The Winslow mail., 1910-02-26
Her Friends
The Enemy

boC ESdu ABOUT II IN DOCK. mere
was a story of little girl who had
enemies and she made the enemies
her frierl's by doing kind things for
them. 1t was a beautiful book with
red covers and it was entitled Goals
Of Fire" though Dot wondered what
other kinds of Goals there were
The story in the book appealed to
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 troop every day
on their way to school Generally
they cOntented themselves with max
ing faces at her, 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
I'll tell you the same which was be-
yopd 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-
ton 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 good deal.
The leader of the ten girls wore q
blue dress, red hat and white
apron, fiaglike combination that was
very pleasing to Dot, so she was more
than anxious to make friends with
hat brilliant parsonage. This was the
girl who made the witty remarks
which were received with cheers by
Ter following and with embarrass-
nent by her victim.
Now that revenge was within Dots
~rasp she felt a keen joy at the
With liberal applications of kindness.
The only question was the means she
should employ. Many and marvellous
we're the plans she harbored, the
lreams she dreamed respecting the
crushing of the formidable ten. Then,
If sudden, her birthday loomed in
light and her mother announced that
yhe might have 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 few envelopes and sheets of
)aper 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
ing afternoon. Some of the girls gig
gled, 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
remorse. They had been so mean and
she was so kind!
The afternoon of the party was all
that heart could wish Dot, however,
did not feel content. The small guests
invited by her mother on entering re-
ported mob at the entrance that
commented freely upon their costumes
and asked questions not usually rated
as polite. Upon one little girls arriv-
ing in tears, Dots mother dispatched
the maid to the front walk and there
seemed to be commotion there i'm
mediately afterward. AS Dot refrained
from looking out of the window. she
was not sure who was responsible for
the chorus of yells and whoOps that
accompanied the scattering of the
mob, but in her heart she thought she
| knew.
Not one OF the ten little girls she
had invited put in an appearance at
the party though Dot looked for them
all, one anxious eye regarding the gen.
erous plates of ice cream with fear
lest the missing ones should not get
any if they came in later.
The party was a joyous success,
however, and Dot forgot for a happy
hour her friends the enemy. These
were brought to her remembrance
again as the guests departed. Deri-
sive boots from across the street
greeted their departure. Dot then
heard her mother speaking about
something.
Il don't know where those little ruff
fans heard about the party" said
Dots mother They have given us
such lot of trouble! One of them
stole a loaf of angel food and they
have left all sorts of trash on our
back porch labeled birthday gifts for
Dot. Two of them dug up the lilac