The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-01-17
Her Friends
The Enemy


was story of a little girl who hat
enemies and she made the enemiei
her friends by doing kind things To-
them. II was beautiful book will
red covers and it was entitled Goals
of Fire" though Dot wondered wha
other kinds of Goals there We're.
The story in the book appealed tc
Dot particularly because she had en-
emies herself and it struck her that
applying kindness to them was a very
simple cure, within the reach of any
one.
Her enemies were ten little girls
who lived on the next street and
passed her house in a troop every day
on their way to school. Generally
they contented themselves with max.
ing faces at hev, but sometimes they
stopped to talk, which was worse.
They asked her name, but when she
ventured to ask theirs they answered.
"Puddin' n tame, if you ask me again
III tell you the same" which was be-
yond her understanding and quite ap-
palling.
Once they told her that there was a
hole in her stocking and when she
searched in mortified haste for it they
informed her she was "stung," for the
hole was at the top where she put her
foot in Another time they said her
mother ought to let her have a recep-
tion in order to allow her stockings
and her skirt to meet. This remark,
Dot knew, showed they did not admire
her half-hose. Her Independent dec
laration next morning that she must
have real stockings surprised her
mother a good deal
The leader of the ten girls wore a
blue dress, a red hat and white
apron, faglike combination that was
very pleasing to Dot, so she was more
than anxious to make friends with
that brilliant parsonage. This was the
girl who made the witty remarks
which were received with cheers by
her following and with embarrass.
ment by her victim
Now that revenge was within Dots
grasp she felt keen joy at the
thought of humiiating her adversaries
with liberal applications of kindness.
The only question was the means she
should employ, Many and marvellous
were the plans she harbored, the
dreams she dreamed respecting the
crushing of the formidable ten. Then,
of sudden, her birthday loomed in
sight and her mother announced that
she might have a party.
Dot asked for the privilege of max
ing out the list of guests, but her
mother felt it best to see to that her
self Thus Dot was able to secure
only a few envelopes and sheets Of
paper for her own use, and these
were obtained in secret
She wrote five invitations with her
new yellow pencil and then awaited
the coming of the enemy on their way
home from school To the flag girl
and her four dearest cronies went the
invitations Dot had written. To the
others she delivered oral, but none
The less cordial. requests that they
attend her birthday party the follow.
ng afternoon. Some Of the girls gig
sled. but most of them were silent.
This silence might have meant almost
anything. but Dot preferred to con-
slider it an indication OF shame and
-emorse. They had been so mean and
she was so kind
The afternoon of the party was all I
hat heart could wish, Dot, however.
lid not feel content. The small guests
invited by her mother on entering re-
ported mob at the entrance that /
commented freely upon their costumes
ind asked questions not usually rated /
IS polite. Upon one little girls arriV- +
ng in tears, Dots mother dispatched .
he maid to the front walk and there I
eemed TO be a commotion there inn
nediately afterward. AS Dot refrained (
rom looking out of the window she
vas not sure who was responsible for
be chorus Of yells and whoops that
ccompanied the scattering of the
lob, but in her heart she thought she
new
Not one Of the ten little girls she
ad invited put in an appearance at
he party though Dot looked for them
i, one anxious eye regarding the gen
rous plates Of ice cream with fear
,st the missing ones should not get
ny II they came in later.
The party was a Joyous success.
oweyer and Dot forgot for happy
our her friends the enemy These
ere brought to her remembrance
gain as the guests departed Deri-
We boots from across the street
reeted their departure Dot then
card her mother speaking about
Il don't know where those little ruf-
ans heard about the party said
OTIS mother. They have given us
Ich a lot Of troublel One Of them
ole a loaf OF angel food and they
I'VE left all sorts OF trash on our
Ick porch labeled birthday gifts for
ot Two Of them dug up the lilac
lsh and another broke the cellar
ndow Il has been dreadful
Dot stole softly upstairs and then
me down moment later. cIasping
book with violent red cover and
Id title. Goals of Fire" On the