The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-01-25
THE PRETTIEsT GIRL.

school that day, and not only that,
but she had offered a prize to the one
whom, for three reasons, she could
pronounce the prettiest girl in the
school.
Mrs. Majors beautiful home on the
hill was great source of entertain
ment to the children, who never tired
of peering through the high iron bars
of the fence at the deer darting in and
out among the shrubbery and watch
ing the sparkling fountain and the
shining gold fish darting about in it's
crystal waters.
Mrs. Nailor had said that she knew
all the girls and that they must be
very careful for she would be watch
ing them when they were unaware of
it-and she would not tell when she
would make school inspections.
I'm so tired of taking beauty
priest exclaimed Elsie, pettishly.
"It must be hard to be so pretty
snapped Alice, spitefully. Alice had
pretty face, too, but very unhappy
disposition.
81 wish 1 was pretty" sighed Bess
mournfully.
There's no danger of Katherine
getting the prize" laughed Alice.
Katherine's lips quivered, but she
looked up with a brave little smile
and said sweetly: ELSIE is so beauti-
full l just love to sit and look at her,
and sometimes think Alice is almost
as pretty"
"Why don't you curl your hair and
get some pretty dresses; you might
get the prize sure enough if you kept
your face away from the light and"
"Hush!" interrupted Dorothy,
there's Mrs. Nailor passing"
Il wonder why she walks when she
has such splendid carriages and an
automobile" said Bertha, half aloud.
Because walking makes one strong
and well,' replied Katherine, solemnly.
1t was true that Katherine was not
beautiful. Her face was plain, her
complexion dark, and her hair dull
brown, but her eyes were her charm
large, clear, and truthful-and her
teeth shone like pearls. Her simple
black dress and hat were anything but
becoming, still there was an indie
scribable sweetness in her expression.
I'm going to buy that light blue
silk accordion plated dress at Ray
ner's and charge it until get the prize
money" said Elsie. MRS. Nailor sits
right opposite us in church and she'll
be sure to notice what I have on"
The month passed by at last and all
were assembled in the auditorium OF
the school, which was crowded to the
doors with parents and friends. Elsie
sat in the first seat, respondent in the
light blue silk.
The presentation of the prize was
the last feature on program, and when
Mrs. Nailor took the platform hush
fell upon the assembly. She was not
a beautiful woman, but there was
something queenly in her bearing.
Dear girls" she said, eff I could
only express to you the thrill it gives
me to look into the sea of bright, hap
py, and beautiful faces before me you
might understand and thus appreciate
how hard it is for me to come to a
decision. During the month | have
watched and studied you all very care
fully that l might be perfectly just and
make no mistake. My observations
have taught me many things. First
of all, looked for beauty of character
where l saw beauty of face, and | re
greet sincerely to say that in every in
stance l found conceit and selfshness
accompanying it, and became aware
that I must look higher for what was
seeking. The day l offered the prize
l overheard part of conversation
one sentence of which made lasting
impression upon me: I'm so tired O
taking beauty prizes! l wish to STAMP
indelibly upon your minds now at thi!
) awakening period of your lives thu
true ideal of beauty. For my heroine
4 I have chosen one whom / consider
endowed with the three requisite:
needful to take the prize, namely
beauty of mind, heart, and soul. | pro
nounce Katherine Sharp the pretties
girl in the school,
Amid the laundering applause Kath
crime was seen to wipe her eyes, ant
when she came to the platform, dress
ed in her plain white dress, she scarce
ly lifted her eyes, and it was noticed
that she carried one arm in sling.
Only a week before her grandmoth
er, with whom she had lived since hel
father and mother died, had been sit
ting beside log fire, and falling
asleep, brand had ignited her dress
and just at the critical moment Kath
crime came in, and throwing a rug
about her succeeded in smothering the
flames, but not until she had burned
her arm so badly that she would prob
ably bear the scar through life.
"She bears a scar" said Mrs. Nailor
"homely, perhaps, to those who are
ignorant of it's origin, but to those
who know, it is like crown of glory.
"And now before we separate fol
the summer, let me urge you to seel
) rather for the hearts treasure o
beauty than mere beauty of face anC
form-work for it, wait for it, pray fol
it. 1t is Gods to give and yours tt
win. Never get tired of taking 'beaut!
prizes Keep these words ever il
mind, Whatsoever things are true
whatsoever things are honest, what
soever things are just, whatsoeve
things are lovely, whatsoever things