Milford chronicle., 1939-04-28
LEARNING FROM A BACHELOR
HiIda Richmond

Hilda Richmond
Young Mrs. Give grOaned inwardly
when she saw elegant Mr. Kenneth
approaching the cottage. The chill
uren'S toys were scattered over the
iIvIng-rOOm floor aud the childrens
play suits were not as clean as she
would have wished. Mr.. Kenneth
was bachelor and of course not in
terested IN little children. but as it
was chilly they could not be sent to
the back lawn. Breathlessly. she til
died the room and exhOrted the
! youngsters to be on their best be-
haviOr for she knew the gentleman
/ would have to wait until Aunt Caro-
line arrived home. as his business
was with her. Nervously, she opened
{ the door and told him the circum-
stances while inviting him to enter
and wait
How do you do. Miss Elem" he
asked as the little girl was presented.
What do you think of the weather
today? Is it too cold to give your
interesting family an airing?"
Ellen. fiattered at being treated as
grOwnup, found her voice and told
him that as soon as the sun shOne she
would take her doll out for a ride.
Billy. politely waiting his turn. was
eager to tell of ball game to be held
as soon as Tommy arrived. and he
edded that boys did not care what
the weather was. They were always
ready for game.
Mrs. Give sat listening with in
creasing surprise. There was none
of the usual run of asking ages, how
much they weighed and whether or
not they were in school. Mr.. Ken
meth might have been addressing per-
sons of his own age. so naturally did
he talk with them. They discussed |
good things served at parties. and he |
learned that they liked popcorn and |
taffy best. while he preferred peanuts !
and ice cream. The children knew |
the big building where he had his |
office. and were flattered to receive |
an invitation to call with their father /
some day. Then they talked about |
swimming and the care one must take |
when examining birds nests and the
fun it was to fish with bent pins and |
what kind of dog made the best |
pet. By the time Aunt Caroline re-
turned. they had reached the weighty |
topic of what kind OF doll to give to |
a small relative for a birthday pres
ent--a question that had been puZ-
cling Mr. Kenneth very much.
20. please. Mr.. Kenneth, don't give
her doll that has its clothes sewed
on" said Ellen. clasping her hands
in her earnestness. "The other kind
is very much nicer"
Thank you for the suggestion"
said the caller. And now" turning
to Billy. what kind of roller skates
Fre the boys using? This little niece
of mine has a twin brother and l
want to get him the right present,
too"
Aunt Caroline's return broke up the
and the young man said
goodbye to the children. But the in
cident was not forgotten by them. for
when their father came home they
told him all that had been said. and
how Mr.. Kenneth had promised to
take their advice about the gifts and
how polite he was to them.
"And he didn't say 'choo choo' cars
~ 'doggie' TO u.s." said Billy, "as If
We were babies"
Over the children's heads, Mr.. Give I
looked at his wife, and she flushed a '
little. 81 like Mr.. Kenneth very [
much" she said with an answering ;
glance which told that she meant to
nave her say first "He appreciates
he fact that children grow up and
rcats them according to their devel-
,pment That is the proper way.
Children do not remain babies al
ways. however difficult it may be for |
heir mothers to realize II"
well done!" responded Mr.. Give. {
leartily What's that old saw about |
a bachelors children and" G
ITS a bachelors wife and an old b
maids children" corrected Mrs. +
live. "but all the same one can
earn valuable lessons from bache- =
or or from any other well-informed :
'ersOn."
Can you learn lessons without
oing to school. Mother?" asked FL
en- in perplexity. o
my dear" was the quick answer. O
people who want to learn can find o
pssons in school and out of school as .
mig as life lasts. and that is what Z
our uOthar homes tn do"