The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-05-12
Lessons From Nusturtium
Seeds
RUTH ARNOLD NICKEL

RUTH ARNOLD NICKEL
81 wish Alvin could have puppy"
said Mrs. Anderson, as she watched
her cousins small pink-clad daughter
carefully pouring milk into her pets
dish.
Louise adores Skippy," replied Mrs.
Marshall, "and her experience with
him has taught her a good deal. I can
see that it is developing her sense Of
responsibility"
eyes, that is evident" agreed her
cousin. 81 think every child, and es-
pecially an only child, should have
pet, but we live in and apartment
house that prohibits dogs and cats"
calvin is still bit young to have
the care Of pet-don't you think
SC? ?" asked Mrs Marshall, consolingly.
"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 if we don't move" objected
Alvin's mother.
"There are always canary birds and
gold fish," laughed Mrs. Marshall. "An
inventive mother can find 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. 81 remember how
loved Rags" she unused. calvin
mustn't miss the fun of having dog
But it's not only the fun think hav
ing to feed and take care of Rags
made me more sympathetic and con-
scientious." She thought little about
her cousins suggestion of 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 surface of the
bowl of water. Mrs. Anderson did
not wish to repeat the experience. A
canary, too, presented problems, for
frequent week ends were spent with a
relative
"We'll have to concentrate on that
suburban home," Mrs. Anderson told
herself, as she helped Alvin jump
from the bus. meanwhile, 'an in
ventive mother can find way, l sup
pose." Her eyes wandered to the
florists window on the corner, attract
ed by the bright spring flowers.
"Pretty!" exclaimed Alvin, tugging
at her hand. Together they paused and
enjoyed the blossoms. With the dis
play there were packages of seeds. A
sudden thought came to Mrs. Ander-
son.
81 might try it," she told herself.
eve have nice sunny window" They
went into the store and soon Alvin
emerged, clutching a fat, brightly la
beled package of nasturtium seeds.
That night Alvin's father made a
window box and filled it with garden
earth. Next day round-eyed Alvin,
who could already count to six, planted
and watered four plump seeds. Every
morning thereafter the seeds had their
drink until the exciting climax arrived
when tiny green shoots appeared above
the earth. Mrs. Anderson supervised
the care of the growing plants, but
they were Alvin's responsibility. When
rough handling made one of them
wither, he learned lesson He gravely
accepted and remembered their need
for sun and loosened earth. When
after week-end's absence he found
his plants dropping, his relief was
great upon seeing their response to a
little fresh water.
Sometimes Mrs. Anderson thought
the very simplicity Of Alvin's garden
-four seeds in a boX-taught her lit
tie son more at his age than a larger
one would have done. She saw end
less future possibilities. There could
be asters in the fall to replace the
nasturtiums. In the winter, they could
transform the box into a little land
scape with a few small green plants,
mirror for a pond, bridge and a
path of sand or gravel. Alvin, she
knew, would love it.
When the nasturtiums bloomed. AL
vim experienced the wonder and joy
which come to those who help to de-
velop beauty. Young thought he was,
he had learned some of the lessons of
cause and effect. He had been led,
through his parents wise guidance, to
accept responsibility and had seen the
results of both neglect and care.
"Pretty soon we must have that
Melvin Schissler, 404 N. Washington
| MOn1av