The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-09-15
By GRACE ARCHBoLD

" w are very naughty DOy,
4 said Mrs. Wilson to her little
son, as she looked with dismay at
the mutilated magazine she had
just taken from him. "If Donald
were not on his way to tea with you,
would put him off and punish you
severely. You know this magazine
belongs to his mother and was only
lent to us. / shall have to explain
to her, and what will she think? It
is not easy to get another copy.
Run away, am out of patience with
you," she added, flushed and great
ly annoyed. ~
1t was an unhappy and sullen child
that slipped off to his playroom.
Z A little later a ring of the bell
announced the arrival of the visi-
tors, Mrs. Macgregor and her son
Donald. The boy was carrying a
large parcel and looking very happy
about it.
MAY ! see Harry at once, Mrs.
Wilson? ! have a present for him."
said Donald eagerly.
The two mothers listened for a
few moments, and excited exclama-
tons Of joy soon reached their ears.
"You look disturbed and worried.
hope you are not in trouble" said
Mrs. Macgregor.
eyes, am. Sit down. am so
glad you have come, though l did
think of putting you off, to punish
Harry for his naughtiness. First Of
all must confess to you about this
magazine of yours" responded Mrs.
Wilson. 81 have just caught Harry
in the act of cutting the picture OF
q dog out of it. l am so sorry"
i Mrs. Macgregor laughed. ''It does
not matter in the least. wonder
what made him do it," she added
thoughtfully.
"That is just what / should like to
know. It is not the first time he has
done that sort of thing. He has
perfect passion for cutting out. The
strange thing about it is, that though
have given him old magazines to
clip to his hearts content he does
not confine himself to them. When
the impulse seizes him he is liable
to cut from any paper0or magazine
without any scruples whatever.
Only the other day, found his sis
ter Ethel terribly upset. Harry had
cut the picture of a spaniel out of
the book her father gave her on her
birthday"
Cutting No Idle Impulse.
s'That is bad. He must be taught
to respect other peoples property.
You said it was the picture of a
spaniel? Another dog? Is he fond
of dogs?"
eyes, he is devoted to them. I'm
fortunately, we cannot let him have
one because we live in an apart
ment. What can / do? A few days
ago found a little collection of dog
pictures hidden away in one of his
own books
'That is the explanationl" ex-
claimed Mrs. Macgregor. ut is not
a mere idle impulse, you see. He
cannot have a real dog, so he is
doing the best he can with pictures
of them. Why not help him to turn
his thwarted devotion into scrap
book hobby? AS it happens, Donald
has brought him large scrapbook
like his own. The very thing for
his dog pictures"
Mrs. Wilson gave sigh of relief.
at like that idea," she said. "Harry
will love to fill his book with stories
and pictures of dogs. I'm afraid I
haven't been sufficiently sympathet-
ic with this urge Of his. But of
course he must learn to restrain
himself when the pictures are in
books and magazines, especially
when they belong to other people"
Certainly he must. Why not en-
courage him to take you to see
each new dog before he appropriates
it? Show him that If it were a real
dog he would have to consult you.
Then you two can talk over the pos
sibilities. If he may not have some
particular dog that he wants for
his scrapbook, explain the owners
rights and help him to find another
very much like it. Children are not
unreasonable. 1t will make a great
difference to him when he feels he
has your cooperation.
s'He could color the pictures real
istically; that will add to the inter-
est. He will learn much from the
making of his book, and the mental
training will be invaluable"
eyes, I'm sure you're right. Thank
you," said Mrs. Wilson, smiling
gratefully.
National Kindergarten Association
(WNU Service.5