The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-04-22
1.-THE
CHILDREN'S HOUR
JUST HOME FOLKS.

Il don't see why l have to say
please and thank you just at home
and Carol Gray flung himself into a
chair, frown on his usually placid
forehead and an angry look in his
brown eyes. ...
He was cross, very cross, indeed, be-
cause big sister Louise refused to give
him some of the fresh, delicious cook
les she had just taken from the oven,
when he came in from school as hun
cry as a bear.
''He wouldn't say please, and he
didn't thank me for the big slice of
bread and jam / gave him awhile
ago." Louise explained to her mother
who was busy mending big tear in
Carols, coat.
Il don't see why a fellow has to
say please and thank YOU when he
is at home,' again came the boys de-
Tense
Mamma looked up from her sewing
gravely. when would you say
please and thank you,' dear? Sure
ly you say them sometimes, don't
you?"
"Why, of course, l say them when
I go to Billy's house or to Joe's, you
know" ~.
"But why do you say those words,
then, Carroll"
ooh, II guess just because the
rest do. And guess l know how to
say them, even if I don't want to
bother every time
Listen, DEAR and mamma smiled
up into the face of her ten-year old
boy. who do you think are your best
friends, the people away from home,
or your own folks? Who loves you
the most?"
Carol looked down at this question
"Why, II guess home folks"
"Then, if home folks are your best
friends, if they love you better than
can other friends, no matter how kind
they are. don't you think they deserve
the best treatment"
The boy did not answer for a mo-
ment, then he said, Il 'spose they do
but"
'Wait, dear. When you say please,
and thank you to Joe's mother and to
Billy's, is it because you think their
mothers are better than your mother
or their sisters better than your sis.
ter?"
not-not for one minute. And if any
fellow says So he doubled up his
fists and his eyes flashed.
Mamma smiled. Then, why not
treat them to your very best manner
son? You want to be gentleman al.
ways, don't you? Who is the very
incest gentleman you know, dear?"
Carol answered without hesitation,
"Why, papa, of course"
Then, why not try to be like papa?
He never forgets to say those little
words you think SO unnecessary--then
why should you? If he asks you to
pass the bread, he always says please
and then thank YOU doesn't he?"
"But he always remembers, mamma
I don't believe he ever forgets, as l
do" said Carol with a sigh that seem
ed to come from the toes of his stubby
brown shoes.
do you know why he never forgets,
laddie? Well, first, because he knows
that his very best manners ought to
be for those he loves best, and, Sec
ondly, because he has always used
these words. You see, Grandmother
Day always insisted on them, so he
has been used to them since child
hood. If he had not been trained so
carefully, he might sometimes for.
get
Carol started up smiling. 'Just
as did at Billy's house the other day.
/ said, Give me some meat and you
should have seen how they all looked
at me. And then l told them / know
how to say please all right. for /
thought maybe they would think ]
didn't have much of a mother. and |
wanted them to know you are just as
good as Billyss mother any day"
Eyes, dear, mothers and fathers are
often blamed because their children
forget or refuse to do the best they
know Do you see now that if you are
always to remember the little ways
that make life more pleasant. you
must practice them at homer
Carol started up, mischievous
smile on his face as he started for the
kitchen, and soon his mother heard
him say, isis, please give me my
cookies. Thank you," and then she
heard her small son pass on to his
play, feeling sure that he would never
fOrpat a pain