San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-29

"If | may venture to express an opin-.
ion," observed her father, II would
rather that child of mine should suck
sweets than colored beads, and in either
case object to having them prominently
forced upon my notice at meal times.
But dare say I'm wrong. | general
ly am"
Papa is quite right. dear" said her
mother; lit is such a dangerous habit.
| Suppose you were to swallow one, you
know. Put them in the fire like good
girl, and go on with your dinner"
Priscilla rose without a word. her
cheeks crimsoning, and dropped the
pearl, ruby and emerald with great ac-
| curacy into the very center of the fire.
] This done, she returned to her seat and
went on with her dinner in silence,
| though her feelings prevented her from
| eating very much.
IF they choose to think my jewels are
only beads, or jujubes, or acidulated
drops" she said to herself bitterly, 81
won't waste any more on them, that's
all! won't open my lips again except
to say quite ordinary things-so there!"
If Priscilla had not been such very
good little girl, you might almost have
thought she was in temper, but she
was mother feelings were wounded,
that was all, which is quite different
thing.
That afternoon her Aunt Margarine,
Mrs. Hoyle, came to call. She was
| the aunt whom we have already men,
toned as being given to insincerity; sha
was not well off, and had tendency to
flatter people, but Priscilla was fond of
her, Notwithstanding, and she had never
detected her in any insincerity toward
herself. She was sent into the drawing
room to entertain her aunt until her
mother was ready to come down, and
her aunt, rs usual, overwhelmed her
with aifectionate admiration. How
pretty and we'll you are booking, my
pet" she began; land, oh! what beau
| tiful frock you have On!'
THE little silk worms wore it before
did, aunt" said Priscilla modestly.
"How sweet of you to say sol but
they never looked half so well in it, I'll
be- bou- Why, my child, you've
dropped stone out of a brooch or some
thing-look-on the carpet therep
"Oh" said Priscilla carelessly, 'it was
| out of my mouth, not out of a brooch.
never wear jewelry. | think jewelry
makes people grow so conceited, don't
you, Aunt Margarine?"
Yes, indeed, dearest; indeed, you are
so right" said her aunt (who wore a
cameo brooch as large as a tart upon her
cloak) "and-and surely that can't be a
diamond in your lap?"
"Oh, yes, it is. | met fairy this
! morning in the lane, and So and
here Priscilla proceeded to narrate her
| wonderful experience. 81 thought it
| might perhaps make papa and mamma
value me a little more than they do"
| she said wistfully, rs she finished her
| story; but they don't take the least
notice. They male me put the jewels
on the fire; they did, really"
what blindness!" cried her aunt.
"How can people shut their eyes to such
a treasure? And-and may | Just have
one look? What, you really don't want
them? may keep them for my very
own? You precious love! All, know
a humble home where you would be ap-
preciated at your proper worth. What
would | not give for my poor, naughty
Belle and Cathie to have the advantage
of seeing more of such cousin!'
81 don't know whether l could do
them much good" said Priscilla, but 1
would try my best"
81 am sure you would" said Aunt
Margarine, land now, dearest sweet, 1
am going to ask your dear mamma to
spare you to us for just little while
we must both beg very hard"
"I'll go and tell nurse to pack my
things now, and then l can go away
with yOu," said the little girl.
When her mother heard of the invita-
ton she consented quite willingly. ITO
tell you the truth, Margarine, she said,
Il shall be very glad for the child to
nave change. She seems little I'M
happy at home with us, and she behaved
most unlike her usual self at lunch; it
can't be natural for a child of her age to
cnew large giitss beads. Did your Cathie
and Belle ever do such thing"
Never" said Aunt Margarine, cough
ing. 1T is habit that certainly ought
to be checked, and | promise you, my
dear Lucy, that if you will only trust
Priscilla to me | will take away any
thing of that kind the very moment
find it, and | do think, poor as we are.
we shall manage to make her feel at
home. We are all 50 fond of your sweet
Priscilla"
So the end of twas that Priscilla went
to stay with her aunt that very after
noon. and her family bore the parting