Milford chronicle., 1938-04-29
LESSONS FROM
NAsTURTIUM SEEDS
RUTH ARNOLD NICKEL

81 wish Alvin could have puppy
said Mrs. Anderson, as she watched
her cousins small pink-clad daugh-
ter carefully pouring milk into her
pets dish.
Louise adores Skippy." replied
Mrs. Marshall "and her experience
with him has taught her a good deal
can see that il is developing her
sense of responsibility
"Yes, that is evident" agreed her
cousin. II thing every child, and es-
pecially an only child. should have a
pet, but we live In an apartment
house that prohibits dogs and cats"
Alvin is still bit young to have
the care of a pet--don't you thing
so?" asked Mrs. Marshall. cOnsoling-
ly. after all. he's only three, and
no doubt in a year or two you will
move out into the suburbs. Then he
can have all the pets you want him
to have"
"And IL we don't move-?" objected
Alvin's mother.
There are always canary birds
and gold fish," laughed Mrs. Marshall
IAN inventive mother can find a
way
As she rode home in the bus with
three -year-Old Alvin kneeling on the
seat beside her, watching from the
window, Mrs. Anderson thought about
the conversation IL remember how
I loved Rags" she mused. ALVIN
mustn't miss the fun of having dog.
aAt- ,.ot ,v,T.r tho I fhfnk hau-
ing to feed and take care of Rags
made me more sympathetic and con-
scientious" She thought a little
about her cousins suggestion of a |
canary. Gold fish had already been |
tried with disastrous results, for the |
day after their purchase the two new |
pets. so gladly welcomed, had been
found floating Imply on the sur
face Of the bowl of water. Mrs. An
derson did not wish to repeat the
A canary. too. presented
problems. for frequent week ends
were spent with relative.
We'll have to concentrate on that
home" Mrs. Anderson told
herself. as she helped Alvin jump
from the bus Meanwhile, AN in
ventive mother can find a way,
suppose" Her eyes wandered to the
horist's window on the corner, at
tracted by the bright spring flowers.
"Pretty!" exclaimed Alvin, tugging
At her hand. Together they paused
and enjoyed the blossoms. With the
display there were packages of seeds.
A sudden thought came to Mrs. An
ierson.
81 might try IT," she told herself.
we have a nice sunny window"
They went into the store and soon
Alvin emerged. clutching a fat; /.
brightly labeled package of nastur-
ium seeds.
That night Alvin's father made a
window box and filed it with garden
,arth. Next day round-eyed Alvin.
who could already count six. plant
d and watered four plump seeds. :
every morning thereafter the seeds
,ad their drink until the exciting eli
max arrived when tiny green shoots
.ppeared above the earth. Mrs. An d
Ierson supervised the care of the
rowing plants, but they were Alvin's +
When rough handling !
made one of them wither, he learned
lesson. He gravely accepted and d
their need for sun and +
,osened earth. When after a week
nd's absence he found his plants n
rooping, his relief was great upon a
eeing their response to a little fresh =
later. Il
Sometimes Mrs. Anderson thought a
ne very simplicity of Alvins garden -
-four seeds in a bOX-taught her o
tile son more at his age than a lar n
err one would have done. She saw -
adless future possibilities. There 9,
1uld be asters i'm the fall to replace N
,e nasturtiums. In the winter. they -
1uld transform the box into lit :,
e landscape with few small green N
Iants. a mirror for a pond, a bridge =
nd a path of sand or gravel Alvin n,
le knew. would love it. il,
When the nasturtiums bloomed -
Twin experienced the wonder and
v which come to those who help to b
,yelop beauty. Young though he -
as. he had learned some of the les o,
ms of cause and effect. He had NJ
zen led, through his parents wise -
lidance, to accept responsibility -,
ID had seen the results Of both ne NJ
ect and care. -
pretty soon we must have that 4,
burban house." said his father. ~
.Ivin must have a real garden. =
'And a dog" said his mother. He'll
Ixe good care of a pet now. m,
But Alvin's experience had accom- -
Ished even more than that. for this :,
rly beginning was to have its in g. g.
ence upon all of his future respon- =
Utilities. -
fot