Milford chronicle., 1939-03-24
CHILDREN'S MANNERS
Waneta A. Holt

Ann Caylor had looked forward to
having her girlhOOd classmate visit
her. She had not seen Helen Lane
since her friends second sOn was d
tiny baby. Ann herself had two
children also, boy and girl, aged
ten and twelve.
After the excitement of the first
| greetings were over, Helen said,
John is visiting his grandfather so
! couldn't bring him, but here is my
/ younger son. Billy. can't you
speak to Mrs. Caylor and the chill
dren?" AIMS children had shaken
hands with Helen and were trying
to be friendly with Billy.
When lunch was nearly ready Ann
called the children telling them it
was time to wash. They soon ap-
Feared with clean hands and hair
neatly combed. They waited for Mrs.
Lane and Billy TO go into the dining
room first and then stood behind
their chairs until the company was
seated. Then Bobby asked the bless
ing in calm. serene manner. He
and his sister always took turns in
doing this.
Mrs. Lane noticed the clean, white
tablecloth and said, what made you
go to all this extra trouble for us.
Ann? We are not used to it. | use
a table cover of Oilcloth for every
day. I'm afraid Billy will spill some
thing on this"
"Oh nonsense. Helen, what if he
does? 1t can easily be washed. We
always use a cloth and the children
have become accustomed to being
careful; they seldom spill anything"
explained Ann.
At this Helen began to notice the
Caylor children. They were eating
quietly. conveying small pieces of
food to their mouths and using their
knives and forks as deftly as grown
ups.
BILLY dear. take your elbows off
the table" his mother reminded him,
frowning u little.
Every one could see that poor Billy
was in misery for fear he would do
something that he shouldn't. He was
anxious to get the meal over and so
blurtcd out quickly. Pass the cake"
Didn't you forget something, dar-
ling" warned his mother.
please, pass the cake" he mutter-
ed although he would almost rather
have gone without it.
After lunch Helen spoke TO Ann
about the charming manners Of her
two children.
How do you do it?" she asked in
wonder.
why it isn't SO hard" Ann re-
piled. Jim and | make it point
to always say. please, thank you,
beg pardon. and SO Oh as often as
the occasion calls for it. especially
when the children do nice things for
us. The children just unconsciously
begin to use those expressions when
they should They are such great
imtators. you know. We have 4 few
rules We observe at the table which
are easily followed and which. with
much repetition. become habits"
"Please tell me what they are. said :
Mrs. Lane.
We'll, first they are to sit up I.
: traight, without resting elbows OIL .
the table; to eat and drink as quietly (
as possible; to refrain from talking /
W
knife, fork and spoon correctly. We /
have three correction meals week. .
For these the children and | take .
turns as critics and we vie with each /
other in making our suggestions /
At other meals only Faith
er may correct any one and it is very /
seldom necessary for him to take adj /
vantage of his privilege.
Their father and commend the
children when they show us some /
special courtesy because we have
learned that praise gets better re-
suits than nagging. In the course
of time good manners become natur-
al. not something to put on just for
You are right. Ann. hope shall
be as successful as you have BEEN"