The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-09-07
6be SON SPOT
A MESSAGE TO FATHER
BY G. CLARENCE HOskIN

me, but I am a six-footer and he
was only ten years old. I shortened
my step and began to whistle mill
tary march. He Joined in the march,
with shoulders back and heels snap
ping. Then he said, "We're keeping
step, Daddy" Keeping step with
father! That is still filtering. 1t
challenges me for pace well chosen.
Last winter we were on our way
home, tracking through the snow. I
was in the lead, with my usual stride.
Then l heard, "T'm stepping right in
your tracks, Daddy" Following in
his fathers footsteps! That means
not a single misstep of that father
for the son to follow. That lesson
is still soaking in. =.
For some time he has been talk
ing about getting a job during vaca-
tions. He wants to work and earn
more money,-wants to do the thing
himself. He wants something steady.
I think of the stationery and the time
my secretary and I spend in writing
letters of recommendation for other
fathers boys. My boy is worth lit
tie of my time. Not that I find the
job for him, but we have had several
chats as to manner of approach and
conduct. Last summer he burst into
the house, all excitement. He had
been on a trip to- the community gro
Gerry for his mother, and came home
with the announcement that the gro
ceryman wanted him to deliver with
his bicycle. He had made the sale
himself, and he was happy lad.
I made an appointment to meet
him at home one day at 4:30. and did
not disappoint him, even though it
inconvenienced me at the time. At
another time he made an appointment
with me at the office for five o'clock,
but he stopped a few minutes with
boy friend and was late. He had
to wait another day for his new keds,
but he appreciated the situation.
He was down at the plant one day,
with number of neighbor children.
Hearing suppressed voices outsides, 1
looked, and discovered him sitting
astride another boy, holding his
hands. He was sent home. I ar
rived home as usual, but nothing was
said about the episode until bedtime,
then he and I, in our pajamas, STEP
ped into his bedroom for a little chat.
This particular boy had been Gliding
him about his friendliness toward one
Of the girls, and, the girl being pres
ent, they were both quite embarrass-
ed. The next evening, when I return
ed home, he greeted me with the an
nouncement that he and Bob had
made up. When questioned as to how
it had been brought about, he said,
''I went down and stuck out my hand
and said, Come on, Bob,, let's shake,
and we both grinned; and it's all
right" He had followed counsel.
Proud of His Muscle
The other evening l had beaten
him into bed. He came into my room,
dressed in the lower part of his paja-
mas, his trunk being bare. He walk
ed up to the bed, and, with his face
aglow, wanted me to feel his muscle.
There he stood, miniature Jess
Willard. He then showed me how the
athletes stand when they have their
pictures taken. Many time he and
his pal may be found in bed together
early in the evening, his daddy's head
on his arm, talking over the events of
the day, and plans for the future.
That evening is lost, from the popular
viewpoint, but it is of priceless worth
from the pal standpoint.
Il At certain times during the year,
am required to spend several weeks
away from home. On these occa-
sions, when taking my departure, the
boy and I have a confidential chat
together. My appeal to him is after
this fashion: "Now, son, Daddy is
to be gone several days. There will
be no father here to look after things.
1 You are my big boy, and can only
leave the responsibilities with you.
4 You will have to watch and see that
everything is all right. Mother will
need your help, because Daddy will
not be here. We will have to depend
on you. You will have to take my
place. Be big boy and see that
everything goes all right. We will
depend on you, mother and l." His
answer to me usually is, Call right,
Daddy, I'll do it," and the little man
seems to sense his position, and he
seems to grow just bit taller, and
he walks around with his shoulders
back, just like us grown-ups. When
I return from the trip there is, invari-
bly,, good report of his conduct.
1t would not be fair to him to tell
of many Of our chats over purely per-
sonal affairs. Those interviews are
confidential. We have pledged each
other to play fair and square in eve