The age-herald., 1900-07-08
ONE GIRL WHOM
 NOBODY LIKED
The Power of Creating Friend Shp Depends Upon Lit
 tie Things. e
Ynnne Peonle,s Weekly.

Young Peoples Weekly.
 She was very sure that nobody liked her. She had told herself so again and again, with queer tightening about her heart that was like a real pain, And then she tossed her head and set her lips in a de- liant little smile. Nobody should know that she cared. Neveri
 It was on her 18th birthday that Aunt Elizabeth made a suggestion that caused the girl to open her eyes and then to laugh little. It was such an odd idea, so like Aunt Elizabeth "Then I'm to hold up everybody I meet till I've said something brilliant" she observed
 Not exactly" And Aunt Elizabeth smiled unruffled. "But I've noticed that you pass your acquaintances with mere nod or a curt good morning. I wish you would try the experiment of saying some thing pleasant to each one, unless there IS some good reason against 1t.
 ''It will grow rather tiresome," said the girl, as she shrugged her shoulders.
 '"Try 1t for week." suggested Aunt Elizabeth; and, rather to her own surprise, the girl found herself promising.
 She came very near forgetting her pledge when she met Mrs. Anderson on the street the next morning. In fact, she had passed with her usual uncompromising nod, when the recollection of her promise fash ed into her mind, and she turned quickly.
 How is Jimmie today?" she said, speak ing out the first thing that came into her mind
 There was. deal of detail in Mrs. An derson's answer. Jimmie had been sick with measles, and. then had caught cold, and been worse. Mrs. Anderson poured out her story as if 1t was a relief to find a listener; and as she talked on, that par ticular listener found herself more interest ed than she would have believed possible in Jimmie and his mother. She said she had some old scrapbooks that Jimmie might enjoy looking over, and Mrs. Ander- son thanked her with more gratitude than the slight favor seemed to warrant.
 At the very next corner was Cissy Baily, and the girl wondered if her promise cov- cred the washerwoman' daughter. But she did not let herself wonder long.
 'It was kind of you to bring home the clothes so early last week, Cissy. l was in hurry for that shirt waist
 Cissy Baily did not know what to an swer She smiled in an embarrassed way, and looked Gr and then down. But the girl whom nobody liked had seen something in the upifted eyes which warmed her heart and made that one-sided conversation something to remember
 The day went by, and she did not find opportunity to say anything very brilliant She stopped Mrs. White to ask her if she would like to read the book she had just finished, and she patted little Barbara Smiths soft cheek as she inquired if the | new baby sister had grown at all. When 1 she could think of nothing else, she said Hasn't this been a beautiful day?' And her earnestness rather surprised some peo- pie, who had not had her opportunities foI realizing that there was anything unusual about the day.
 By the time the week was over, the gir whom nobody liked had learned valuable lesson. She had found out that hearts re sponded to cordiality and kindness, just as l the strings of one musical instrument vi | brate in union with the chords struck il l another. It was not new discovery, since l long ago it was written in a certain wise book: "A man that hath friends, must show himself friendly yet this is one of the truths that each person must rediscover or his own account. And the girl who was learning to love every one, and was tasting the joy of being loved, thanked God that she had not waited any longer before find ing out the wonderful secret for herself.