Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-10-31
Problems
With the Children
BY sBYL LELAH TENRLETON

There had been a concentrated ef-
fort on the part Of the community to
divert Halloween pranksters from de-
structive activities. School authorities
and parents. assisted by Boy Scouts.
united in a campaign to substitute
harmless fun for unlawful acts. Al
leading newspaper had Offered tickets
to a movie theater. with special at
fractions promised. In return for
pledges that youngsters would refrain
from annoying tricks. Unfortunately,
this resurrected the old Halloween
game Of Trick or Treat" Housewives
filled their cookie Jars In readiness
to treat so they might rest assured
that windows, gates and clotheslines
would remain unmolested.
The children did not wait for the
eventful eve when elves and hob
COLLINS are supposed to make their
appearance, but began festivities sew
eral evenings earlier, ringing door
bells and shouting, Trick or Treat"
All persons concerned, for the most
part, were good-natured. The boys and
girls were satisfied with a few apples
or cookies, or whatever might be
handed them. One little girl confided
gleefully, Il had so much that Il
took some home" But by the time
Halloween arrived the patience of
homemakers was sorely tried, and cup
boards were as empty as Old Mother
Hubbard's.
On the morning of All Saints day,
I was walking in the crisp November
air. That hobgoblins and elves had
held sway the evening before was ap-
parent by gruesome warnings and
markings on windowpanes. By these
markings one could easily surmise
where tricksters had been repulsed
Childish voices interrupted my
thoughts and my attention was drawn
to the conversation of two boys, about
5 and 3 years of age.
Il wish hadn't lost that dime" the
elder of the two said pensively. What
dime?" queried the smaller Of the two
boys indifferently. He was busily en-
crossed in manipulating a toy auto
mobile. IVY, don't you remember?
The dime the dame handed us when
We told her, Trick or Treat If we
had it We could buy some candy" The
boys face frightened with inspiration.
I'll tell you what" he exclaimed, lets
go there again tonight an tell her
Trick or Treat then she'll have to
give us another dime"
What were the processes Of thought |
going on in the active mind of the
5-year-old boy, who by the simple de-
vice of warning, Trick or Treat" had
received shining dime with all its
purchasing power? His determination
to repeat the experience shows what
seed had been planted in his fertile
brain. A knock at the door, chal-
lenge to produce dime or its equal
or suffer the consequence nice be-
ginning in blackmail-and our very
young friend was on the road to an
unhappy career.
Where are the parents of these small
but active-minded youngsters? The
Trick or Treat" way out seemed, to
them, to solve the problem. 1.-THE
children must have their fun!" Per-
haps dad and mother were entertain
ing at dinner or were planning to 90
out for the evening. At any rate, S.
year-old Johnnie had been permitted
to go out into the alluring darkness
and had procured easy money. Elated
by his success, he had conceived the
idea of repeating the performance.
Wisdom and watchfulness are nee
essary for the proper guidance of little
children. Their manner of thinking
begins to develop very early, and in
this growth they are much like the
plant which must seek food and water.
Shall we let the characters Of boys
and girls become stunted because of
neglect?