The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-10-03
PARENTS AS EDUCATORS
The Desire 10 Please
tBy Minerva Hunter

The telephone gave q sharp ring,
Mrs. Kent liftcf the receiver and
her old schO0lmnto heard this one
sided conversation. Yes, this Is
Mrs. Kent" IAN right, Mrs. Dake. .
"He didw wen have Il replaced
today, Mrs.. Dakc. cannot tell you
how sorry | am that il happened. -
Have you sent him home?"
As II IN answer TO her question
the side door opened and lIilman
went TO his room.
Half an hour later when he had
departed for his fathers office, Mrs
Kent sat down beside her guest II
suppose you have pretty good idea
what has happened she remarked
with a rueful smile.
Il should say that llilman broke
window
Exactly exclaimed his mother.
THAT is the second he has broken
This vacation. We made him pay for
the first out Of his saving and
thought that lesson would be crouch,
but he has done it again. Why do
boys enjoy destroying things? Tell
me. Susan"
Il hardly think Hilman enjoyed
H. heard his explanation and Il
seemed 20 me he disliked every min
ute of the rock throwing because
his first experience told him he was
likely TO break a window
Yes. gathered that from what
he said the mother agreed. but
he went on playing just the same
Sometimes ! lose all patience with
Hlman If you can think of some
explanation chat will give me sym
uathy for him. Susan, please tell
me what it is.
Even If it brings sou up o.
critic.sm?' Susan's eyes twinkled.
yes Mrs. Kent consented ~
may he II ! can criticiso myself !
can understand Hilman better
Il remember that when YOU were
much older than Hilman you wero
destructive in far more serious
way than he"
Howl" gasped Mrs. Kent.
When ! knew YOU at boarding
chool we attended many midnight
feasts together Salmon salad -"
"UhW shuddcred Mrs Kent
AS | was saying, salmon salad
was the chief dish az all these rev
cls. You knew u would make You
sick. but still you never refused TO
eat it"
Pray. wise friend, what has a
mon salad 10 do with broken win
dows?'
Salmon salad injured your diges-
Loo aasFH
house. had rather break a window
than ruin my digestion.
III is more sensible Mrs Kent
agreed, but you see | almost had
TO eat salmon salad The girls never
would have understood if ! hadn't
Why I believe they would have hat.
ed me-"
Il gathered from what Hnmar
said that was the trouble IN his
case"
"What?"
"A desire % please and be I'M
dsrstood.
"Yes?" questioned The mother
When all the other boys threw
rocks at The tin sign on Mrs Dako's
garage Hlman could not endure
being different and usking being
misunderstood. H. wanted % bc
pleasant and friendly and agree
able
you are right" Mrs. Kent nod
ded. "and now that you have dis
covered the cause, can your prescribe
cure2"
"Of course Hilman should not
break windows Make him pay for
every destructive act, just as You
are now doing, but remember that
be is a human being and dislikes be-
ing different and for that reason
h. Is likely to follow the crowd even
when De knows better. He IS going
through r. trying time in bis effort
20 adjust himself 90 the ways Of the
world The desire o. please Is com
mendable; not for anything would
you have him rude or unpleasant
Grown people cannot always tell
where the line is drawn between
poli'eness and destructiveness. Deal
firmly with Hilman, but always rem
ember that this sin is really an over.
worked virtue -