The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-10-15
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 Your Children
By Olive Roberts Barton

a week. Isn't it just too impossible to believe? After all these months since graduation, just putting in time and never 8 dollar to Spend9
 Proud of Their Son
 After she gets her breath and is able to think above Johns husky ecstacies, his mother soberly takes stock of the situation. There is a queer release of the tight band about her head that has been bothering her of late weeks. And certain physical lightneSs born of relief. She knew John would do it. He is such a good boy. And, apart from her pride in him, she begins to calculate in dollars and cents just what all this means.
 Dad comes home and is as pleased as though John had been elected mayor. He'd always said the boy would make good. And $20 8 week! Why, out of that he could afford to pay a little to cover his board and keep. Maybe not quite all, but enough to ease things up a bit. Dad isn't any too well, and he has no chance of advancing now, at his age. So John went to work. He needed new shirts and his clothes put in order. The rest of the week his mother spent over the ironing board. What she couldn't manage went to the cleaners. John was to report on Monday. She would miss John. He cut the grass if she re- minded him enough, and on wash days he even helped to empty water. Jane would be glad, too, Johns mother reflected generously. Jane would get to the movies more often now. Jane was Johns girl.
 Mother Made Plans
 The mother dreamed on. Lottie, Johns sister, who was still in high school, could have her teeth fixed. Not that his mother wanted John to do 1t, but some of her own dol- lars could be spared now for other necessities. Someday soon Lottie, too, would be earning. The children would be sure to remember what their parents had tried so hard to do for them. Yes, the return would soon be here, was here now, indeed.
 John. went to work.
 For the first two weeks his moth- CT sang at her duties. Then, grad- ually, she grew silent and her old stoop was apparent. John had had two pay days but. so far, had said nothing about money. Not a word about paying back what she had had to take from the grocery bill to get him the new shoes.
 And three more months passed.
 The boy came home with a new suit and an overcoat. "Ten down and five a month";" he said, display ing them proudly. "A cinch, isn't 1t? All the fellows dress well and the boss has an eye out for appearance" >"
 His mother wondered, "Why didn't he pay cash?" And his father, too. John had had $80 without any ex- pense at home.
 John Seldom Borrowed But of course Jane, Johns girl, liked night life as well as any girl, and prices were high, his mother knew. And then John was always saying that he had to treat some times, as that was the way a fel- low got ahead. Anyway, John didn't have to ask for spending money any more, and that was something. He had only borrowed three dollars since he had started to work. He had said he was out, of carfare and cigaret money. His father made a mental note that he himself had better go back to pipe. The house seemed to cost more since John had grown up and started out on his own.
 Lottie, IT her last birthday, came home one day and announced she had chance to finish her work and get certificate in no time it she only had $30. It was a chance Lottie explained. Mrs. May knew ot a place that would make great concession. Lottie promised to pay back the $50 if Uncle Fred would advance it.
 Dad wasn't SO sure about Uncle Fred. He still owed him for the hospital bill he had paid when Lot. tie was sick, but he went to set him. Uncle Fred, feeling the priv ilege of the lender talked turkey You are too easy with both youl children" he said "Why can't Johr do more for you? He's younger thar am."
 Added to Wardrobe Lottie finished her course and, ir due time, was qualified for regula, work. Her pay was raised. Like hel brother, John, she needed to fix ur her wardrobe and her mother agreed it was the thing to do. In six months Lottie was the belle of the street. No one dressed as snappily. Mother was thin and more tired than ever. Turning two work ing children out well dressed every day was not easy. Both son and daughter boasted of keeping them selves" They reminded their par ents that they cost nothing fol clothes and spending money. In a W ay, they were right. They were dependable and regular at work and both came home tired. But SC was Dad tired and so was mother And neither could spend a selfish nickel. These children had no more idea of responsibility toward the home they were using than they had when in their cradles.
 Whose fault was 1t, you ask Their parents" say I At the very beginning they should have held out for just contribution. They failed | Copyright, 1936, NEA Service, Inc.