Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1924-01-25
MINE AND THINE
By Jennie Ellis Burdick

Just the other day I received a let
ter from a mother which was a cry
for help.
my boy, John, has been taking
money from my pocket-book. What
shall do? do not want him to grow
up a thief"
Alas! this mother is not the only
one with such a problem; unfortu-
nately there are many parents who at
some time or another are confronted
with this same unpleasant experience.
The mother facing the problem must
take drastic measures to break off a
habit which should not have b1en al
lowed to form and CO teach the prin-
ciple CT Nine and tt inc " Whipping
will not &C it; more patient and pains
taking methods are rcldiced.
Lau<hi1EiY we often say: whats
mine Is nly own, ana what's yours is
mine, too" This expression is all
right as a joke, but it is all wrong
when we put it into practice. Yet
so many young married people prac-
tice it. The wife assumes that the
home IS absolutely hers. ami her hus-
bands things arc gradually pushed
aside. If she wants to use any of his
belongings - tools, handkerchiefs,
slippers, or even his razor--she takes
them, regardless of the value he
places on them. Occasionally he pro-
tests, sometimes emphatically, but
more often too gently for her to real
ize his justification in doing so, and
she continues to treat his things as
though they were her own. He states
his objections less and loss strenu-
Ousiy until he ceases; he consoles
niMsClf by saying, "iSh5 does not in
terfere at my place of business and
ought not to object to what she
does at home, for that is her place Of
business" But LIE keeps his treas
ures at the Office and club.
By and by the children come. Mo-
Their Furnishes John when he objects
to Mary's taking his toys. 1t is not
kind and generous" she tells him.
When Mary cries because John has
taken her prizsd plaything, the little
girl is punished fOf being sull1y and
selfish Grandmother gives John n |
toy, but Mother acts as if the gift had |
been made equally to the two chill
dren. In every way she kills in Jhem
that natural instinct for pride in own
ership.
Then comes q day when she fuses
because the children do not take care
Of their toys, do not pick them up,
10 not realize that they have money
value. But why should they? Those
Kings are common prOperty-theie is
10 sense of personal responsibility.
If John can lake MaTy's things
without leave or license, and she can
AXE his, and Mother can do the same
With Fathers, what's the difference if
hey take Mothers? The children arc
I'D enough now 10 know that money
)uys candy, money will get admission
o the movies, money is needed for
hat "tweeny-weeny" doll or those
marbles down at the corner store.
They have seen Mother pay for the
hings she bought at the store. So
low, not having any money of their
)wn, they take it out Oe the pocket /
,oOk which belongs to Mother. but
which to their way of thinking is
amily affair.
Each member of the family should
and should practice the
principles relating ownership. There
hould be no appropriaring Of one an
,ther's belonging without a request
md thank you" The forming of
his habit will require persistent pa
fence on the part of the adult mem
ers of the family. A penalty might be
imposed for every. infringement of the
ule.
Of course, each child should have
N allowance out of. which he must
some necessary article. At
rst the amount should be small and
he requirement a simple one. For
when he first enters school,
might be we'll to insist that he pay
or his own pencils. AS he grows
lder, add an item at time, and at
he same time increase his allowance.
This allowance should not be
for nothing" Each child
hould have certain duties about the
Iome, the performance of which will
ntitle him to his allowance, and the
eglect of which will cause the with
olding of it.
Thus the child learns that money
S obtained by rendering service, that
ach member of a family has work to
10, if the house is to be home, and
hat respect for the rights of others
5 one of the first rules of life.
Aw, what's the use? The more civil.