The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-01-09
HER CHuDREN'S
FRIENDS
ALICE A. KEEN

Excuse me a minute, please" said
Mrs. Lee. 81 hear the children COM
ing in from school"
From my seat in the living room of
the old-fashioned house, | could look
through to the kitchen where she was
dividing fruit and cookies among her
two children and the friends they had
brought home with them. "Did your
mother say you might share our lunch
today, Andy" she asked one small
boy. He smiled and nodded. Then
pretty soon | saw all the children 60
ing out to play.
"Your place seems to be a play
ground for other peoples children" l
remarked when Mrs. Lee came back
to me.
"WelI," she said with utmost good
nature, 81 like to have my own child
ren close at hand. Their friends like
to come here because the yard is a
good comfortable place for their
games, and on rainy days / let them
come inside"
"How do you ever stand it," l mar
yelled. From their appearance l
should think they'd upset things
seriously"
Mrs. Lee laughed. II suppose they
would if I'd let them but they like to
come here we'll enough to mind the
rules of the house. Oh, yes, | do have
certain rules. They're printed on
card that hangs on the kitchen wall"
"This is such a mixed neighbor-
hood" | said doubtfully. Glow do you
ever sort the children out? There
must be many undesirables.
81 don't sort them out" Mrs. Lee
replied earnestly. "As long as they
obey the rules which are very simple
and as plain as day, they may enjoy
our home | do insist, though, on re-
spectacle language and fairly good
manners"
"But aren't you afraid your child
rem will pick up faults in grammar
and bad manner or two?" | argued.
"My children have been taught the
difference between the good and bad
of language and manners, and they've
developed character enough by this
time, hope to adopt what is really
worthwhile"
well" l said, "I'll have to admit
that your system works. You have
fine children, and your home must
seem a place of happiness to their
friends; you make them so welcome"
"Yes," said Mrs. Lee, her voice
deep with feeling. Il do make them
welcome; for, oh, | remember so well
an experience that came to me in my
childhood. There was one very hard
year when l was little girl. My
father had lost his health and then
had lost his teaching position, and we
were very, very poor. We moved
to an old house near the railroad track
in what was considered very un-
desirable part of the town. 1t was the
best we could afford.
81 had made friend at school
Barbara Curtis. She was delightful.
| never would have known she was a
child of wealth if had not gone home
with her one day. Her mother looked
me over, asked where lived, and then
told me to go away. She did not want
me coming to her house.
Barbara was terribly ashamed Of
her mother, but she handled the affair
like little thoroughbred. She ex-
planned who my father was and spoke
of his illness. Her mother then apol-
ogized and allowed our friendship to
continue, but l have never forgotten
the bitter pain that my child-heart
suffered that day"
Yes" thought to myself, "but out
Of that painful experience came un-
derstanding and wisdom that have
brought much happiness to many
children"