The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-05-18
AFTER A BAD BEGINNING.

from her first day at school in a
troubled frame of mind.
II hate to be ashamed of myself"
she mourned. "At the beginning, too!
And after mother had just talked to
us so beautifully about being a help
in this new place where our house is
now. Dear mother! She never would
snub girl because she was funny
little red-haired thing with freckles on
her nose. But, you see, l wanted to
be in with the very incest ones in
the school, and I was afraid that they
that they"
Margaretta would not finish the
confession even to herself.
This was the state of things: When
school was over, Kitty Holmes, who
had red hair and a patch on one
elbow, had said to Margaretta, ell
wait for you. l am going your way"
Don't wait" Margaretta had an
swered quickly. Il am not going yet"
I'm about two minutes I was sorry
l had said it. I ran after her, but she
was nowhere to be seen. Maybe she
won't know that I was just plain
snob. But" sighed Margaretta, II
was-Oh, dear! I wish there was a
way of beginning over. Butt guess
there isn't"
A small boy-a very small boy in
deed-was bowling dismally at the
street corner.
81 wish l could do that" thought
Margaretta. whats the matter?''
she asked him.
II lost my penny" he walled. ''I
lost it there" pointing grimy finger
over the curb to the iron grating of
the culvert.
Then it was gone, he could not get
it again.
what were you going to do with
it," inquired Margaretta.
Get candy for my sister,
'Is she sick?"
mo, she works, was going to have
it for her for present when she quit
and come home" An accession Of
woe seized him shrilly.
Margaretta bethought herself of the
two big oranges in her satchel with
her books. Her uncle had brought
them to her During school she had
selected Jeanne Thomas as the girl
that she would give one to at recess.
Then Jeanne and she would go off
somewhere and eat their oranges to-
gether and get acquainted. She could
not manage it today. So she had put
it off until tomorrow.
IT promised Judy" said the boy.
| She'll be looking for it. But faint
any use now; she can't have it,
Margaretta watched his disconsolate
progress down a side alley until he
was almost out of sight. She ran
after him, when she had taken the
larger of two great golden globes from
between her slate and her geography.
There! take that to Judy!" she
said, thrusting it into his two hands,
which were hardly big enough between
them. and don't cry any more"
He didn't. When Margaretta looked
back from the street he was still
standing stock still, smiling wonder
fully.
ct feel just little BETTER" said Mar
garetta. Il am going to take the other
to Kitty tomorrow"
The next morning when she went
to school she saw group of girls,
some Of the incest girls of all, waiting
at the corner. She hurried to catch
up with them. Soon she could see
why they were waiting; it was for
Kitty Holmes. Kitty ran to them and
Jeanne Thomas seized her by one arm,
and another girl by another; those
who had to walk in front talked back
wards to her and those behind talked
to her over her shoulders.
The gay crowd walked straight on
without waiting for Margaretta.
"They saw me-" said Margaretta
But they didn't wait. Maybe Kitty
didn't see me, but the others did and
they wouldn't wait. l can't give Kitty
the orange now because they would
all think just gave it to her because
I saw them making so much of her.
Honestly, that wasn't my reason. But
how could they believe it?'
1t was not time for school yet.
Jeanne and Kitty and the rest stopped
in the hall to talk. They chartered
like magpies about skating party for
the afternoon.
Its too bad Kitty can't comet" said
somebody.
''It is good for Margaretta Newton
that she can't" said Jeanne. "She said
she hadn't her skates yet. If she had
she wouldn't be invited"
"she may have mine," said Kitty.
Il don't want them
mo, she shan't!" said Jeanne. Exit
ty, you are the forgivingest girl
i After what she did to you!"
"Pshaw! l don't mind" said Kitty
1T isn't worth noticing. Anyway, it
} is just as likely she didn't mean any.
| THING am NOT III a-,