The Holbrook news., 1911-05-05
DUTY TO OLD FOLKS
DIFFERENCE FROM THE cHIL.
 DREN IS THEIR DUE.
Those Who Have for Lifetime Been Eager Workers Do Not Want to Set With Their Handa
 Folded.

There should not be any unhappy old people. Age should bring its com pensations of serenity and philosophy. As a matter of fact, however, the av- craze old man or woman is far from content
 The problem which confronts sons and daughters in caring for their par ents is grave one Old age is sen sitive, and the feeling of uselessness fills many an active soul with rest lessness snd discontent.
 Perhaps the greatest mistake that Is made by young people iR that, in their eagerness to relieve father and mother or grandfather or grandmotn- CT of burdens. they take away every thing that makes life interesting Those who have, for a lifetime, been eager workers do not want to sit with their hands folded, and 50 1t often hap pens that father butts into" his sons business affairs, and mother med dles" with her daughters housekeep- ing. Then comes friction, and the son or the daughter having shown plainly that they desire no interference, can not understand that their rebuffs have scared the souls of the anxious, ac- tive old people.
 It is always well, If possible, to provide something for the aged to do- If they can be made to feel that they are helping, their satisfaction wifi be supreme. If father has been a wise hnancier. it surely cannot hurt his son to talk over the affairs os the store or office. If mother has been a practical housekeeper. her daughter need not be too ''snippy" tn take ad- vice.
 One dear lady's daughter insisted thst she should sit with folded hands Then when the old face took on un- happy, haggard lines, and the frail lit- tie body dropped. the anxious daugh- ter asked the doctor. Whats the mat ter with herr"
 He was bluff old person and he thundered. Give her something to do: she's pining fo- action
 But the maids don't like to have anyone around the kitchen" the daughter 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 to them. And the satisfaction that mother got out or that one day in the week lasted her through the other six
 She made chicken pies, and she baked beans. sbe concocted sauces and soups and gravies after old-fash- toned recipes. and when they were served she beamed across the table. as # to say: Should I be put on the shelf when can cook like this?"
 The duty of children toward their grandparents often forms great problem, but believe that if there is any question of preference 1t is the grandparents who should have first consideration. No child can be hurt by being made to have an attitude of deference toward the aged. Often, if old people are eccentric, the children'a sympsthies will be at once aroused if we tell them grandfather has borne so many weary burdens" or grand mother has had sorrows" On the oth- CT hand. to say. Never mind, grand father is peculiar" or grandmother is fussy," will foster a contempt, which will be evidenced by the child'E manner.
 To those of us who grow impatient with the faults of old age there will come 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 ba baDnv m der the circumstances with which we have surrounded our aged father and mother?