Milford chronicle., 1938-10-21
FAIR PLAY
CORA M. sILvIUs

4 snare q room WIN IrlenQs
heard animated voices. A number OF
women were talking, and they seem
ed TO be much annoyed. AS 1 en-
tered the hall, Mrs. Martin was say
ing, 1t just proves that no child
can be expected to show gratitude
for anything a parent may do"
These mothers and their children
were all so we'll known. to me,
stopped In moment ! understood
what II was all about. listened pa
tiently hoping the mothers would
feel better once they had voiced
their irritation, for l wanted them
to be willing to listen to me, and
was an outsider.
/ picked up the field glass and
looked toward the ball field. The
smaller boys of the neighborhoOd
had been banded together into
baseball team. Some of them went
to kindergarten, and some were In
the first grade. Fathers and older
brothers had helped with suits and
other paraphernalia. We all went out
to cheer when they had a game. This
kind of play gave them good exer-
else, and it helped the mothers to
know where they were.
When at last there was a pause, 1
asked If l might say few words.
They politely conceded.
Perhaps you noticed was using
the field glass;" said. do you know
what / saw? Well, saw a huddle of
small boys who seemed unhappy and
not sure of themselves. Take the
glass and look at them"
One by one the mothers looked
through the glass.
whats the matter with them?
demanded Mrs. Sherwood with as
perity. "They have the time and the
place to play, but they stand there
like a lot of dummies"
Remember, you ladies were dis
cussing Them" / answered. They
are busy discussing you"
They looked at me in amazement.
"Oh, you have no children. You
don't know much about them"
shrugged Mrs. Williams.
my dear Mrs. Williams, have
had no children of my own, but
have taken care of dozens of other
peoples children. They are all pref
ty much alike in some ways. Now,
If you would be willing to take my |
advice, you would soon have happy
group out there. They couldn't play
hard or fast enough, or be grateful
enough to you"
"All right" smiled Mrs. Joyce.
''YOu have given me good advice be-
fore; just try us now"
"You have spent a great deal OF
time and money getting those little
fellows started on their ball team.
But now you are showing no respect
for 1t. Please listen" as several wo-
men had frowned and tried to inter-
rupt. "You demand instant Obedi-
ence from them. You want them to
remember to respect your wishes.
But do you respect their wishes?
Turn about is fair play, you know,
You all knew they were planning the
BIG game for the afternoon of the
tenth. Fathers and older brothers
have all been invited. And then what
does one mother do?-deliberately
plans a birthday party for her
daughter Edith on their BIG day.
And the mothers of all the small
boys insist they must CO."
but they can have their game
some other day." snapped Mrs. Mar
tin, the mother who had planned the
party.
Couldn't the party be planned for
another day? The eleventh is the
real birthday. A change of a day or
two would not make much differ
snce. Edith herself is quite unhappy I
about It,"
1--WE can't have it on Sunday" OBJ
ected Mrs. Martin
mo, but couldn't it be on Friday
rfternoon, after school? I'm sure ii :
would make them very happy if you =
allied them in and told them that
vou would change the day" s
81 wonder if II is so important to Z
HEM" sighed Mrs. Martin. n
"I'm sure of 1t. Just call Bobby 0
nd let him carry the word back to d
hem. I'll guarantee you'll have so D
nucR gratitude you will never plan ?
mother thing on the date of big II
anne" q
Mrs. Martin went to the door and
lew the whistle she used in calling le
lobby home. Reluctantly he came. 81
IFS feet dragged. His face was long. 81
lis eyes were dull 81
What a change when he received y
he message to carry back to the y
Their boys. He sDed over the ground W
Ike an arrow. His words acted like IT
charm. Instantly they sDrang to
osition. They were practcing for ~
le Big game. q