be any unhappy
I'D people. Age should bring its com
pensauons of serenity and philosophy.
As matter of fact, however, the av-
srage old man or woman is far from
content.
The problem which confronts sons
Ind daughters in caring for their par
ints Is grave one Old age is SEN
IltlVe, and the feeling of uselessness
Ills many an active soul with rest
essness and discomfort.
perhaps the greatest mistake that
made by young people is that, in
helr eagerness to relieve father and
nother or grandfather or grandmoth-
sr of burdens, they take away every
ming that makes life interesting.
Tnose who have, for lifetime, been
Eager workers do not want to sit with
heir hands folded, and so it often hap,
pens that father butts into" his sons
business affairs, and mother med
Hes" with her daughters housekeep-
ng. Then comes friction, and the son
'r the daughter having shown plainly
nat they desire no interference, can.
lot understand that their rebuffs have
scared the souls Of the anxious, &C
i've old people,
IS always well, If possible. TO
provide something for the aged to do.
Il they can be made to feel that they
Ire helping, their satisfaction will be
N1nT6nn fofhnr no.
inancier, it surely cannot hurt his
son to talk over the affairs of the
store or Office. If mother has been a
practical housekeeper, her daughter
'eed not be too SIMPLY" to take ad-
rice.
One dear lady's daughter insisted
hat she should sit with folded hands.
linen when the old face took on IN
happy, haggard lines, and the frail lit
lie body dropped, the anxious daugh-
:er asked the doctor, Whats the mat
.er with herr"
He was bluff old person and he
Numbered, Give her something to do;
she's pining for action"
But the maids don't like to have
anyone around the kitchen" the
laughter said.
Then let her go there when the
maids are out, the doctor suggested.
So on Thursday afternoons the dear
little lady cooked the dinners. The
whole family learned to look forward
10 them. And the satisfaction that
mother got out of that one day in the
week lasted her through the other six.
She made chicken pies, and she
baked beans, she concocted sauces
and soups and gravies after old-fash.
Ioned recipes, and when they were
served she beamed across the table,
as If to say; Should l be put on the
shelf when l can cook like thts?"
The duty Of children toward their
grandparents often forms great
problem, but 1 believe that if there
is any question of preference it is tho
grandparents who should have firsl
consideration. No child can be hurt
by being made to have an attitude OF
Difference toward the aged. Often,
old people are eccentric, the children
5ympathies will be at once aroused /
we tell them grandfather has borne
80 many weary burdens" or grand.
mother has had sorrows" On the 9TH
er hand, to say, Never mind, grand
father is peculiar" or grandmother
Is fussy," will foster contempt,
which will be evidenced by the childs
manner.
To those of US who grow impatient
with the faults of old age there will
come a day of reckoning. Some day
all OF US will be old. Do we wish our
children to treat US as we are treating
our parents? Would we be happy un
der the circumstances with which we
have surrounded our aged father and
mother?