Milford chronicle., 1936-09-04
THE REASON
By Eleanor Smith

By Eleanor Smith
had occasion, one morning, tC
make a brief call at a friends house
She met me at the door, holding in
her arms her little four-year-Old
daughter who was sobbing in an ex-
hausted manner.
''Why. Anne. what's wrong?
asked in concern.
"Oh, the same old thing" she an
swered. jean has one of her queer
spells. She came running in from
the garden where she'd been playing
with her brother and his friends, and
Just screamed and cried, and can't
dc anything with her."
Have you ever seen the doctor
about her?" / asked.
yes, and he said there was moth
ing wrong-said she was tempera-
mental" Anne answered.
well, l dislike to contradict a
doctor, but he doesn't know Jean as
well as 1 do," ! retOrted. Jeans not
temperamental!"
well, I've about given up" Anne
confessed to me after Jean had been
put to rest in a darkened room for
q little while "Of course, It would
never do to let Jean know that, but
=" She shrugged her shoulders
expressively.
I must confess / was puzzled too.
Why should Jean, who was naturally
Of a sunny, sweet-tempered DISPOSE
tiOn, have a queer spell" so often
when she played with the boys? 1t
was three days later that / found the
answer.
was at Anne's again. There was
thunder in the air, and I was talking
to Anne, when the first crash came.
Jean, who had been playing quietly
on the floor with her doll, screamed
and ran to her mother. glanced at
the latter inquiringly.
In response she whispered, Jeans
been afraid of thunder storms ever
since one day last spring when Har-
old pretended to make thunder and
lightning. He and Jean were playing
in the cellar. It was dark. and Har-
old had a flashlight for the lightning
and banged on an old bathtub for
the thunder. It frightened Jean;
she's been afraid of a storm ever
since"
Harold was Jeans brother, i've
years her senior. 1 began to see
glimmer of reason for the queer
SPELLS"
what else do they playY' asked
quietly.
Anne shrugged her shoulders. II
don't know. I'm only too glad to let
Harold take care of Jean. Not many
boys of his age would want to do it.
When you have year-old twins TO
look after, you haven't time to do
much else!"
Il was a fact that not many boys
would want to mind four-year-old
sister. A little later, Harold himself
came in. He looked at Jean, and held
out his arms.
What's the matter. Sis? scared?"
he asked.
Jean went to him willingly enough
for they were good friends.
Come on out" Harold said. "The
rain is stopping. an we'll get the
boys and play Injuns or pirates
or"
But here he was interrupted by
another screech.
"No-no-I don't want to-" she
sobbed.
"YOu see" gestured Anne, help |
Iessly. ~
How can Jean play with all Of
you big boys, Harold?" I asked gent
". Surely she's too young"
"Sheg" he exclaimed. mo! She's
The prisoner we scalp when we play
Irjuns, and we always throw a wO-
man overheard when we're pirates"
! could not reprOVe him for he
played in all good faith, never
that the games that were
neat and drink to him we're terri
wing to little four-year-old Jean. So
here was the explanation Of Jeans
queer spells" Poor Jean!
spoke to Anne afterwards,
hough rather fearful Of offending.
But l need not have worried, she
vas very grateful. Later she explain
d the matter carefully to Harold,
md Jean no longer plays the part
Il the "scaiped Injun." A little care
III forethought in providing appro-
,riate occupations and amusement
5 helping her TO forget her unhappy !
experiences and to develop conf
ence.