The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-07-14
An Unexpected Open
Forum
HILDA RICHMOND

oeVen fnOLneFS were DUSTY sewing
in the living-room, while outside un-
der the open windows their children
played noisily. There had been call
for children's garments for a large
family whose home had been destroyed
by fire. The sewing machines raced
and needles flashed. Presently the
children exhausted from a wild game
sat down on the grass to rest,. and
their shrill young voices carried into
the livingroom at a time when the
sewing machines happened to be
silent. -. 3sa 3ay
"My mother never, never would do
such a thing!" were the first words
that were heard. eff l had been bad
like Jimmy, she would have called me
me home, and if I'd had to be punished
nobody would have seen it." IL.
"Mine, too," agreed three more
young critics. ttf
"I'm glad my mother doesn't do
things like that" spoke up very earn
est young voice. "And another thing
she never does is to make me sit still
when there's company.
"No," interrupted another, 'if l
come in with my hands and face wash
ed clean and shake hands, then my
mother tells me l may be excused to
go and play"
"That's the way my mother does.
Ruth's mother makes her sit still the
whole time and it's awful hard"
Ruth would be as careful as any,
body, when there is company, not to
get noisy if her mother would"
eyes, my goodness! It's hard to sit
still for an hour and have nothing to
play with, and that's what Ruth's
mother wants her to do. l heard her
scolding about it." ,2
"Well, I'm glad my mother is not
like Bob's. Bob never gets a chance
to choose about anything. His mother
decides where he shall go and what
he shall do, whether it's important
or not"
"My mother let's me have my say
about most things"
$50 does mine." This last was in
chorus.
Long before this, all conversation in
the living-room had ceased, and the
mothers were listening breathlessly.
"I'm afraid they will begin on our
faults if they continue this open
FORUM" said one mother
'Let them;y said another. Tt is
doing us good to be praised, and the
hearing Of our faults will not hurt Us" :"
"Bless their little hearts," said a
third, II never dreamed they were such
keen observers. And aren't they loyal
to usr'
"And they are right" said the hos
tess. 81 think it is a shame the way
Mrs. Lottey comes out with a switch
in her hand to hunt her children. She
won't injure their bodies with that
little stick, but Pm afraid she may
injure her opportunity to gain their
of government"
'1'l tell you what let's do," said
another mother suddenly, wishing to
prevent further criticism of their
neighbor. Lets give our darling in
structors a little treat. | have some
ice cream in the refrigerator, and it
will only take a minute to bring it
over"
"Good! l baked fresh cookies this
morning, and they will go nicely with
the ice cream" said another.
The children were astonished at the
feast suddenly spread before them as
they sat on the grass, but they were
not too astonished to do their part
with their hearty young appetites.
"Such SURPRISED"
"Why didn't you tell u.s."
"May we call to Bob and his sister
to come over?"
"I'll say this is SWELL"
Chattering and eating, and drink
ing quantities Of pink lemonade, the
children continued their picnic until
the last drop and crumb were con-
sumed, while the mothers, sewing
silently, thanked God in their hearts
that their little children saw and ap-
preciated their loving efforts at fair
government, and they humbly asked
for more light, more patience and