[Sidenote: Eating Candy]
Tommy Holbroke’s father kept a small candy store in Brighton and Tommy
often carried candy to school with him. This he ate with a great show of
enjoyment in the presence of a group of onlookers. Miss Dean, his
teacher, noted the conditions and appreciated its inevitably baneful
effect upon Tommy’s disposition. Accordingly she visited his mother and
first told her of Tommy’s sunny temper and studious habits. Then she
tactfully led the subject to the boy’s health and food. In talking of
the candy she said, “Of course we must guard Tommy’s health and his
disposition too.” Then she explained that she greatly feared that his
bringing candy to school would make him selfish because of course it
enabled him to have and not share what he knew others wanted. She
suggested that Tommy be given his candy directly after his meals and at
no other time. The double appeal in behalf of the child’s health as well
as his character caused the mother to follow Miss Dean’s advice.
Occasionally, however, on “special days” or when the children had a
“birthday party,” Tommy’s mother gave him a bag of candy to take to his
teacher with the words, “Tell Miss Dean to please give it to all the
children.” So Tommy learned, in time, the joy of sharing with others.