By Helen Gregg Green
“I know I have not been what the world calls successful,” one of my husband’s friends confided to me, “but my son will be!”
“You are naturally brilliant, everybody admits that, Throck,” I told him, “and Junior has the same keen mind.”
“You are evading the issue,” Throck laughed. “You think it would hurt to say, ‘No, you have not been a success!’ It wouldn’t hurt. I know it, and I know the root of the trouble. I shall see that Junior does not have that same handicap!”
“But what handicap did you have, Throck?” I asked, surprised. “You had a most indulgent father who encouraged you in everything you ever wanted to do.”
“He encouraged me in most things—yes. But he did not teach me the joy of work! In fact, when I was about 12 years old, when the natural desire for real work is very strong, I begged to be allowed to work ’like the other fellows,’ but Father would not allow David or me to lift a finger. ‘You’ll have responsibilities enough when you’re older. This is the playtime of your life,’ he insisted.”
“He meant well,” I interrupted.
“Yes, no doubt. But when David and I faced the responsibilities of life and tried to buckle down to work, it was too late. Already I am beginning to instill in Junior the love of work. There’s nothing like it to compel concentration and protect a lad from the dangers of idleness. Of course it must not be overdone, but that’s what a day is for—to be a ‘guiding hand,’ to see that these character-building ‘doses’ ae given in just the right proportions.”
“What is Throck doing now?” I asked, all interest.
“Well, you know he’s only 10. But he’s editing his own newspaper, is a ‘regular errand boy’ as he calls it, for three of his mother’s friends and during the summer vacation he delivers papers, sells magazines and helps Mother with the housework. You should see his paper! It has taught him to e systematic and business-like; best of all, he’s learning how to meet people,” and the father’s face lighted with pride.
“And what does he do with his money” was the next question.
“We leave that entirely to him,” Throck replied, “and he’s learning the value of a dollar. Most of it he saves—he has quite a bank account—the rest he spends carefully or gives away where he thinks it will do the most good. He discriminates very well for a little fellow, too.”
“Well, Throck,” I said smiling, “I known one thing, you’re a most successful parent! And being a parent is really the biggest, best job of all.”
From page 2 of The Star of Zion, The Official Organ of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 21, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sf88092969/1926-01-21/ed-1/seq-2/
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