No Laughing Matter!

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 220, 17 September 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

No Laughing Matter!

By H. B. Lamont

WE had been having a competition, at the institute to see who could tell the funniest story. At last there was a lull. No one seemed able to think of anything further in the way of funny stories. At last, when the silence had licromc noticeable, one member rose to her feet. She wrts a middle-aged woman, somewhat shy and retiring, an<l not at all the sort of person that we would ever have expected to tell a funny story. For a moment >he stood client and we feared that her new-found courage might vet desert her. But the president, with an encouraging word, stayed her panic and she liegan, though so diffidently that the first word or two were almost inaudible. Then, her courage increasing, she raised her voice.

"My fellow-members," she paid, "have all been telling us about happenings that amused us. But I thought I would like to pay a few words to you on a more serious subject. This is a question which

nioet of us have to face sooner or later. How much shall we tell our children of the mysteries of birth and life and howearly will we tell them what we think thev should know?

"My youngest, aped eight, ha* recentlv been asking me questions concerning •such matters. Now, while I believe chi£ dren should he enlightened concerning such matters, it seemed to me that she was just a shade too young to be told.

"So, wlion she said. 'Mum, where do the cows get their calves from.' I just sai.l, 'Oil, tliev find tliem in the bush.'

''But* this answer by no mean« satisfied licr. Slie persisted, 'but where do tliev come from really, mum?' and she I .era me so insistent that I felt that perhaps the time had come, young and all as fhe was. to enlighten her. This, at last I did. A shade reluctantly I admit. I told her the facts as simply and clearly as I could.

' When I had finished she looked up at mo with minjrled satisfaction and triumph and remarked 'I knew they did. So wliv did you tell me the cows "found them in the hush when you knew all the time that thev didn't?'

" "If you knew all the time,' I said firmly, 'why did you pester me about it?'

" 'Oh.' she paid, 'I just wanted to know if you knew too, mum.'"