The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-04-25

year, and must have new clothes any
way" said Edith.
Il think l might be the one" said
Anna, TOR 1 have new winter suit
all ready"
Which fits me as well as you, and
! could be borrowed" added Ruth.
Children! Children!" cried Mrs
Stone, in despair. What would Aunt
Nell say if she were to hear you quar-
rehng so over her invitation? She
writes: I love all three of my nieces
SO much that 1 don't know which one
want to visit me next, so l will leave
| 1t for them to decide. Send along the
| girl who needs the change, and
| promise her as nice a time as l know
how to give ="
| But instead of filing them with con-
TRITON, this reading of the letter made
! their to go all the stronger.
! Think of the sleigh rides behind the
| gray pair, all nestled down in those soft
black furs!' said Anna, with sigh,
| drawing the folds of an afghan about
her and half closing her eyes.
L presume you hear the jingling of
J the sleigh bells now" said Ruth "A
person with such vivid imagination
as you've got doesn't need to go away
to enjoy things
well, mother" said Edith. with a
very grown-up air, Il think somebody
ought to go who will do credit to the
/ family. and, of course, I've been out
more and know how to act in society
better than these children"
These children!" screamed Ruth and
Anna, in a derisive chorus; but Mrs.
Stone held up her finger with warning
gesture, and then, to the surprise of all,
she buried her face in her hands and
sobbed-yes, mother was crying!
The three girls looked at each other
IN dismay: Mother" cried Edith,
gently, what have we done?"
4 am so tired of it ALL" burst out the
sobbing woman. 1T has been SO ever
since your father died. Things no
sooner get to running smoothly than
there is a great fuss over who shall
have a new dress, or whose boots are
the shabbiest, or who shall go on the
picnic. When there are three children
there ought to be money enough to
divide by three, not by one. l can't
decide for you any more. You must
choose some way yourselves"
The slow tears ran down her cheek.
Edith noticed how pale and wrinkled it
was. There used to be color there when
the father was alive. And what
shabby dress!
Mother, I've decided who shall go,
and it's not myself. Will you all con-
me do all the contriving about clothes
and packing, so that you needn't have
a thing to decide about it till the day
comes to go?"
Mrs. Stone wiped the tears. 81 am
very much ashamed she said 'Of
course I'll help get any one of you
ready. 1t was the disputing that trou-
bled me-"
Just this once, let me, mother said
will In mo trII
So Mrs. Stone consented, and the
two younger sisters were borne away
to Edith's room. (which of us is it?'
asked Ruth.
Neither said Edith.
why, Edith Stone!'' said Anna.
You selfish old thing, to choose your
SELF
4 didn't" said Edith. "Its-it's-
Mother" echoed Ruth.
Why, she wasn't even asked said
Anna
NO, but Aunt Nell would rather have
her than all three of us put together,
If she had any idea she'd come. Girls,
and Ediths voice trembled, the
money has been divided into three
parts when it ought to have been four.
Does mother ever have a new dress?
Does she ever go to a picnic or trolley
riding? Do we choose her to have the
extra orange or the Christmas present
that's not marked for anybody? No.
We're selfish, that's what we are"
But will she go?" said Anna.
She'll have to-" said Edith. Ruth
you run straight down to Marcy's and |
say that we've decided to change the |
blue suit for black one. Anna hasn't |
worn it, and there was a lovely plain |
black for the same price. You don't |
mind, do you, Anna ~
'I'll wear my old one till it falls off.
said that young girl, land imagine it's |
Stylish with a wink at Ruth.
Her bonnet is all right and how |
thankful 1 am my new silk waist is a |
plain black one, and too large. 1t will
Just fit mother
And I'll get boots for her instead /
Of skates for me-" said Ruth, land let |
her choose any of my stocks She likes, |
and-and she may take my new belt |
buckle, if she'll be very careful of it,
A note was dispatched to Aunt Nell, I
and the loving planning went on till
the day for the visit came, and the
mother was still in ignorance. She
had thought it wise to let Edith ar
range things this time, and had not
tried to solve the mystery.
At 10 o'clock the three girls stood
before her. I'm one hour" began Edith,
the expressman stops at this house
,or the trunk of the one who is to visit
Aunt Nell"
(which is no evidence, as the same
runk would go, whichever person
vent put IN Anna.
THAT trunk is now packed" said
Edith.
And the contents not to be poked
,ver or criticised by the traveller said
Ruth. "And lent articles are to be con-
;idered the persons own"
THE ticket is bought" said Anna.
THE persons pocketbook, properly
illed. with her name and address
within in case of accident" said Ruth.
And the lucky girl is-?" smiled the
mother.
horus.
And in telling about it all to Aunt
Veil, Mrs. Stone said that if those art
ul daughters of hers had given her
onger than one hour to think of it,
he would have decided not to come, {
nd that she was glad they hadn't
,atholic News
Duty's Path. {
tut from the harbor OF youths day