The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-02-16
Children's S Manners
WANETA A. HOLT

Ann Caylor had looked forward to
having her girlhood classmate visit
her. She had not see Helen Lane since
her friends second son was a tiny
baby. Ann herself had two children
also, boy and a girl, aged ten and
twelve.
After the excitement of the first
greetings were over, Helen said,
"John is visiting his grandfather so
couldn't bring him, but here is my
younger son. Billy, can't you speak to
Mrs. Caylor and the children? ?" AIMS
children had shaken hands with Helen
and were trying to be friendly with
Billy.
When lunch was nearly ready Ann
called the children telling them it was
time to wash. They soon appeared
with clean hands and hair neatly
combed. They waited for Mrs. Lane
and Billy to go into the dining room
first and then stood behind their
chairs until the company was seated
Then Bobby asked the blessing in a
calm, serene manner. He and his sis
ter always took turns in doing this.
Mrs. Lane noticed the clean, white
tablecloth and said, "What made you
go to all this extra trouble for us,
Ann? We are not used to it. | use
table cover of oilcloth for every day.
Pm afraid Billy will spill something
on this"
"Oh nonsense, Helen, what if he
does? 1t can easily be washed We
always use a cloth and the children
have become accustomed to being care
full; they seldom spill anything" ex-
planned Ann.
At this Helen began to notice the
Caylor children. They were eating
quietly, conveying small pieces of food
to their mouths and using their knives
and forks as deftly as grownups.
"Billy dear, take your elbows off the
table," his mother reminded him,
frowning a little.
Every one could see that poor little
Billy was in misery for fear he would
do something that he shouldn't. He
was anxious to get the meal over and
so blurted out quickly, "Pass the
cake"
Didn't you forget something, dar-
ling?" warned his mother.
"Please, pass the cake" he muttered
although he would almost rather have
gone without it.
After lunch Helen spoke to Ann
about the charming manners of her
two children.
'How do you do it"?Sshe asked in
wonder.
"Why it isn't so hard" Ann replied
"Jim and | make it point to always
say, please, thank you, beg pardon,
and so on as often as the occasion
calls for it, especially when the chill
dren do nice things for us. The chill
dren just unconsciously begin to use
those expressions when they should.
They are such great imitators, you
know. We have few rules we OBJ
serve at the table which are easily
followed and which, with much repre-
tition, become habits"
"Please tell me what they are" said
Mrs. Lane.
"Well, first they are to sit up
straight, without resting elbows on
the table; to eat and drink as quietly
as possible; to refrain from talking
when the mouth is full; and to use the
knife, fork and spoon correctly. We
have three correction meals week.
For these the children and | take
turns as critics and we vie with each
other in making our suggestions
courteous. At other meals only Father
may correct any one and it is very
seldom necessary for him to take ad-
vantage Of his privilege.
"Their father and | commend the |
children when they show us some
special courtesy because we have
learned that praise gets better results
than nagging. In the course Of time
good manners become natural, not
to put on just for COM
pany"
"You are right, Ann. | hope shall
be as successful as you have BEEN"