The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-08-20
LIFE AT TIE BEACH
By LUCIA MALLORY

The day WAS hot. and the beach was
crowded with batherS summing in the
sand and watching the flashing blue
water. Among the groups making bright
spots OF color against the fitting ana
tipping waves, one singled Itself OUT
for my idle attention., chiefly because OF
the two gay little girls and the posi-
tive. penetrating voice of one of tn"
women This woman was RECALLING the
three others with an account OF lille
at the beach in Florida during the
hotel season, and Palm Beach in par
uicular-the size of the tips, the cost
of bathing privileges, and so forth. Her
listeners - Main Street COUSINS pre-
sumably - looked properly impressed
and hopefully anointed white skins
with sun-tan oil while she complacent-
ly surveyed her nearly mulattto tan
and well-modeled. slim figure.
The little girls, about ten, they
looked. prattled, laughed and played in
the sand. The chunky. rather plain,
eager one interrupted politely. Mother.
We're so hot . We want TO get cones.
Jane has some money. May l have
some, toO!'
"Of course you want a cone. You
always do" unamiably replied the
mother. "Here" and she handed the
child some change from her beach bag.
THANK YOU" murmured the little
girl, flushing, and looking glad to
scamper away with her small COM
panion.
And why wouldn't she want a cone
in this heat?' | grumbled indignantly
to myself as | turned over in my beach
chair to browse again under the warm
shade of its striped umbrella. Some
time later an imploring wall aroused
me, "Nlother! Mother! Come quick
Mother. Its all melting! Oh, hurry,
MOther.'
1t was the little girl with the passion
for ice cream cones. | sat up TO see
what the commotion was about. There
she was, poor child, up on the board
walk where two ice cream cones were
fast running away from her frantic
grasp.
What is it? What do YOU want
now" called her mother irritahly.
Then gimpsing her little daughters
predicament she dartcd up and STROBE
chmSily through the heavy sand, Scold-
ing as she went. Curious eyes turned
to watch and curious ears strained TO
catch the TRADE. Disgusted | closed
my eyes again only 10 open them as
the trio returned
Never again ~ scOlded the irate one
tenSely. Never will ! take You any
place with ne again FLORIDA or any
other place Enjoy Yourself today,
as if she could, poor little one. be
cause it's the last time. Carrying an
ice cream cone all the way in this sun
Look at Yourself. And getting me all
sticky, too! Why don't you ever
think? She stopped for breath.
But Mother" protested the scarlet
YOU one, too" and there were tears in
her eyes, saw.
The other child bore dripping cones
also, one of which she laughingly
handed to her mother. You'll need a
straw" she giggled.
THANK you, dear smiled her
mother, taking the treat in a pleased
way Nov that was very thoughtful
and generous of YOU girls"
Which, | reflected. is the important
thing for little girls to be. And you.
mother of the unhappy little girl beau
tiful as you are, are making yourself
most unattractive by your unkindness,
and are forfeiting the affection and
confidence of your little daughter. OF
course you want the love of your child