San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-30

| JIlS!
Goodness me! Why, didn't the jewels
come after all?'
"Yes-they came, only they were all
| hOrrld Ones-and it is shame, it ISL
cried poor Priscilla from her bursting
| heart.
Artificial, were they? That is really
very odd! Can you account for that at
| all, now
"Of course can't! You told me they
would drop out whenever | said any
thing to improve people, and | was al
ways saying them. Aunt had band
box in her room quite full of jewels"
"Ah! you've been very industrious,
evidently; it's unfortunate your jewels
should all have been artificial, most I'M
fortunate. don't know how to explain
it, unless"-and here the old lady looked
up Queerly from under her white eye
lashes-''unless your goodness was ar
titicial too"
"How do you mean" asked Priscilla,
| feeling strangely uncomfortable. I'm
sure I've never done anything the least
| OiJ LlhSpulN --liON NttlI MY StOulGSS DOS
sibly be artifcial:"
'Ah. that can't explain; but know
this-that people who are really good
are generally the last persons to suspect
it, and the moment they become aware
of it, and begin to think how good they
are, and how bad everybody else is, why,
| somehow or other their goodness crum-
bles away, and leaves only a sort of out
side shell behind it. And-Tm very old,
and Of course may be miStaken-but |
think q only say think, mind) that a
| little girl as young as you must have
| some faults hidden about her some
where; and that perhaps on the whole
she would be better employed in trying
| TO find them out and cure them before
she attempted to correct those of other
! people. And I'm sure it can't be good
for any child to he always seeing herself
in little picture, just as she likes to
fancy other people see her. Very many
pretty books are written about good lit
tie girls, and it is quite true that "a child
may exercise a great influence for good
more than they can ever tell, perhaps
but only.just so long rs they remain
natural and unconscious, and not I'M
wholesome little pragmatical PROCESSES,
for then they make themselves and other
people worse than they might have been.
But, of course, my dear, you never made
such a mistake us that
Priscilla turned very red and began to
| scrape one of her feet against the other.
She was thinking, and her thoughts were
not at all pleasant ones.
"Oh, Fairy" she said at last. I'm
afraid that's Just what did do! was
always thinking how good | was, and
putting everybody - papa, mamma,
Alick, Betty, Aunt Margarine, Cathie,
Belle, and even poor Cousin DiCk-right!
have been horrid little hateful prig,
and that's why all the jewels were rub
bish. But, oh! shall ! have to go on
talking sham diamonds and things all
the rest of my life?'
That" said the fairy, depends en-
tirely on yourself You have the remedy
in your own hands. or rather lips"
"Ah, you mean | needn't talk at all?
But must-sOmetimes. | couldn't bear
to be dumb as long as | lived, and it
would look so odd, too"
Il never said you were not to open
your lips at all. But can't you try to
talk simply and naturally, not like little
girls or boys in any story books what
ever, not to show off or improve peO-
pie, only rs a girl would talk who re-
members that, after all, her elders are
! quite as likely rs she is to know what
they ought or ought not to do and say?"
Il shall forget sometimes, | know |
shallr' said Priscilla discousOlately.
IF YOU do there will b, something to
remind you. you know And by and by,
| perhaps, us You grow up, you may,
| quite by accident. say something sincere
and noble and true, and then jewel
will fall which will really be Of value
NO cried PRISCILLA mo, please! Oh,
Fairy. let me off that, If | must drop
them let them be false ones to punish me
not raal. don't want to be rewarded
any more for being good-if | ever am
really good.
Come, said the fairy, with a much
pleasanter smile. you are not a hopeless
case at all events. 1t shall be as you
wish, then, and perhaps it will be the
wisest arrangement for all parties Now
run away home, and see how little use
you can make of your fairy gift"
Priscilla found her family still at
breakfast. "Why." observed her father.
raising his eyebrows as she entered the
room. heres our little monitor Tor is it
monitress, Ell, Priscilla3 back again.
Children. we shall all have to mind our
p's and as, and indeed our entire alpha
bet now"
I'm sure" said her mother, kissing