Milford chronicle., 1938-05-20
PHILIP MEETS A NEW
SITUATION
Janette Stevenson Murray

the university elementary school 8
mile and q half from his home. He
goes on the street car, transferring
at the downtown station.
II was during the first cold s6aE
in November that he arrived al
school one morning and found the
door locked. Bobbie. whose mother
had Just let him out Of her auto at
the corner and driven home, was
in the same plight. A neighbOr had
promised to phone the mothers of
these two boys that there would be
no school but had forgotten to do
so.
Say, BObbie, we can just go back
on the street car. See, l have my
nickel" said Philip.
"But haven't any Nickel" replied
Bobbie. MAMA always comes for
me-"
"Oh, maybe we can phone her."
suggested Philip. "My mother won't
be home for she takes Brother to
the kindergarten and goes to her
classes. Let's go In the sehoolhouse.
There's a phone in the Ofice, l
know"
but the doors locked" said Bob
bic, tears gathering in his eyes.
Eyes, it's locked" said Philip as
he turned from fumbling with the
handle. 10000! It's cold!" The boy,
with only a light overcoat for pro-
lection. shivered in his socks and
short trousers. "Bobbie." he said, Il
don't know the way home, do yOu?"
"No, I never went home alone"
and Bobbie began to cry.
Although Philip knew BObbie only
as he had seen him in class, 1t never
occurred to him to use his own
nickel and go home. leaving Bobbie
alone.
"Oh, stop crying" said Philip, on
the verge of tears himself. Il don't
know what to debut we have to DO
something, Kid, or well freeze. Say!
why can't we follow the streetcar
track? The car that always takes
me has to go on that track. know
where your house is when I'm on the
car"
He grabbed Bobbie's hand and
they began their long trudge back on
the sidewalk beside the rails, down
through the town where Philip al
ways transferred and then along by
the other car line They were very
cold and the biting northwest wind
hindered their progress.
"Oh, what are you boys doing
here?" exclaimed BObbie's mother as
the boys appeared.
"The door was locked. There
wasn't any school," cried Bobbie.
But how did you ever find your
way homer"
''Why, we Just followed the tracks
cause that's the way the cars go"
said Philip in a matter-of-faet tone.
Our Mothers Club has been much
interested in Philip-his independ-
ence, grit. self-assurance, frankness
and mature reasoning.
Have you educated Philip win
the idea Of making him self-reliant?
we asked his mother.
'No. l think that was done IN
she answered, smii-
ing. "but his teacher felt that his
father and / had helped him oy
avoiding the development OF fear.
when learning to walk, he some-
times fell. Then we would speak
casually of the cause, the rumpled
rug. for instance, diverting him from
his discomfort. We often sent him
into dark rooms to get things, as
suming as a matter OF course hed
20. He has never feared the dark. AS
, fodder. | let him walk alone out
,f-doOrs as far as 1t was safe. When
We went on the street | gave him
he idea of protecting me from the
Although very solicit
Gus about my safety. he had no (
ear"
'TelI us how you deal with him
when aughty," we asked, for our
,lub has a feeling that 1t takes great
wisdom to retain a proper authority
,ver the bright child and still allow :
i'm enough freedom to insure self
81 deprive him of. privileges Occa- ,
ionaliy, II the connection is clearly !
vident," his mother replied. Lee !
uring or demanding accomplishes Z
othing. I'm not always wise. but he /
rusts me and doesn't deceive me. il
Vhen his father or appeal to his Il
eason and treat him with the cour- a
ssy accorded a grown person. he a
lmOst always responds instantly L