Milford chronicle., 1938-04-22
IT'S DADDY'S TURN
Lucia Mallory

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One afternoon, just before time to
close the library, I was startled to
hear little girls laugh ring out in
the quiet room. As turned gravely
I'm the direction Of the sound, Har-
riet Bachelor clapped her hands
over her mouth and smiled apollo
getically 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.
''I'm sorry we made such a disturb
ance, Miss Mallory" the father said.
I'VE were having such a good time
that we forgot where we were!"
II 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 we'll, Miss Mallory.
She went down to the park this af-
ternoon 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 a club
meeting a few evenings later.
1--WE missed seeing you at the Ii
brary lately" l had remarked.
"The children's room Is always
fascinating to me-" Mrs. Bachelor
answered. but I'm giving Harriet's
father a chance to becOme acquaint-
ed with his daughter.
my husbands work takes him
away from home a great DEAL" she
went on in answer to my puzzled
expression. when Dick and Har-
riet we're babies he always had a
romp with them the minute he came
home, and he still plays with little
Ned, but for a long time he had no
part in the older childTen's inter
ests. He was almost a stranger to
themi
Zone rainy afternoon when I was
too busy to take Harriet to the Ii
brary, her daddy went with her, ra-
ther under protest. You know we
live too far away for her to so
alone"
HE seems to like to come now"
I interposed.
"Oh yes, he and Harriet are great
library pals. and the experience has
given him a new slant on her char
acter. He's finding out that girls
like stories Of courage and adven-
ture as well as boys.
Reading together has led to other
contacts, too. Harriet skips in to tell
her father all about her school af-
fairs now, just as she tells me.
"Out of that first visit to the IL
brary have come Richards cOmpan-
iOnship with his little girl and my
chance to do something I've been
longing to do for months-play ten
mis- with my soni
1t had been so long since I'd had
a tennis racket In my hand that
luuuEul VI ltA eUttGM 0AA NnN NthhA9 !
I ever knew, but Dick has cured me !
Of that feeling. He goes at the game |
30 hard that have to. show him that |
those trophy cups and medals I've !
been treasuring all these years !
1idn't come TO me by chance." /
when you helped your husband |
TO become better acquainted with I
bis daughter, you gave yourself an
to chum with your son."
said. finishing the story for her.
"Yes." the radiant mother answer
ID. "but you're giving me more cred
I than / deserve. Miss Mallory. The
whole situation just sort Of worked
,ut we'll for u.s."
Many family situations would
work out better II every mother
we're as wise as Mrs. Bachelor was
letting Daddy take his turn at
helping the children and sharing
ew of their hours OF work and play.