The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-05-04
SING A SONG OF
WORK
LEILA MUNSELL

/
pancakes, goody!" cried Judd. "Let
me griddle them!"
His mother hesitated. "Do you think
you can get them just right for Cousin
May?"
"Sure brown them nicely for you
and Daddy"
Judd's mother handed over the pan
cake turner with smile. The first
cake Judd put on their visitors plate
was such golden brown that Cousin
May exclaimed, Perfect! Judd"
The boy flushed with pleasure.
Mother lets me mix them, too. And
| can fry bacon and eggs"
When they were alone Cousin May
asked, "How did you get small boy
like Judd interested in cooking?"
"He begged to cook. His sisters had
had the cooking fever at about his
age, and they are still willing helpers.
SO when Judd wanted to learn, | de-
cided that it was time to start him.
A boy should know something about
cooking, as well as a girl. His en-
thusiasm will lessen after while, |
suppose, but just now he is eager. He
helps me mix cakes and scrub potatoes
for baking and prepare salads"
"Fine!" applauded Cousin May. "1t's
good for children to learn how to
work."
1t's more than good; it's absolutely
necessary. All my children have had
their regular tasks since they were
three years old"
as that why your household runs
so smoothly"
"Partly, | have tried to grade the
tasks according to their ages, and to
teach the children carefully just how
they should be done, but when task
was once assigned it was the child's
responsibility. Interruptions were not
permitted and excuses were seldom ac-
cepted. Even though playmate came
in during the performance of task
the child went on with it until it was
done. Each duty was something that
could be checked, and the whole fam
lily knew whether or not it was ne
elected. 1t took constant vigilance on
my part, but it has paid.
Sometimes neglect carried its own
punishment. We had some little chicks
and it was Annette's task to shut them
up. One afternoon | saw sudden
storm coming and told her to hurry
and get them in. / was busyand some
thing distracted her attention, and she
didn't do it. | did not know that, and
so later | said, It's lucky you got the
chicks into their dry house. 1t was
raining torrents. Her eyes widened
'Oh, Mother, | forgot she confessed
OF course it was part of her work tc
go out with me and gather them up
We tried to dry them but still lost
half"
"Did you scold herr"
"Oh no. ! comforted her; she was
hearted. But she learned {
valuable leSSon-that we must do oul
work or suffer the consequences"
''Do you pay the children for these
tasks?"
"Not for these regular tasks. An
nette had a playmate who never die
anything willingly unless she was pait
for it. Annette was influenced by this
attitude, so talked with her and made
her see that she was part of the
family, the same as | was. why
should ! pay you, any more than yol
should pay me, for helping to make
our home happy" | asked, and sh,
saw the point. As the children grew
older, however, did provide extra
tasks for which paid them"
"Your children all seem to enjoy do
ing their part" commented Cous,
May.
Eyes, they do. We've made work I
joyous thing, an interesting thing
When any one learned to master Z
particularly hard job we celebrated
Mary Dot had a hard time learning
to make beds neatly. The first time
she did them all just right baked hen
cake. Of course she shared it will
the others and they were all yer!
happy over her success"