The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-12-12
VOICES OF
AUTHORITY
HILDA RICHMOND


Four voices at once cried, "Don't do
that!" Little Frederick had taken hold
of new small clock carelessly left
within too easy reach of his small
hands. Frederick's father, his two
grandmothers and his cousin uttered
the command. Miss Elsie, his elder
brothers kindergarten teacher, who
happened to be present, handed Fred
erick large bunch of keys, so the
clock was quickly forgotten. Nobody
said anything about putting an expen-
sive gift at the end of the table where
curious little boy could easily get
possession of it and so get into trouble,
and nobody thought to praise the good
sense of the teacher for saving Fred
erick's feelings in a tactful way.
In the lives of little children there
are often too many voices that at
tempt to speak with authority. Obedi-
ence to principal must be taught, and
the young child must do as he is told,
but in the confusion of tongues there
is danger for children and much dis
appointment. Mother says Frederick
may play on the lawn, and forthwith
Grandmother thinks it is too cold and
either bribes Frederick to stay in
doors, or else says how sorry she
would be if her little grandson should
get sick and miss his playtime be-
cause he did not need her warning.
81 found that my children were get
ting saucy and disobedient because too
many persons in our home were try
ing to direct their BEHAVIOR" said a
young mother. "My mother and Johns
father live with us for financial
reasons, and they know they are very
welcome to a share of all we have,
but, | decided, our children must not
be confused and upset by having con-
flicting directions with regard to their
behavior. So one evening, after the
children were safe in bed, l called a
conclave of father, mother, grand
mother, grandfather, and we talked
the problem over amicably. 1t was
all settled in happy, friendly way,
the older folks seeing at once that, in
the home, children should be governed
by their parents alone, who should
agree on all basic principles and as
far as possible on details. After this
were no conflicting directions.
If. as sometimes happened, the young
sters were left in charge of either
grandparent, he or she had authority
over them until their father or | re-
turned"
Robert Reid was a much over-super-
vised little boy One summer he was
sent to a children's camp for va
cation. He came home radiantly happy.
'I've had the best time!" he told his
mother. "Mr. Powell was the only one
whose rules we had to follow. Here
at home | have to mind my mother
and my father and the maid and
Cousin Hettie, and it keeps me busy
trying to remember what they want
and don't want me to do. Mother, may
] go to camp every year and have a
good time?"
81 hope so, Sonny" said the some
what chargined mother, as the child's
words convicted her Of poor home gov
ernment. Then she added, "That GER
tainly was wonderful experience for
you. And did Mr.. Powell have good
rules 2"
"The best in the world, Mother. He
only gave us a few. They were about
wandering out of bounds, going into
the water when he was not there and
things like that. He said he trusted
each one of US to learn and keep them
1t was perfectly grand and nobody had
to be punished or sent home. You see
there were so few it was easy to re-
member them all and keep them."
Cousin Hettie had entered the liv-
ing room in time to hear Roberts re-
marks. "T'm going to keep a close
watch over my words and even my
looks from this time henceforth," she
said, soberly. "That Mr.. Powell must
be a wonderful young man. All the
boys love him."
"Invite him to dine with us tomor-
row, Robert" said the mother. 81 want
to thank him for all his kindness to
my boy and for some other things be-
Sides"
"And so do l." said Cousin Hettie.