Milford chronicle., 1942-03-13
| d O M 6 EDWGA1r l@tM
"The Chiid's First School is the
Famiiy"-FRoEBEL
Issued by the National Kindergarten
Association, West 10th Street,
New York City
A GIFT DENIED
LUCIA MALLORY

LULA mALLOhI
Sometimes mother can be too un-
selfish with their childrenl There
isn't home in Barnard in which /
enjoy visiting any more than 1 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 correction. Instead, they are
given wise and kindly guidance
But even Nancy can make the mis-
take of being too unselflsh.
Her twelve-year-old son, Harold,
has lately acquired a paper route,
which keeps him busy between the
hours of four and six every eve
ming and Lon. Saturday IhoFAlng,
when he does his collecting. His
earnings amount to about two dol
lars 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 I met him
on my way home from the library.
did you know l had a paper
route. now, Miss Mallory? l go all
the way from Bannock TO Fort
streets and as far out as the polo
field! I'm saving my money for a
balloon-tired bicycle. and I'm go
ing to get something nice for Mo-
ther's birthday"
IT'S fine to have a business of
your own, Harold" 1 replied.
AS l walked on home | wondered
what the child's idea of some
thing nice" for his mothers birth
day would be-a box of handker-
chiefs, perhaps, CT gloves or sta
tionery.
That he should choose anything
as substantial and expensive as a
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 ad-
mired this type of reading lamp
ever since it was first displayed
downtown, but I did not expect to
have one for my own desk!
Harold bought it for me with
the first money he earned ON his
paper route, but I'm not going TO
let him pay for it,, she confided in
a lower tone. "He wants to buy q
new bicycle. His old one isn't much
good"
But. Nancy" 1 objected impul-
sively, you wouldn't take away the
boys pleasure in his gift to you,
would you?"
"Harold's only twelve, Lucia, and
his earnings aren't much over two
dollars a week." his mother re-
piled. "The bicycle he wants costs
forty dollars!" ,.....
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, I'm 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, May
be you're right, Lucia. Harolds so
young and he's been so happy over
his first money that l 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" s......
"Yes. indeed" answered.
"Your mother has just been show
ing it to me. ! think that's a de-
lightfully satisfying birthday pres
ent!" . ........ ......,..
$50 does Mother!" Harold smiled
as he turned the switch to display
the lamps softly glowing light. 81
bought her a 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
gaining from sharing his earnings
with me, Lucia," she told me af-
terwards. Sometimes it's hard for
mothers to realize that their chill
dren are growing up"