The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-12-25
A GIFT DENIED
By LUCIA MALLORY

Sometimes mothers can be too un-
selfish with their children! There isn't
a home in Barnard in which | enjoy
visiting any more than do in Nancy
Harter's. Once an ideal primary
teacher, Nancy is now an ideal
mother. Her children are so healthy
and happy that they need little cor
rection. Instead, they are given wise
and kindly guidance. But even Nancy
can make the mistake of being too un-
selfish.
Her 12-year-old son, Harold, has
lately acquired a paper route, which
keeps him busy between the hours of
four and six every evening and on
Saturday morning, when he does his
collecting. His earnings amount to
about two dollars each week, and no
business man was ever prouder of his
bank account than is this young friend
Of mine.
Harold told me all about his new
work one evening when | met him on
my way home from the library.
,"Did you know l had paper route,
now, Miss Mallory? l go all the way
from Bannock to Fort Streets and as
far out as the polo field! Pm saving
my money for a ballon-tired bicycle,
and Pm going to get something nice
for Mothers birthday"
cts fine to have business of your
own, Harold" replied.
AS | walked on home | wondered
what the child's idea of something
nice" for his mothers birthday would
be-a box of handkerchiefs, perhaps,
or gloves or stationery.
That he should choose anything as
substantial and expensive as reading
lamp did not occur to me. But that is
just what his mother showed me when
l stopped at her home a few days
later.
"See what Harold gave me for my
birthday, Lucia Nancy led me to the
corner of the room where her desk
was standing. "I've admired this type
of reading lamp ever since it was first
displayed downtown, but | did not eX-
pect to have one for my own desk!
Harold bought it for me with the
first money he earned on his paper
route, but Pm not going to let him
pay for it," she confded in lower
voice. "He wants to buy new BIZ
cycle. His old one isn't much good"
"But, Nancy" | objected impulsive-
ly, "you wouldn't take away the
boys pleasure in his gift to you,
would you?", r@
'Harold's only IL, Lucia, and his
earnings aren't much over two dol
lars a week." his mother replied. "The
bicycle he wants costs $4Ov
"Nancy, if you had seen Harold's
face when he told me about his paper
route and the nice birthday present
he was going to buy for you, Pm sure
you'd let him pay for it, even though
that must put off the purchase of his
new bicycle for a number of weeks!'
Nancy looked thoughtful. "Maybe
you're right, Lucia. Harold's so young
and he's been so happy over his first
money that | thought just couldn't
let him spend so much of it for mel"
At that moment the boy himself
came into the room.
"Have you seen Mothers new lamp,
Miss Mallory?" he inquired. "Isn't it
a beauty?"
eyes, indeed!" | answered. "Your
mother has just been showing it to
me. | think that's delightfully."- salts
flying birthday PRESENT."
$50 does Mother" Harold smiled as
he turned the switch to display the
lamps softly glowing light. 81 bought
her present she can use!"
Nancy's smile of understanding told
me that she would let him keep his
satisfaction in his gift.
"I'm glad that you made me see
how much pleasure Harold was gain
ing from sharing his earnings with
me, Lucia" she told me afterward.
"Sometimes it's hard for mothers to
realize that their children are growing
IN"