So many changes had been brought about since the society started that a
large number had leased land for a long term of years, building their
own houses or cottages near the colony after they saw the advantages of
the society. They did not like to live in the apartment houses or
hotels, nor did they care to have their children in the boarding
schools, but did like the system of revenue that came so regularly from
the factories, stock farms, cotton plantations, etc., and the short
hours that all the members had to give to the society’s industries.
These people lived where they liked. Their shares were placed in the
different industries. As they already owned their homes it secured them
a regular income. It also provided for the future of each member of
their family, instead of an insurance; all saw its advantages and
appreciated the fact that they could become honored members of the
society. It gave them rank that nothing else could, because the members
wouldn’t allow dishonest people to be called Honorables. All sorts of
discussions took place for and against the idea of having children under
a system of government. It generally came from the older people or from
those with large incomes. It had caused a prejudice to arise among many
and naturally they talked it over. One lady, a Mrs. Holmes, had
pronounced it a breaking up of homes, and her father had written several
articles about it in the papers. He was coming on a visit. When he
arrived he looked into the subject.
“Yes, indeed, you may count upon me in opposing all such ideas as that.
Our little children should be right in the home with us.”
So they arranged to have a party come to discuss the matter, for and
against it. He had only been with them a few days when it was arranged
to have the meeting. The hour was to be at three o’clock in the
afternoon. Now it was just two when Mrs. Holmes came into the library
where her father was sitting and said:
“Papa, would you like to have the care of the little ones for half an
hour or so? I will have to go to the dressmaker.”
“Certainly,” he answered, “I would be delighted to have them all to
myself.”
She replied, “I let the nurse go out this afternoon, not knowing that I
would have to try on my dress, and tomorrow will be my reception day.
The baby is asleep and these two little ones will keep you company. Cook
will attend the door if any one comes, so I will go now and be back in
time for the meeting.” As she waved her hands, saying, “Bye-bye,
precious ones, be good children and amuse grandpa,” she closed the door
and was gone.
Grandpa held a child on each knee. This was an event in their lives, to
have grandpa all to themselves.
“Well,” he says, “what shall we do while mamma is away?”
“Oh,” says five-year-old May, “let’s play horse and let me ride on your
back.”
“No, me,” cried Roy, while May climbed the quickest and got there. Roy
pulled her feet and they quarreled until grandpa decided that he would
get down on all fours, then both could get on, while May held on to her
doll. Away they went, in and out of the two rooms, the children laughing
and screaming as they lurched from side to side in danger of falling,
while grandpa enjoyed the fun almost as much as they, even though he was
puffing and blowing. When that failed to amuse they played hide and
seek. Grandpa soon discovered that he is not so young as he used to be
and laid back in the big arm chair to rest.
“Now, children, you play a little while by yourselves,” he said, as he
put his hands to his head.
“Now you amused us,” said May, “so it is our turn and we will amuse you.
Want your head rubbed? I can do it like mamma rubs papa’s when he’s all
tired out.” She looked at him so coaxingly that he said:
“Yes, to be sure.”
“All right,” she consented, climbing to the back of his chair and
running her fingers through his hair. She did it so quietly and
soothingly as she scratched gently back and forth, that he thought to
himself, “What a little fairy she is!” He got no further, for sleep had
claimed him and May soon discovered this.
Grandpa had nice long hair, so here was her opportunity, for she loved
to braid hair. She would do it so gently and “My! wouldn’t he be glad
when he saw how pretty she had made it!” Then she espied some wool in a
work basket of her mother’s. Such pretty colors—blue, green, yellow, red
and white! “What a lot,” she said in glee. In a little while she had
gone all over his head and fine little braids were standing out in all
directions tied with wool. As she stood admiring her handiwork, her eye
detected Roy in the next room teasing her kitten. He saw by her glance
what was coming. In two seconds he had bounded up the back stairs,
flying madly on and on until he reached the nursery, then he fell. She
grabbed the kitten. Roy set up a howl and baby awakened. May quieted
baby, took it up and set it on the floor, then started after Roy again,
who had made off with the kitten.
[Illustration]
At this moment the door bell rang. The cook ushered in several
strangers. It was three o’clock and the committee had arrived. The
confusion awakened the old gentleman asleep in the chair. Just as the
door opened, he straightened down his vest, smoothed his trousers and
believed he was all right. He advanced to explain that his daughter
would be in in a moment, and noticed that they were looking at him
strangely and laughing so hard they could not speak. He rushed into the
hall only to see his daughter acting worse than those in the library.
She was stealthily running up stairs, and as he looked up to the top
step he saw the eight months’ old baby kicking his heels and seeming to
be enjoying the situation, as the mother cried, “Wait for mother,
darling, wait—” Just then the baby sprang forward and she caught him
only in time to keep him from going head first to the bottom of the
stairs. There she sat the tears streaming down her face while she hugged
her baby. She looked down upon hearing her father’s voice and roared
with laughter. He, thinking that she was hysterical, begged her to calm
herself. It was all she could do between screaming and laughing to hold
her child, he looked so funny. By this time every one was in the hall,
roaring as they looked at the staid old gentleman. His daughter led him
to the mirror. It is needless to say that there was no meeting. Their
arguments were answered before begun. Children are safer when certain
people are responsible for their care and welfare. The society heard no
more about families growing apart.