The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-03-13
THERE IS "A SAFE
WAY OUT
LAURA GRAY

Chief Nickson hung up the receiver
in the police station, and as he reach
ed for his cap he addressed his tall
companion. "Get your coat, Bill, Cen
tral says there's kid yelling its head
off in a house on Yates Street.
The city streets were cold and de-
serted-it was four in the morning.
They had to break into the little gray
bungalow; no one was there except
a very little child.
Don't cry, Sonny, we've come to
take care of you," said Nickson
"Everything is going to be all right" !"
The Chief lifted the curly-haired todd
Ter from the hall floor. Being a family
man himself, he understood something
about children. "Waat's your name ?"
He sat down with the child.
"Tod," with an effort to stop crying.
GLOW old are you, Tod?"
This question struck happy note.
The little one sat up "Four-I had a
cakew
"Why, that was fne!" smiled the
officer. "Now, tell me where Mother
is"
The blue eyes brimmed once more,
"Gone! Daddy not on the phone!" the
baby pointed to the swinging receiver,
and began to cry again.
"Come along with US, We'll take
care of you until Mother comes home.
Bill, you leave note for the parents
Nickson wrapped a blanket around the
little one and started back to the po-
lice station.
Two hours later the young parents
scarcely more than boy and girl
called for the child.
They'd been to dance. Usually the
baby slept all night. Something must
have alarmed him. Yes, he often talk
ed to his daddy over the phone. The
little fellow mIst have been frighten-
ed when he heard Central's voice in.
stead of his fathers.
The above story appeared in one
of our daily newspapers.
For most young parents, the never.
a-night-off care of the children is 9
very real problem. To be obliged to
stay at home night after night con.
tinuously, is deadening; to pay some
one to sit in the house-in addition
to the price Of the entertainment-is
too expensive, or so it seems.
Perhaps that is the wrong way OF
locking at the matter We don't grudge
paying the telephone bill, the light
bill, or any of the other charges that
are part of living. Suppose we lay
aside fifty cents week-almost any
high school girl will stay in the house
one evening for that-and count il
part Of the expense Of bringing VI
children, not add it to the cost Of the
outing. Then it would be no harder
to pay than the telephone bill.
But if this is utterly impossible
then surely some neighbor will be glaC
to bring her knitting and stay il
your house while you are out, in re-
turn for the same service from one
of you. But whatever happens, par
ents must go out together occasional
ly, and little children must not be
left in the house alone.
Now that my own children are al
most grown up, | look back wistfully
How often their father and | gave VI
the pleasure of an evening out to-
gether! | wish we hadn't, now. Surely
the money might have been found, il
we'd thought it necessary.
Going out is good for us. It's good
too, for the growing family, fol
parents in touch with the outer worlc
are in better position to guide theil
children. No workman can do his
best work when he is on the joE
twenty-four hours day-day in anc
day out. No one but mother woulC
try!
Taking Baby along to the party
even though it be at friends house
is not satisfactory. He sleeps poorly
in a strange bed, and it is not goot
for him to be awakened and taker
home in the nighttime. 1t is much
better to get someone to stay witt
him. But, in any case-DON'1
LEAVE A LITTLE CHILD ALONE
IN THE HOUSE.