“IS THAT THE TRUTH?”

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 66

“IS THAT THE TRUTH?”

We all want our children to grow up into persons whose word can be believed. We know that truthfulness is the foundation of all honourable conduct. Incidentally, it is ultimately the only condition of real success in business. So we are careful to be truthful with our little ones, and to keep faith with them whenever we make them a promise. But we’ need not on that account be terribly upset when we first find out a child in someMittle variation of the truth. A great deal of unconscious cruelty may be perpetrated if we fail to realise that a child’s intelligence is limited, and that it is incapable of thinking along grown-up lines, although it will imitate.

Here is a case in point. Molly, aged six, was passionately- fond of .a Teddy bear that had shared her joy's and sorrows from babyhood. He was very shabby and had lost one of his eyes, while one ear hung by a thread. Failing to understand that he was the more endeared to his owner by these accidents, an aunt presented Molly with a new and gorgeously coloured monkey. Molly, as she had been taught to dp, thanked the donor prettily; but the momertt her aunt’s back was turned she put the smart newcomer on the top of a bureau and hugged Teddy. Noticing that the new 'toy never accompanied the child for a walk, the aunt was told “ he was tired, and had to rest,” or that “he had a cold.” On being asked the straight question, “Don’t you like your new monkey?” Molly’ raised blue eyes -in perfect innocence and said, “ Oh, yes. He’s perfec’ly lovely .’. . but he—isn’t very well today.”

“An absolute lie. for she hates the thing,” said her mother, worriedly, “ and I can’t decide whether to scold her for being deceitful or not.” Most parents will praise Molly for the delicate way- she tried to avoid giving pain, rather than blame her for the deceit. But it is a hint to aunts to ascertain a small recipient’s wishes before presenting gifts. For children, like ourselves, have decided preferences.—An exchange.