The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-08-15
Prissy's Talent.

nirlnE MYTH , DeduIlIul needle work and Edgar's
oood-carving and Helen's remarkable playing on
+e piano what is Priscilla's talent?o
"Prissvl Oh, Prissy doesn't seem to have any
t,lont Mrs Robb would answer with a smile. "She
inst a good, all-round, comfortable girl aren't
ror Prissy2 She doesn't care for the piano nor
drawing nor singing nor any of the things other
4 iris love. We like her best Just as she is"
Prssy always smiled back into the fond eyes.
but in her heart there was always a little pain.
Nobody not even her mother, knew how she had
no-ientlv fingered the piano hoping to draw ont
The wonderful music that seemed to be at the tin
# Heens white fingers, and no one realized how
she watched and tried to copy the embroidery that
VAS so easy for Myra. She had plenty of time ia
fry many things, as she had few home duties. but
somehow, she never learned to do anything we'll
Even in school she never ranked with the good
scholars and often the teacher classed her with
that discouraging minority termed In every school
room Below the average" If Mr. and Mrs Robb
we're discouraged about their plain little 14-vear-
Old daughter, they never mentioned the fact but
tried to make her feel that she was Just as pre-
rious to them any of the rest.
Whenever she could escape to the kitchen from
quests and their praises of the rest of the fam
av Prissy did so. She was not jealous of her tai
ented brothers and sisters but merely discouraged
The cook good-naturedly allowed her to dabbe
away at her messes, not knowing that Prissy was
doing her best to learn fancy cooking and Prissy
found her failures in the cooking line more sooth-
ING than the conversation of people who were for
ever wondering why there should be an ugly duck
Ing among so many swans
Tears rolled down into the chunky icing as Pris-
ella tried to spread it on the broken cake before
her, "I'l never even learn cooking" she said to
herself, looking over to the pantry shelf where
Myra's cake stood in, all its glory waiting for the
picnic next day. The sight of that cake had fired
Prissy and she waited till the cook was away to
Try her hand at the very same recipe. Il know I'll
be a Ounce all my life"
"Prissy, please fry my fish for me, begged eight
year-od Fred appearing at the door with some tiny
specimens from the brook. 'You fry fish just
dandy"
Prissy hesitated A great army of kettles and
pans stood before her, and she had them all to
wash before supper time, but Fred loved fried fish,
so she took them in hand. "I'd like some fried
apples, too" said Fred, who always wanted the
most unheard of combinations. II always like
fried apples and fish together"
Prissy stirred up the fire and presently Fred
was contentedly eating the fish, burnt in places
and the underdone apples Il tell you. Prissy
you're the dandy cook!" he said proudly when
get big I'm going to have house for just you
and NE. Cook won't ever let me muss up her
kitchen, but you would"
Somehow his honest praise hurt Priscilla more
than anything else. She knew Fred, with his keen
eyes and bright mind. would discover her deficien.
ces very soon, and then her one admirer would be
silent. She was grateful to the family for never
comparing her with talented people, but every per-
son likes praise, and Prissy seldom received any.
I'm never going to try anything againi
Never" said Priscilla, bitterly, she dug at the
dried egg on the mixing bowl. She had neglected
10 nut water into the bowl after turning out the
yolks Of the eggs and it seemed to the tired girl
that she might well scrape at the glazing of the
crock itself. She had a roaring fire, and the sticky
dishes seemed to be in mountain piles before her.
might have more sense than to think / could
ever accomplish anything. I'm just Ounce and
will be all my days"
After that things were much easier for Pris-
ella If the cook asked her to peel potatoes or
beat up some eggs while she hid from company in
le kitchen. she did it cheerfully but she no longer
ioWned at cook books and mixed and baked to
learn to cook. Once in while she sat down at
me piano to drum out one of the tunes she had
worked hard over but she no longer worked at
7 with the expectation of succeeding, nor did she
aaoole in needework and painting on the sly. She
mended her stockings and did the few tasks in
sewing her mother gave her to do, but she was
came She went toshrdlu shrdlu shrdlu cmfwyppp
utterly without ambition. When vacation time
came. She went to visit Aunt Priscilla and day,
as they sat under the big maple on the lawn, she
'od that sympathetic lady her troubles.
And there isn't a single thing that you care
do: said Aunt Priscilla.
Yes, ] like to do great many things" said
Fnscilla 'but not as the others do. I've worked
hard for hours to make cakes and embroider and
play and lots Of other things, but [ simply can't do
anything"
Oh I don't know Yes, do too. I got the
others to show me when they had time because they
couldn't be bothered when they were busy. Helen
needs the piano certain hours, and often when she
ln using it the baby is sleeping, used to
na~ when ! got the chance You see it didn't
MAKE any difference about me, for they knew
couldn't learn anyway"
Well" said Priscilla. 81 wouldn't worry bit
ABOUT being talented this summer. I'd just enjoy
myself and next fall try very hard at my lessons.
me world needs everyday people more than talented
ones anyway"
DO YOU really think so ~ asked Priscilla. eager
~; i always thought mamma said that to con-
sole me. because am so stupid"
an summer Priscilla enjoyed herself with her
tsDa7le aunt. and both we're sorry when school