The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-03-15
MAKE A PAL OF
THE SMALL SON
Wise Mother Will Show Inter-
est in Trivial Things.
BY LAURA B. GRAY, National kin

BY LAURA B. GRAY, National Kin
dergarten Association, New York
City.
Jimmy, whatever are you doing
with all those boxes and bits of
wood! What litter you've made.
and how untdy the room ISL
Mummy, these aren't just boxes;
this is my train, and the pieces of
wood are freight cars, and this big
box Is the engine. See. | fastened
them iii together with string"
why do you not play with the
train and the beautiful red engine ]
bought you? Ii is no use buying
trains II you won't play with them"
The boy did not answer. Small
children cannot tell why they do
things; they require to be under
stood. Playing with a ready-made
train was one thing. but creating
train out Of boxes. bits of wood and
string was quite another-somethin
Infinitely more engrossing and de-
llghtful
I'll be SO glad when nurse comes
back from her holiday" sighed the
mother to me. Jimmy cannot grow
up too quickly for my taste. look
forward to the time when he will like
the things that like"
Mummy, are we going near the
train track?" inquired Jimmy as his
mother dressed him for the afternoon
walk.
4Yes, we must cross the tracks on
the way to town.
"Goody," and the little face lit up.
"Wait, wait, Mother, want to see
the train go past" and he clutched
her skirts as she was hurryIng across
the track.
well, just one," and bored ex-
preston settled upon her face.
Soon the great, black engine came
laundering along, dragging its train
Of cars. The man In the little house
beside the tracks let down the gates.
and raised them up again when the
train had passed. The little fellows
whole being quivered with excitement
at the passing Of the black monster,
and as the sound OF II died away In
the distance he waved to the gate
keeper; the salute was returned. All
this the mother missed, so engrossed
was she In her own thoughts.
Mummy unused Jimmy as he
tripped along beside her. when get
big I'm going to be gatekeeper like
the man In the little house"
Indeed you aren't. I'm not going
to educate you to be gatekeeper
like the man In the little house."
The child said nothing but he had
an uncomfortable feeling-as though
he had done something wrong.
Wen soon be at the shops, Jimmy
and you'll have great fun looking al
the things In the windows"
The first shops contained clothes
and 1t was Jimmy's turn to be bored
Then they came TO toy shop; Jim
my was interested. but his mother
| was not. She moved on to look ir
the window Of the next shop, while
the boy enjoyed the toys, but the fear
of being lost, such nightmare Il
mind he was afraid to take his eyes
off his mother, so the pleasure of tht
| window was lost.
During the walk Jimmy's nurs,
had returned home.
"Oh, Mana " he shouted, leapinl
into her lap, eager to talk, I'VE saw
train with four cattle cars and twt
oil tanks. 1t went this way" and h,
jumped down, and initiated the train
Miss Strong clapped her hands ant
laughed, entering fully into the child
enjoyment.
"And Mr.. Stoop knew me an,
waved from his house, but Mumm.
says that cannot be a gatekeeper,
he added wistfully
Never mind, perhaps you will be
president of railway and say whel
and where the trains must CO."
"Oh, yes" He frightened. "Perhan
Mummy won't mind my being pres
ident"
In the next room his mother fel
just little bit jealous of the Joyful
conversation between her son and hi
nurse, but no, she would not bottle
to interest herself In these trivia
things. Let the boy grow up frs
and then they would be pals.
But will there ever be time whe
this mother and son will be genuin
i pals? Does not such intimacy begi
at birth, and continue all throug
childhood? For such relationship tn
mother must see life through tn
childs eyes. There Is no trick In II
every mother who wishes to do S,
can. 1t requires effort, and nnseltis
thought, but the reward In true pleas
ure Is out Of all proportion to tn
work and sacrifice.