The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-12-19
GIFT
MONEY
LUCIA MALLORY

LUCIA MALLORY
Do you remember how much fun
it was, once upon time, when some
body gave you the first money that
you ever had, Of your own, to spend?
On my tenth birthday my grand
father sent me two bright silver doll
ars with note telling me to spend
them for whatever | wanted most!
What a momentous decision that was!
l remember that | almost wore the
dollars out before l finally decided up
on the purchase of-you might guess,
since | am now children's librarian
"a book!
When my friend, Louise MacGregor,
invited me to share in the celebration
of Christmas at her hame last year,
thought Of buying copy of that we'll
beloved book for her ten-year-
daughter, Maurine. Then, remember
ing my satisfaction in purchasing a
copy of it myself when | was Maurine's
age, | decided instead to repeat my
grandfather's gift to me.
| wrapped two silver dollars in
tissue paper and tied them up in a
little box, along with a card suggest
ing that my young friend purchase
something for herself that she special
ly desired.
Imagine my surprise, when, as we
sat around the tree and the gifts were
distributed on Christmas morning, to
have Louise take charge Of the money,
saying, "I'll buy something nice for
you, Maurine, the first time l go down.
townw
How I longed to tell Louise that she
had taken away much of her daugh-
ter's pleasure by not letting her de-
eide, or at least share in deciding, how
the money should be spent
| wished that Louise could have been
with me few days later, when call
ed at the home of my friend, Flora
Barron.
To Flora's children, | am "Aunt
Lucia" though only the ties Of a
long and happy friendship unite me
to the family.
They were eager to show me their
Christmas gifts, and, as we talked,
found out what use each child had
made of the money Flora's mother had
sent to them.
81 want you to see my pretty new
outfit, Aunt Lucia" announced Helen
eagerly, as she came in from high
school. "Mother and Daddy gave me
this plaid skirt; Jack gave me this
fluffy blue sweater; and | had enough
money that Grandmother sent to buy
this necklace of autumn leaves and a
howered wooden scarf like those all
the girls are wearing this winter!"
While | was admiring Helen's new
clothes, her brother Jack came in with
his Kodak.
'Pll have some fine pictures to show
you as soon as | get them developed
Aunt Lucia" he declared. 81 bought
new filter for my Kodak with the
Christmas money Grandmother sent
me- | snapped view of Table Rock
with a gorgeous background of clouds
this afternoon"
| could easily have guessed how Do
had spent her gift money before she
showed me her new book. Dot has al
ways been ''going to be librarian
just like Aunt Lucia" so she can hav,
all the books she wants.
Bobby, the gardener Of the family
was writing his "thank-you letter" tt
Grandmother. "I'm going to get some
new rose bushes this spring with th'
money you sent me-" he wrote. "Yo,
know, Mother likes roses best Of al
my flowers. I'll get the bushes tina
bloom all summer, SO I'll always hav
some for you whenever you come t.
see u.s."
"Four children" | mused, "hav
spent their Christmas gift money fo
worthwhile thingsw | wished tha
Louise MacGregor had given he
daughter, Maurine, the same satisfac
ton in spending my little gift o
money.
Of course ten-year-old needs coun
sci and guidance from his parents, bu
how can a child ever learn to handl
money successfully if never allowe
personal experience in it's use?