THE WELLINGTON FATHER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 194, 11 May 1908, Page 5

THE WELLINGTON FATHER.

• Tho. observant woman who travels in tho Wellington trams on Shnday afternoon is, snro to return to her homo, tilled'with admiration v for'the Wellington father; who, on Sunr day • afternoons/ and moro; especially, on tlio •trams,- shines.-with- a .'peculiar' i'adiancb. It : is that the -tired t mother of a-large young family retires to rest on this the one afternoon in. the week when she is assured that - her littlo ; ones aro in safo -hands,' and ono -feels sorry sometimes that sho cannot accompany her littlo ficclc V invisjbly to seo haw., well .the charge is carried out. Often onou'gh the. father has only ono child toi look after, - and thou-you may meet him' strolling along tho pavement at a;pace which enables the infant: to-investigate everything of the smallest interest' that is to bo found; along his ■path.' Tho'father will stand patiently -by a street corner while tho youngster on unsteady feet' determines .that' this. is v ;tho very, place' where he; will. spend the morning,' iiooii, and. eyoning of,his days. V There may bo a : Spotted dog on tho other sido of; tho street that rivets his attention, th-ero'may'be absolutely nothing v/ithin' the rango of' his ■ eyes that would seem,, to a 'likely to fascinaW-ai child, but liis. mysterious littlo'.mind ; is fascinated, and instead of coaxing him and diverting his-attention; ad is his'mother's .way, tho father, waits quietly until the .child-is--ready to .move .on.'• .That' paticnco. must make "a largo-part -of- tho. charm .'tho child: feels' in •having- a-walk with its father. When tho mother .takes him for 'a walk, she is certain to, combine' some 'business . with her outing)' and.. sho is probably, tied .to somo definite timo when sho must retnni'to -lier home. 1 ,- She : cannot, afford/to. danco • attendance on-a smallichikl's' Vagaries, and if- ho loiter w-hilo .with ,her, he will'find himself left several steps' behind, and-lonely. Father has all the .' afternoon' to devoto' to. him, ; and,-one street'corner is as good as another. .. -'' # ■ Tho x father walking abroad with a , solitary child.'is iiappyj but happier still is."he who takes his young'tribc"to t-ho"6arden3 or.tho Park. "You may meet troops'of them as jolly as can bo.' ' Tho. father' carrics the baby! with great-care, 'and tho other .'littlo ones get as near toohim«as theyioan:-' It is'tho-treat of th'o iweok to.: them. Tliey; alv/a.vs look . very .beautiful whcn.thevigo oiit with;father.;: It t is distinctly an cccafsion, yid .th'ey ( are dressed . -'for it£ ahfl;combinccl with thb.' joy of having J on' their best, 'things: is the joy of! knowiiig' that, father.will hot; fret if those things get a littlo bit' mussed. -Ho ■ does not know that they must not -kneel! upon -tho seats of the trams to' look out of the windows,. which is, of course, the only decent way;to!travel, so ydu miiy seei a row of happ.v littln solKs;- and infer tho ' happy -faces: !■ Often ..tho children aro. s6;'fii]J of; delight .that-' !th'ey, will/chatter all tho time th<jy v are in tho .-tram, and if you look! interefrt6d.4ntl i frionclly.they may chaiterto'ryou, .tell ybu v whero they': aro poihp,. ; arid perhaps';oven... ask. you to' 'join ..the f family, party;-in which case you must bp;suro to sav f-.hdro is nothing in! all .tho world you would like' better,', but' you '.have promised, to fro' somewhero else. And- if lVthe course of'you'r\ ,o;oing:.s6mewhere els"'ypu hannen to meet tho -partv. Hfrain".! the children will smile broadly te signify that they aro still . haying a. perfectly delightful time,'and they-hope you are; too. - ' y ..! .