The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-03-02
Learning From a
Bachelor
HILDA RICHMOND

Young Mrs. Give groaned inward
when she saw elegant Mr.. Kenne
approaching the cottage. The chill
ren's toys were scattered over the Ii
ing room floor and the childrens pE
suits were not as clean as she wou
have wished. Mr.. Kenneth was
bachelor and Of course not interest,
in little children, but as it was chill
they could not be sent to the ba.
lawn. Breathlessly, she tidied II
room and exhorted the youngsters
be on their best behavior for she kne
the gentleman would have to wait u
til Aunt Caroline arrived home, as h
business was with her. Nervousl
she opened the door and told him II
circumstances while inviting him Il
enter and wait
"How do you do, Miss Ellen 2" ri
asked as the little girl was presente,
What do you think of the weathe
today? Is it too cold to give your IN
teresting family an airing?" +
Ellen, much fattered at beinf
treated as grownup, found her voici
and told him that as soon as the SUI
shone she would take her doll out foi
ride. Billy, politely waiting hi.
turn, was eager to tell Of ball gam
to be held as soon as Tommy arrived
and he added that boys did not car
what the weather was. They were al
ways ready for game.
Mrs. Give sat listening with in
creasing surprise. There was none O.
the usual run of asking ages, hov
much they weighed and whether O..
not they were in school. Mrs. Ken
meth might have been addressing per.
sons of his own age, so naturally die
he talk with them. They discussed
good things served at parties, and he
learned that they liked popcorn anc
taffy best, while he preferred peanuts
and ice cream. The children knew the
big building where he had his office.
and were fattered to receive an in
vitation to call with their father some
day. Then they talked about SWIM
ming and the care one must take when
examining birds nests and the fun il
was to fish with bent pins and what
kind Of dog made the best pet. By
the time Aunt Caroline returned, they
had reached the weighty topic of what
kind Of doll to give small relative
for birthday present-a question
that had been puZzling MIR. Kenneth
very much.
80, 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 y
said the caller. "And now," turning
to Billy, what kind of roller skates
are the boys using? This little niece
of mine has twin brother and I want
to get him the right present too"
Aunt Caroline's return broke up the
conversation and the young man said
goodbye to the children. But the in
cldent 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
or 'doggie' to US" said Billy, "as if
we were babies"
Over the children's heads, Mr.. Give
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 have her
say first. ale appreciates the fact
that children grow up and treats them
according to their development. That
is the proper way. Children do not
remain babies always, however diff
cult it may be for their mothers to re-
alize it."
"Well done" responded Mr.. Give,
heartily. "What's that old saw about
"a bachelors children and"
ITS "a bachelors wife and an old
maids children" corrected Mrs. Give,
"but all the same one can learn valu-
able lessons from a bachelor or from
any other well-informed person."
"Can you learn lessons without go
ing to school, Mother?" asked Ellen
in perplexity.
My DEAR" was the quick answer,
people who want to learn can find
lessons in school and out of school as
long as life, and that is what your
mother hopes to do"
Mrrh can he lnarnnd from nthnrr