The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-05-05
IT'S DADDY's TURN
LUCIA MALLORY

One afternoon, just before time to
close the library, / was startled to
hear little girls laugh ring out in
the quiet room. AS turned gravely
in the direction Of the sound, Harriet
Bachelor clapped her hands over her
mouth and smiled apologetically at
me. She was sitting at the reading
table with her father.
A few minutes later the two came
to my desk to check out some books.
T'm sorry we made such a disturb
ance, Miss Mallory" the father said.
owe were having such good time
that we forgot where we were!"
81 won't forget again." Harriet
promised. "We found some funny
books that Daddy read when he was
a little boy"
"How is your mother, Harriet" /
asked.
Mothers very well, Miss Mallory.
She went down to the park this after
noon to play tennis with Dick. It was
Daddy's turn to come to the library
"Daddy's turn" Harriet's words
stayed with me long after the little
girl and her father had left the room.
Her mother explained their plan To
me when | met her at club meeting
a few evenings later.
give missed seeing you at the IL
brary lately" l had remarked.
"The children's room is always fas-
cinating to me-" Mrs. Bachelor an
swered, "but Pm giving Harriet's
father chance to become acquainted
with his daughter.
"My husbands work takes him
away from home a great DEAL" she
went on in answer to my puzzled ex-
preston. "When Dick and Harriet
were babies he always had a romp
with them the minute he came home
and he still plays with little Ned, but
for long time he had no part in the
older children's interests. He was al
most stranger to them!
zone rainy afternoon when I was
too busy to take Harriet to the library
her daddy went with her, rather under
protest. You know we live too fa1
away for her to go alone" !
"He seems to like to come now,"
interposed.
"Oh yes, he and Harriet are great
library pals, and the experience mas
| given him new slant on her char
acter. He's finding out that girls like
stories of courage and adventure as
well as boys.
Reading together has led to other
contacts, too. Harriet skips in to tel
her father all about her school affairs
now, just as she tells me.
"Out of that first visit to the library
have come Richards companionshir
with his little girl and my chance te
do something I've been longing to dc
for months-play tennis with my son
at had been so long since I'd hao
a tennis racket in my hand that
thought I'd forgotten all the tennis
ever knew, but Dick has cured me o1
that feeling. He goes at the game
so hard that l have to show him thai
those trophy cups and medals I've
been treasuring all these years didn',
come to me by chance!"
"When you helped your husband tt
become better acquainted with hi:
daughter, you gave yourself an oppor
tunity to chum with your son." l sait
finishing the story for her.
eyes," the radiant mother answered
but you're giving me more credit thar
l deserve, Miss Mallory. The whole
situation just sort of worked out vel
for usn'
Many family situations would worl
out better if every mother were a.
wise as Mrs. Bachelor was--lettint
Daddy take his turn at helping tn
children and sharing a few of thei
hours of work and play.