Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-06-27
Problems
With the Children
Issued By the National KinderIns-
ten Association, 3 West loSA 81.
New YoFk City
Tasks Within
Reason
BY FRANCES DUGGAR

Please, Mrs. Smith, would you read
this poem to me?"
Mrs. Smith laid down her dish towel
at the plaintive voice of the small
boy standing in her kitchen doorway.
why, Billy" she said, I'll be glad
! to. Are your mother and father away
from homer"
NO" replied the small boy. Moth
er's reading and dads working in the
garden. They are always too busy to
read 20 me, and I've got to learn this
poem by heart"
Billy advanced and laid the open
book in Mrs. Smiths hand. This one,
please" he said, about Horatius and
/ the Bridge"
Billy, you wouldn't understand that
one very WELL" said Mrs. Smith. And
you could never learn it by heart.
There are pages and pages of it."
I've got to learn it all the same"
persisted the little boy. Dad is going
to give me so cents for learning it."
I! Billy sat very still on the kitchen
stool, the dishwater grew cold the
clocks licked the minutes away, while
Mrs. Smith read on and on.
AT the very end, Billy slipped from
the stool with long sigh, saying, Il
wish I could read it for myself. 1t will
take lots Of reading times to learn it
by heart
Mrs. Smith nodded Would you like
to pick some pansies for me now?"
she asked. My front border is thick
with them
Billys face glowed. He dropped the
book on a chair and ran out. Mrs.
Smith picked up the book, walked de-
liberately through her back yard and
into her neighbours garden.
Mr.. Green looked up in surprise at
the grim face his neighbor wore. I've
been reading 'Horatius' to Billy" she
began.
I'm sorry he bothered YOU" Mr..
Green began to laugh. I'm having a
lot of fun with that little chap. I've
offered him so cents to learn that
poem by heart"
He can't learn it, Mr.. Green. It's
too hard and too long. Why, he's only
6 years old and in the primer class
at school,"
| Mr.. Green laughed louder than ever
of course he can't. But there'u be
no harm done. The little chap ac-
tually thinks that he can do it. It's
SO funny to see how seriously he takes
! the task"
Don't be too sure about the harm
Mr.. Green. I think I know of two
ways in which very great harm will
be done"
What? How?" asked Mr.. Green in
genuine surprise.
We'll, in the first place Billy is 60
,,,fy fn Lao ,, ~, e.,
have set him an impossible task. An
other time he will not be so sure OF
himself"
/ Shouldn't one learn to fail some
times, Mrs. Smith?"
Yes, if one fails through his own
lack OF eXertion, he has learned a
( valuable lesson. But every task at
tempted should be possible one"
I get your point, Mrs. Smith. What's
the other harm?"
Billy may lose confidence in his
own father" answered Mrs. Smith
Next time you set him a task. he will
not be SO willing to attempt it. A little
child expects no trickery. Billy will
work and work, but when he grows
hopeless, it may gradually dawn on
him that you were making fun OF
him. That would weaken his trust and
wound his love for YOU
Il never thought of that, Mrs
Smith, cried the father in eviden,
alarm. rs there anything I can do
or is it too late?"
Il don't think it's too late" smiled
Mrs. Smith. Call Billy over and tell