Milford chronicle., 1939-05-19
SING A SONG OF WORK
BY Leila Munsell

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Pancakes. goody!" cried Judd.
Let me grlddle them!"
His mother hesitated. do you
think you can get them just right for
Cousin May?"
Sure. l brown them nicely for
you and Daddy"
Judd's mother handed over the
pancake turner with a smile. The
first cake Judd put on their visitors
plate was such a golden brown that
Cousin May exclaimed. Perfect!
Judd"
The boy flushed with pleasure.
Mother let's me mix them. too. And
| can fry bacon and eggs"
When they were alone Cousin May
asked. How did you get a 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. | decided that It was time to
start him. A boy should know some
thing about cooking, as we'll as
girl. His enthusiasm will lessen af-
ter a while. suppose, but just now
he is eager. He helps me mix cakes
and scrub potatoes for baking and
prepare salads"
Fine" spplauded Cousin May.
IT'S good for children TO learn how
to work"
Its more than good: it's abso-
lutely necessary. All my children
have had their regular tasks since
they were three years old"
"Is that why your household runs
so smoothly"
Partly. l 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 1t was the child's
responsibility. Interruptions were
not permitted and excuses were sell
dom accepted. Even though a play
mate came in during the perform
ance of a task the child went on
with it until 1t was done. Each duty
was something that could be checked
and the whole family knew whether
or not 1t was neglected It took con-
stant vigilance on my part. but 1t
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 I saw
sudden storm coming and told her
to hurry and get them in. | was busy
and something distracted her atten-
tion. and she didn't do it. I did not
know that, and so later I said, It's
lucky you got the chicks into their
dry house 1t was raining torrents.
Her eyes widened. oh. Mother. for
got she confessed. Of course 1t was
part of her work to go out with me
and gather them up. We tried to dry
them but still lost half"
did you scold her"
"Oh, no, | comforted her: she was
broken-hearted. But she learned
valuable lesson-that we must 90
our work or suffer the consequen-
res."
do you pay the children for these
tasks?" Z
Not for these regular tasks. An
pette had a playmate. who never did
anything willingly unless she was
paid for it. Annette was influenced
Dy this attitude, so talked with her
and made her see that she was
part of the family. the same as
vas. Why should l pay you. any
more than you should pay me. TOT
lelping to make our home happy?
asked. and she saw the point AS
he children grew older. however |
lid provide extra tasks for which
,aid them"
Your children all seem to ENJOY
Ioing their part" commented Cousin
lay.
"Yes, they do. We've made work a
oyous thing, an interesting thing'
when any one learned to master
,articuIarIy hard job we celebrated
fary Dot had q hard time learning
O make beds neatly. The first time
he did them all just right l baked
Ter a cake. OF course she shared II
With the others and they we're all
ery happy over her success"