Milford chronicle., 1938-01-14
TEACHING THE LITTLE CHILD
ABOUT GIVING
Edith Brands

Mrs. Beach was busily engaged In
the sewing room upstairs when Dor
is came from kindergarten with sew
eral little playmates. She did not
Immediately go down and Doris did
not bring the children 10 speak TO
her, which was unusual.
Presently she heard the front door
open. When she looked out she saw
the little girls going away, each with
huge, red apple in her hand. Doris
stood on the doorstep and each
child bobbed her head and appar-
emily said Thank you!" as she pass
ed out.
Doris was looking exceedingly
pleased with herself. in her first
real experience at playing Lady
Bonntiful.
"My goodness, the barrel Of ap-
ples!" exclaimed Mrs. Beach, has
tily starting to go down to see why
Doris had been giving away the
family supplies.
Then she paused and turned back
and sat down to sew again. Here was
something at work which she did not
understand; she must go cautious
ly for fear she might spoil some
lovely purpose on the part Of her
little daughter. She would let Doris
come and report to her. She would
listen to her story. After that It
would be soon enough to decide how
to deal with the situation.
The little girl came up to the sew
ing room and said, Mother, last
Sunday the teacher told US about
giving. She said we must give things
away to the poor, so brought Mary
and Sara and Dorothy and Sue home
with me and gave each a big apple.
They liked them and they said
Thank you!'"
Her mother turned toward the
child in amazement, "But, darling.
their fathers and mothers are not
poor. Why did you bring themT"
But they are poorer than we are.
They say we have a nicer house.
They say my clothes are nicer than
theirs. thought they must be poor"
Then Mrs. Beach knew that she
would have to reconsider her own
way of giving. After that she would
try to give her little daughter a
system that would work as nearly |
as possible under any given set OF
circumstances.
She could not tell Doris that Sues |
father used so much of his money on I
racing automobiles that his family !
suffered. nor that the mother Of Dor
othy, who envied Doris her pretty |
dresses, played bridge almost every /
neither could she ex- I
plain envy to the child.
To solve the immediate problem,
Mrs. Beach took Doris to the store
room. where they counted the tissue
wrapped apples into baskets. set
ing aside one in ten to give away.
Then she told her about the boys
md girls in the 0rthOpedic HOspi-
al, explaining how the hospital
vas supported by people who loved
and wanted them to get
veil. There were wards, she ex-
'lained, where there we're really
'oOr children who would be happy :
o have the big apples. Together mo-
her and daughter went to the tele-
hone to inquire when they might :
axe their gift.
In the afternoon, at the visiting \
our. Mrs. Beach had the apples car =
led to the hospital and Doris dis /
-ibuted them to the children. Going \
ONE. Mrs. Beach explained, "Uncle =
Ienry In Vermont sent us those n
eautiful apples. He would be glad !
! know we gave some to the Grip :
led children. He likes children and n
ants them to be happy" 3
Can we give them more things? :
yes. We will take flowers next q
And after that, Mrs. Beach set dill
emily to work to learn a good and E
telligent system Of giving both for r
'rself and her child.