Milford chronicle., 1941-02-14
"LITTIE PITCHERS
Emma Gary wallace

| Emma Gary wallace
Parents and other adults enjoy
reminiscing concerning their OWL
childhood and recounting the funny
capers and daring pranls which
they used to play. Elderly people are
particularly prone to do this If some
of their companions of long age are
present and the conversation reverts
to their childhood. They usually be-
gin something like this: do you re-
member-?" and then they are off.
Ii young children are present, they
are entranced by the amusing tales
and astonished that their elders ever
did such things as they are now re-
lating.
As a rule, the children have been
given to understand, up to the pres
ent time, that their parents and other
relatives were exceptionally good
boys and girls-meek little creatures
who always did Just what they were
told and could be depended upon to
do the right thing at all times. But
now they are hearing an entirely diff
ferent story and, in contrast, their
own daring deeds are tame.
Just what the effect of this will be
on the listening youngsters is not al
ways predictable. For example, after
Johnny had heard his father tell OF
high old times" he and some of the
other boys used to have, Johnny
waited to go and do likewise, and
some of his attempts were destruc-
tive and even dangerous.
n t,s
other pranks, Johnny and his COM
pani0ns stretched a stout cord across
a roadway along which one or more
persons were likely to pass. The
minister of the little church at the
corner was the victim. Not looking
for any such barrier, this man--lov-
ed by adults and children, alike--was
thrown headlong, sustaining physi-
cal injuries that were lifelong in
their unfortunate consequences.
II mischievous "reminiscences are
to be related for the enjoyment OF
those who were boys or girls of the
past, il is always best not to do t
within the hearing Of children. More
often than not, it is time that throws
a glamour about those pranks; usu-
ally it did not exist when they were
played, and certainly their daring
nature rarely loses anything in the
telling. Those relating the stories
usually enjoy dressing them up 70
make them sound as amusing as pos
sible. Here again the children are
iikefy TO get aa exaggerated ideaa OF
what actually happened aud to feel
that il their parents, who are now
highly respected. did these things, |
It must be all right for them TO do
similar ones.
Further than that, when parents
a little later find it necessary to rep
rimand their children for particular
ly undesirable behavior, the boys and
girls are more than likely to say, to
at least, something OF
this sort: "Oh. so you are scolding
me for a little thing like this, when
you used to do a great deal worse
1t isn't fair! When / grow
up, l want to have funny things to
ak about with those ! played with
when was little"
In this way, it may be that many
PARENTS are today responsible for
much of the roistering conduct OF
who are out with the in
ention merely of having Il harmless
rood time.
Little pitchers" always have had
nd probably always will have big
ars." Let us not forget that The
hildren may hear more and remem-
er more and misconstrue more than {
re think possible. So it is wise TO
AXE no chances.