Milford chronicle., 1939-04-21
BETTY BREAKS A TUMBLER
Marion Brownfeld

Marion BrOWnf1eld
Betty aged eleven. was in the
kitchen washing the dinner dishes
while her father and some relatives
were visiting in the breakfast room
adjoining. Betty often did" the
dishes alone. She now proceeded
methodically to stack them as she
/ had been taught to do. Then she
| placed a second pan to rinse the
dishes in. All the time. however.
one ear was straying toward the
pleasant conversation nearby. Mother
was across the hall putting the last
stitches on dress Betty was to wear
en- the morrow, and the little girl was
dawdlng in order to enjoy the chat
Daddy was having with the COM
pany".
Suddenly. Betty breathed pro-
lOnged. ."Oh-!"
Daddy's head appeared in the
kitchen doorway Break some
thing?" he inquired
The hot water did," explained
Betty replacing tea kettle OF hot
water on the stove.
The guests in the breakfast room
smiled at the explanation. But Betty
bravely held up a cracked tumbler.
Too bad" said Daddy sympa
thetiCally.
I'D better go and tell Mother"
Betty marched gravely out of the
kitchen.
I'D give anything if my boy.
hnr
thing like that happens" remarked
Cousin Harriet. IL scold him and
scold him. but it doesn't seem to
make any impression"
Him." said her husband. 'it makes
him afraid to confess
Betty. back in the kitchen. ap-
preached the breakfast room door.
holding the cracked tumbler. She
smiled at her father. Mother says |
must be sure to have the rinsing wa
ter cool enough to put my finger in.
But she says not to worry about this
particular glass, because it was a
cheap one" Betty resumed her dish
washing humming softly to her
self.
We'll. it's a sort of habit. think"
Der father said in an undertOne to his
relatives. this Tossing up. but Bet
tY's mother never makes it hard for
child to tell her anything She says
confidence is the one thing she wants
from the children And We find that
they themselves are as regretful over
a mistake or an accident as We are.
We simply talk it over and some
times. not too often. use it as a basis
for a future reminder to avoid repe-
tition.
when we gave Ted his new bicy-
Gle | told him TO be careful where he
parked it-not to leave it long in un-
familiar surroundings. He was pret-
ty careful the first month Then he
forgot one day and left his wheel in
vacant lot down near the railroad
tracks. while he pitched an impromp-
tu ball game"
And it was stolen" inquired Cou-
sin Harriet.
mo: when he went for il. appar
emily II was all right Then he dis
covered about half a dozen of the
parts were gone."
Well. said Cousin Harriet's hus-
band. II expect he didn't relish tell
ing you!"
mo. said Ted's father with a
laugh. 'hs didn't. He commenced. /
though. by saying. You were right.
Dad. about my bike.
ITS expensive" complained Cou
sin Harriet. "the things these young /
sters do: | would whip George if he
me like that"
Ted's father shook his head. That's
out of date. Harriet. said to Ted.
What happened. SOM He then told
ne just what had happened and
what was missing. Well. | told him
Il was his job to earn back those
parts.
"I've been thinking ii over. Dad
re said. so I asked Mrs Clark. down
he street. if l could NOV her lawn.
md she said she would like to have
Ter car cleaned. It'll be every two
weeks. Dad!'"
ITO have to work for something
ike that. will make a man of him"
approved Cousin Harriet's husband.
we must go" Cousin Harriet
rose.
Betty hurried from the kitchen and
oon returned. Mother wants you to
zee my new dress!" she said.
Cousin Harriet looked around the
iitGhen It was unmistakably in or
Ter. Your wife must take a lot
f time and trouble training the ,
She sighed. {
Betty's father hesitated. How much
AIRED he saw "Weil an tounce Of
he ventured But ,
fter all. children are people-they !
re seldom intentional miscreants-
hat is il you treat them as if you I;
expected them to be responsible.- a
-well-take II for granted.
Ou know. Y