The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-15

shook her head.
Then can't let you go,' said she.
"'But why not? 1 cried.
"'Not until 1 hear from her mother
I" Her mother isn't going to invite
anybody. i say. What difference does
that make|
"I want to know IL there really is
going to be a party, my mother said.
But of course there Is! Didn't I
tell you?
"She looked at me sadly, and my
father too sat silently regarding me.
Then suddenly the blood rushed over
my face and neck until l felt as If it
would burst out of my veins. For
knew that they did not believe me. I
was thoroughly unhappy. l wanted to
go to that party very much. yet | could
not so unless the little girls mother
| invited me.
"In ask her to invite me!' said de-
| family.
"'What will you say when she asks
| you why your mother wants her TO
write the invitation?' asked my father.
| "Goodness I should have to say that
they would not believe me without a
note from her. She would know that /
was a little girl who didn't tell the
truth. I sat silent long while. At
last a bright idea occurred to me.
VIII you believe Mamie If I bring
her to your l asked eagerly. Mamie
was the little girls name.
Yes, they would believe Mamie
But how will you explain to herr
my father asked. And again I was
silent. I thought quickly of excuses /
could make to Mamie, of stories / could
tell her. but l couldn't plan lie. just
now, after having had such a time all
| day, and it made me feel sick to see
how quickly the idea of lying came into
my head.
II didn't go to the party. I stayed
home and was miserable, but l learned
something, for when Mamie asked me
why | didn't come, / answered.:
Mamma wouldn't let me-
why wouldn't she? Mamie asked
Il thought of dozen excuses, none
Of them. of course. true ones, but l
would not use them.
L don't want to tell said at last
oh, you were being punished cried
Mamie, in jeerng tone.
II remember well how ashamed |
was. but 1 answered bravely:
Yes, I was being punished
THAT was a dreadful time at home.
| They didn't believe anything / said.
Mamma did seem to believe me a little
when I told her about my talk with
Mamie, but could see she wasn't quite
sure, and l cried my eyes out over it.
Here had told the truth, when it was
pretty hard, too, and got no credit for
it. / felt badly used, but ii didn't do
any good. Even my little brother was
believed, although 1 was not. Many
times, when I wanted them to know
something, | had to get him to tell
them for me- Gracious How that did
make me feel! And then as days and
days went on l found that my teacher.
too. would not make up. She and |
used to be great friends, but now we
were not. If ! was late, she would not
let me speak, but asked me to bring a
note from my mother This made all
the children smile at me, and they, too,
knew that 1 was-that I was-well, you
know what they thought"
Did they think you were a =, a
| stOryteller?'" asked Norman.
Yes, wasn't ii dreadful? BY and
by I got in black despair
What's black despair?' asked
Carleton. Dorothy had gone to sleep.
. I felt as if the world grew dark. As
! - tiiN sun uibii AS IL llDlllllS
would ever make me good and happy
again
What did?" asked Norman.
Well, first of all began to speak
the truth. | spoke it all the time. and
! carried notes from my mother to my
teacher, and from my teacher to my
mother, to show it was the truth. Then
| took my little brother around with
me almost everywhere, so that he could
tell them that what | said was true
Didn't he ever tell naughty stories Z?
asked Carleton.
II don't think he ever did You see
he saw how bad / felt. and he neve,
wanted to have to feel like that. Little
by little ! found that they began &c
believe me again. Little by little Miss
Smith began to smile at me. and be
friendly, and never shall | forget the
day when she said. as ] offered her 3
note from my mother explaining thai
she wished me to leave school earlN
that afternoon, in order to go to the
, dentists:
Never mind the note, my dear;
believe YOU
Il believe YOU They were the sweet,
est words in the world to me. The tear.
rushed to my eyes, ana ! threw my
} arms around her neck. subbing out:
oh, Miss Smith. Thank YOU! thanl
you! ! forgot all about the other chill
dren, hut as | went to my seat | noticed
that they looked kindly at me. An,
really, they ALWAYS believed me. too
after that. They had seen how sorr,
] was and how Miss Smith believed me
} | asked Miss Smith very kindly. afte
school, if she would please tell mamma
Why don't YOU tell her" asked she
. Then, as ! hung my head, she said
quickly:
, why, yes, dear. OF course An,
r put on her things and went home witt
| me, as she had done that sad day $,
long ago.
MY mother was so glad when Mis-
Smith told her! And after that she
4 too, believed me without any proof an,
50 did papa. From that day to this
don't believe I've ever told a wron.
T story. Anyway | try not To all In,
. | time"
And so do L." cried Norman.
And l." said Carleton.
Wen try together. And now herr
comes Maggie. What do you think sh
has in that paper bag?"
I Mamma went away 10 Law down III
sleeping baby. The paper bag con
D tanned bananas, bought on the wa,
o home from the doctors. ana Norma,
+ sat up in bed with towel in front n
| him and chartered happily with Carrie
| ton while they both nihbled the fruit
| All was quiet for time i'm the WoIse,
. nursery.