Milford chronicle., 1934-03-09
HOME EDUCATION
BORED
BY Laura b. Gray

BY Laura b. Gray
! Jimmy. whatever are you dOiui
! with all those boxes and bits o
wood, What a litter you've made
and how untidy the room is"
Mummy. these aren't just boxes
( this is my train. and the pieces o
wood are freight cars, and this bis
box is the engine. See. fastened
them all together with string"
why do you not play with tho
train and the beautiful red engine
bought you? II is no use buying
trains if you wont play with them.
The boy did not answer. Small
children cannot tell why they do
things; they require to he under
stood. Playing with rcadymadc
train was one thing. hut creating a
train out of boxes, bits of wood and
string WAS quite another something
infinitely more cnGrOssing and de-
lirhtlml
"lll be so glad when nurse comes
back from her holiday" sighed the
mother to nc Jimmy cannot grow
up too quickly Tor my taste look
ipi Hdlu W lut ilIut NHtu ut WIZ
like the things that like"
Mummy, are VIC going near the
train track" inquired Jimmy as his
mother dressed him for the afternoon
walk
Yes. We must cross the tracks ON
the way 10 town"
GOody," aud the little face lii up.
Wait. wait. Mother. ! want to see
the train so past" and he clutcied
her skirts as she was hurrying across
the track.
Well. just one" and "A bored cx-
preston settled upon her face.
Soon the great. black engine came
thundcring along dragging its train
Of cars. The man in the little house
beside the tracks let down the gates,
and raised them mp again when the
train had passed. The little fellows
whole being quivCrcd with excite
ment at the passing Of the black
monster, and as the sound of it died
away in the distance he waved to
the gatckecper: the salute was re-
turned. All this the mother missed,
so engrOsscd was she in her own
thoughts.
Mummy" mused Jimmy as he
tripped along beside her, when ]
get big I'm going to be a gatekeeper
like the man in the little house"
Indeed you aren't. I'm not 60
ing 10 educate you 20 he gatekeep-
cr like the man in the little house"
The child said nothing but he had
an uncomfortable feeling as though
hc had done something wrong.
We'll soon be at the shops, jim
my. aud you'll have great fun looking
at the things in the windows"
Tho first shops contained clothes.
and il was .Iimmy's turn to he bored.
Then they came TO a toy shop; Jim
my was interested, but his mother
was not. She moved on TO look in
the window of the next shop. while
the hoy enjoyed the toys. but the fear
of being lost, such a nightmare to
young children. so filled .Iimmy's
mind he was afraid to take his eyes
off his mother, SO the pleasure of
the window was lost.
During the walk Jimmy's nurse
had returned home.
20, Mana" he shouted. leaping in
10 her lap, eager to talk. we saw
Irain with four cattle cars and two
Dil tanks. II went this way" and
he jumped down. and initiated the
rain
Miss Strong clappcd her hands and
laughed, entering fully into the !
'hild'S enjoyment.
And Mr.. StOpp knew me and |
waved from his house, but Mummy !
says that cannot be a gatekeeper," |
lc added wistfully.
Never mind. perhaps you will be
president of a railway and say
when and where the trains must
90"
20, yes" lie frightened. Perhaps |
dummy won't mind my being presi-
lent"
In the next room his mother felt
ust little bit jealous of the joyful
between her son and
lis nurse. but no. she would not
'Other To interest herself in these
rival things. Let the boy grow up
rst. and then they would be pals.
But will there ever be time when
his mother and son will be genuine
ais? Docs not such intimacy begin
{ birth, and continue all through
For such relationship
he mother must see life through the
hild's eyes. There is no trick in
; every mother who wishes to do
D. can. 1t requires effort, and un-
slllsh thought, but the reward in
'ue pleasure is out of all proper
on to the work and sacrifice.