The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-04-18

49, IL U'U LINK, I've been in Washington
them YETI on seen eltler Oh
I've seen them and I've seen the bows. too !"
cried Dorothy, exultantly. w.
~ Inese two little girls had but recently come to
has g on 10 llve their home having heretofore
Deen IN Georgia; they were anxious 70 see every
thing and everybody of note.
GU can go there tomorrow; come to the Circle
WIN Us ana then we stop and ask how your
aunt IS; she has grippe, hasn't she? Isn't grippe
We've never had it, NANNY Chloe saws we
don't keep still long enough for # 70 catch MS
mock wood Dorothy, knock wood quick"
cried Annie and Mollie at once. and the latter
seized Dorothys hand and led her to tree near
What tree is this"
oh, no matter it's wood: knock it."
30 Dorothy knocked vigorously on the rough
park OF young elm tree, and then said:
What sort of game is ths?'
same! It's no game Don't you know that
you must always knock wood when you've been
Dragging about anything-that you haven't cold
or grippe, or ANYTHING like that If YOU don't
YOU III be sure to have what you said you had not
had | sposed everybody knew that" Molly ex-
planned with supercilous airs She was somewhat
too fond of giving information
"Humph! | should think you'd be ashamed 10
believe in silly things like that-iust as the colored
people down home do" and Virginia tossed her
curly head and turned up her little nose as if She
too, were very wise.
I'D thank you, Miss Virginia Maury, to bear
IN mlha mat you T., are speaking to someone much
Older than yourself" Molly was quoting one of her
aunts, but of course Virginia did not know ito
what's the matter4"
The question was caused by slight scream from
Dorothy as Virginia apparently just saved hershef
from falling on her face
All Was it snake?" Dorothy cried in
alarm, and drew her skirts close around her.
Washington parks don't have snakes running
loose IN them-no park but the Zoo, of course. Did
you stub your toe Virginia? 2" and as Annie spoke,
she tried to help the child stand.
No! no! Don't I've lost sight-oh here it
is" And so saying, Virginia dug from crack in
the asphalt walk dull, crooked brass pin, and
held 1t triumphantly aloft, adding
See pin and pick it up,
Throughout the day you'll have good luck,
See a pin and let it lay,
You'll have bad luck the live-long day"
Il wouldn't have missed that pin for anything;
for if | had, just know grandfather would forget
the rubber bands he promised to bring us from the
office"
well, upon my word. !" MolHe exclaimed. with
her grown up air. IF that isn't the most childish
thing ever heard in all my born days. Talk about
silly things I'd like to know if you really believe
that horrid, dirty old pin will make your grand
father remember rubber bands anything else?"
WHY didn't you never hear that before!'
Indeed yes; ages ago, when | was little bit of
thing (Annie was Just eleven), "but aunte ex-
planned to that all the luck there was in picking
up hin was, that maybe you'd find it sticking in
your dress, sometime, when you needed it. I'd throw
the dirty thing away if / were you"
"No, no, don't throw away your luck, Virginia"
Dorothy pleaded, as her sister seemed half inclined
to heed Armies argument.
"Humph! If | were you I'd never turn up my
at knocking wood, for that's different; it's
never safe to brag-"
"How hitting tree keep you from having
same time.
IF / were as grown up as you think you are I'd
not believe in any silly things"
Both Mollie and Annie were quite angry; their
faces flushed and they were the point of max
ing furious retort when to their surprise, their
grandmother seen approaching them having
Just aghted from Mount Pleasant car
How excited you girls look~ she said, gancing
at the four flushed faces. Il hope you not dis
agreeing"
OF course. all four began to talk at once, and
it was some time before Mrs. Singleton understood
the case When it was made clear to her she
smiled and said:
Annie and you Mole. pause moment and
reflect. Do you truly believe that knocking
wood can prevent grippe or cold, or any trouble!
Do you think that God uses such means to pro
tect his peoples"
40 not really; it's kind of make believe, l
reckon" Annie answered SLOWLY, and Mollie nod
ded her head in sign of agreement.
Dorothy, how do you and Virginia regard
pins! As Gods angels, or"
NO, of course not! Only, we've always heard
it-but spose that's make-believe too. like lots
of things the colored people used to tell down
in Georgia. [ never thought about it that way.
Then it is hardly worth while to quarrel over
a make-beeve is itl Take these little supersti-
lions merely as jokes and they harmless; but to
put faith in them is un-Christan. Most of them
have come down to us from the dark ages, and
now even firmly believed in wherever false Gods
are worshiped. 1t is absurd if you stop to think
of it. for the child of educated Christian people
believe that picking up pin will give what we
call luck or that rapping on a bit of senseless
wood can have effect on ones health. As for the
r,,bber hands which Virginia hoped the pin might