Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-05-09

scattered over the 6anQS OF pldy1A6
in the water were score Of children
In bathing suits, happy looking, sun
burned healthy looking boys and girls.
Farther up the beach in the shade OF
several wind-blown cedars, a dozen
women were engaged in spreading a
picnic meal. They, too, were CARRIED
most informally in bathing dresses OF
every description and they were gay
and laughing and thinking of every
thing else except Mrs. Hibberd Hec-
tor when she walked into their midst,
charmingly gowned, smiling tolerant
ly, yet with an air Of offended dignity
pervading her whole bearing. Never
before had this high official of the
State Union Of Mothers clubs been
so received when she honored an or
ganization with her presence.
Mrs. Armstrong;" she asked sweet
ly.
From the group Of startled women
there came tall, well-proportioned
young woman, with a calm self-pos-
sessed manner and steady gray eyes
that searched Mrs Hibberd Hector's
handsome countenance with puzzled
inquiry in their depths. She wore her
bathing dress with unconscious grace
and she held out slender. sun-tanned
hand to the visitor.
How do you do?" she asked courte-
ously.
II am Mrs. Hibberd Hector" ex-
planned that lady. Il rather expected
10
know, dear Mrs. Armstrong. More for
NAL, you know!"
"Of course you would have received
1t, Mrs. Hector" said Mrs. Armstrong
quietly, if we had expected you to-
day. l assure you we have made ey-
cry preparation for tomorrow"
Tomorrow" repeated Mrs. Hib-
berd Hector, feeling for her notebook
and adjusting her lorgnette. Pm sure
the date was for today-the twenty
eighth-dear me, can't tell whether
this is an eight or nine-so provok-
ing!" She peered nearsightedly at
her own hieroglyphics.
your date was for the twenty-ninth
Il am SO sorry you have been incon-
venienced. Mrs. Hector; but 1t is not
too late for us to arrange the meeting
for this afternoon. There are some
details of the entertainment that will
be lacking but our welcome will be
just as cordial and We shall enjoy
your talk. Let me present the mem
bers of the Mothers club"
Mrs. Hibberd Hector graciously
shook hands with the members Of the
Mothers club and remembered the
names, too. They were hearty,
healthy, handsome looking lot of
women, too. she admitted to herself
and they looked as If they had al
ready solved some of the problems
over which she still knitted her
brows. When it was suggested that
they all return to bennington and
hold the meeting as planned, and as
Hibberd Hector vetoed the idea and
offered to talk to them there on the
beach after the luncheon was served
| 1t was an unusual occasion for
Mrs. Hibberd Hector and she gradu-
ally unbent to meet these simple
hearted, we'll hammered women on
their own ground. She was persuad-
ed to don an extra bathing dress that
had been brought along and she, too,
sported in the rising tide and became
intimately acquainted with more chill
dren in an hour than she had ever
done in her life before Mrs. Hibberd
Hector submitted to being ducked I'M
der the water; Mrs. Hector played
duck-on-a-rock and learned to skip
fat stones on the water.
All this happened after the tooth
some picnic meal where there were
clans and green corn roasted then
and there and all sorts Of good things
prepared by these women who knew
how to be mothers in so many differ
ent ways that Mrs. Hibberd Hector's
theories were all knocked askew
After the meal had been disposed of
and all of them, mothers and chill
dren and honored guest, had dis
ported in the water, they emerged
dripping company and seated them
selves on the beach.
"Now, Mrs. Hector" said the pres,.
dent, with an arm around each of her
two children, If you will pardon the
extreme informality Of the meeting,
we would be honored to have you ad-
dress u.s."
There was a gentle hand clapping
and they all looked at the honored
guest. who had quite forgotten to re-
move her bathing cap. From under
Its rim there peered small brown
curl, escaped from it's confinement.
Mrs. Hibberd Hector looked around
at the audience assembled to hear
her. at their quiet, well-behaved chill
dren, all watching her expectantly,
gravely, and suddenly her subject,
How to Hold Your Child's Love-" ap-
peared unavailing before these women
who had already discovered the secret.
All at once little two-year-old girl
who had been watching the honored
guest with silent admiration toddled