Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-06-06
lined for them. And so they came to

lined for them. And so they came to
Minnie.
While the parents and teachers Of
the little boys who stamE:ered were
leaving. Mr.. HertZmeyer opened the
folder on Minnie and began to read it.
His eyes popped and then looked back
to see If he had the correct folder. Yes,
there was Minnie's name at the top.
Minnie Gantz, twelve and one-half
years old, seventh grade, health excel
lent This was Minnie'S "dosier." He
read on:
Problem. Child lies without reason
and has lately shown tendency to
steal.
Examination by Mr.. Kent: Minnie's
reactions are SLOW" tMinnie's! thought
Mr.. Hertzmeyer and he read on Min
ME admits that she lies but says she
does not know why. There is def
mite need for recognition. This child
that several children be asked to CO.
operate in providing her with play
mates. She said, when asked about Sun
day School, that she did not go be-
cause her teacher didn't like her. 1t
might be new teacher in a different
church would help. The home environ
ment was found clean and acceptable
in every way but without the slight
est degree of luxury. The mother is CO.
operative and concerned"
II hate to disillusion you," Mrs Hen
messy said, but Minnie goes to Sunday
School every Sunday and is the first
one there. She won a gold medal last
year for knowing more Bible verses
than any other child in town.
Her statement shows a dread of
Sunday School anyhow"
II don't believe it," said Mrs. Hen
messy flatly she loves Sunday school.
She has a good teacher, one of the
best in town. AS for playmates-loOk
out of the window there and you will
see dozen children playing a wild
game and Minnie in the middle of it.
You can see that any day in the week.
She has more playmates than any child
in town. She can always think up
games, dramatize any situation. And
she is absolutely democratic. Why, she's
kind even to the incest children i'll
town"
Miss WEIGH has explained to me
about the matter of the watch" said
DR.. Wildermeer smoothly, determined
not to let Mrs. Hennesy annoy her.
We realize that Minnie has enjoyed
being examined. She seems to me to
be especially bright. She has a great
need for attention, perhaps an eXceS-
sive need for it from some lack in her
daily life. Perhaps the loss of her faith
err has made her feel insecure. The
mother is well meaning but unimagin-
alive. If some sympathetic adult could
gain her confidence and command her
respect"
she is in love with her teacher"
said the irrepreSsible Mrs. Hennesy. He
might do something along that line"
Everyone laughed and Mr.. Hertzmeyer
turned brick red.
Minnie is l2," he said severely and
Mrs. HenneSy answered: Twelve and
half. Juliet was 49," But MI. Hertz
meyer was not amused.
Minnie is very responsive he be
gan and they all laughed again and he
turned the color of beet. But he went
on doggedly: have found that in Civ
ing her attention, one only encourages
her fabrications. She seems to me to
lie partly out of desire to be enter
tanning and Mr.. HertZmeyer stopped
and sat still while again an idea moved
across the surface of his mind like
breeze that ruffles the water and is
gone. He pulled himself together.
In the matter of the watch" he said
seriously, and they all listened to him
now, lin every one Of the seven stories
Mlll1lle tOlQ al one Time or announcer
there has been an element of truth She
did go to Stone City with the John
sons. She did sit by Archie Connel in
the show. She was In Mrs. Bells house
alone. Mrs. Bell left her there to wait
for her granddaughter. All of these
stories had a certain elements of fact
and all were plausible with detail and
consistency. There wasn't one which
could not have been true If one could
select the proper details, the story Of
the watch would be revealed. I still do
not believe she stole it, although I
can't account for it."
Her imagination needs control to
say the least" said DR.. Wildermeer.
Reading might be an important out
let for her"
They talked about Minnie but there
was over the conference now an air of
profound Encouragement. They did not
really accomplish anything for as Mrs.
Hennesy said bluntly most Of the rec
methods had been tried on
Minnie and she had loved them all. DR..
Wndermeer gathered up her papers
with q few trite remarks reminding