The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1918-02-06

1SWi&e/s
MRS. TRENT AND CHAD


II Just don't know what to do
with Mother. Margie. She is such
a problem" said Mollie as we
walked down the street trying to
get our nerves Gained and some
angle of action planned out.
Mother still looks on me as a
child and insists that her judg-
ment is best for me when you and
/, and everyone else for that mat
ter, know that her judgment b
usually the worst possible solution
of a problem" continued Mollie.
"Why will people insist on be-
lieving that age always brings
wisdom?" I asked.
"Some few people have found
out that 1t does not" said Mollie.
do you know, Margie." she con-
tinued, that l have come to the
conclusion that age in itself means
nothing-it certainly does not
mean wisdom, for wisdom is apt
to come to the young or the ma
ture as white hair comes to them
SO often, and you and know
many old people whose hair is still
black or brown
1--WE cannot say either that life
means experience because l am
sure, Mollie, that you and I have
compressed more experience into a
year of our lives than Mother has
had in all her life. Age-by this
mean birthday anniversaries
does not always mean that mate
rial thing, the hardening of the
arteries, neither does it mean a
mind trained or sympathetic
soul. In fact, I think that no
man or woman need be proud or
sorry at being old in years, for
whatever you are, you have made
yourself.
Even such physical things as
hardening of the arteries are
| brought on by the life one. leads.
A woman grows more selfish as
she grows older, little faults crys-
tallize, the path of thought grows
narrow unless one is very careful"
| Yes" said Mollie, interrupting
her own generalities, and coming
back to her own individual COM
bat with the selfishness and ab-
solute egotism that has always
been her mothers, 81 am COM
| pletely at a loss to know what
to do under these circumstances.
You know the condition of Chad's
mind and l am worried about
what might be the result of
sudden shock. | think l see a
little improvement in him. Yes
terday he asked me about my
plans for the school for little
blind children and became very
much interested in what | told
him. For a time all went we'll,
but all at once he seemed 10
realize what had prompted me to
build it, and he became listless
again"
II believe, Mollie," I said, that
IL Chad could be coaxed to see
anyone, or even il Pat or Pats
mother, whom he loves so much,
should suddenly break in on him
1t might do him a world of good"
Perhaps, but l am afraid to
risk 1t. You have never seen
Chad in one of his wild RACES,
Margie."
l looked up in surprise.
"Oh, no." said Mollie quick
ly, as il in answer to my look of
surprise. Chad has never been
enraged at me, and | have al
ways been able to curb his tenn
lpers, but they always brighten me
! dreadfully and, Margie, l think
would die If he ever got angry
at me-"
Then, as IL she were becoming
terror-stricken for fear some
thing might happen while we were
/. gone, Mollie insisted upon turn
ing back and she kept me almost
at run until we arrived at the
house. When we got in we found
} that things had been happening
with vengeance.
Mollie's mother had come
downstairs and found Mollie out,
and hearing Chad playing in the
music room had calmly walked
} in on him. She gave us her. YER
; sion of what happened.
Poor Mollie, | thought every
; minute she would faint. She has
been under such a severe strain
for so long and has worried about
; Chad SO much that there just Ia
no spirit left to stiffen her cour.
age for any new trials.
} Ito Be Continued.)