The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-11-28
Mrs. A0bsHy's Subscription,

4
The front door was open. and the
mistress of the house stood in the
hall.
'.Go away!" she shouted to the lit
tie girls who were about to ring the
bell.
They spoke at once: I'VE have
come to ask If you would kindly give
a small subscription towards
NO.. / won't. Be off with you
There is always someone bothering
for money. / won't be worried all
day long by beggars at the door"
but we are not beggars," replied
the elder of the two small children,
whose neat, plain clothes might have
suggested that they came of poor,
but honest parents.
81 thought you said you wanted
money! remarked Mrs. Noberry,
sharply.
"a little subscription towards a
home for orphan children" the child
began.
People shouldn't have orphan
children. don't approve of them .
interrupted the woman. She was un-
usually impatient and irritable that
morning. Her new, dress was so tight
it would not meet across her chest,
and the cook had just said that she
must go home to nurse her brother.
Things seemed to be conspiring to
annoy her. These begging children
were the final straw. 4
"We heard you were a Catholic,
and thought, of course, you'd under
stand" pleaded the elder girl.
ooh, understand all right. Now,
run away"
They hesitated still. A child's head
appeared beside the woman in the
doorway. She looked a nice, kind
child.
eff | have to speak again I'll set
the dog at you," said Mrs. Noberry.
SPARK
A fox-terrier came dashing round
the corner of the house. The younger
child screamed, and chung to her sis
ter in an agony of fear.
"Oh, please, please call away your
dog" cried the sister, who was trem
bling, too, but more with anger than
| with fear. Edith is SO dreadfully
afraid of dogs" 3.sf
| Go away, then,Y shouted the woman
without attempting to restrain the
terriers Investigations.
The child of the house pushed past
/ her, and seized him by the collar
BE quiet, Spark! He isn't savage;
he wouldn't really hurt you," she ex
planned ooh, don't cry, please don't
cry. l am so sorry"
| She drove the dog back to its ken.
mel, and led thee little strangers to
the garden gateta Then her mother
called her. az g
1'm coming directly, Mummy" she
answered, hunting in her pocket for a
halfpenny.
Come when call you," shouted
Mrs. Noberry angrily, and Edith began
to cry again at the sound of the loud
harsh voice.
But Mrs. Noberry's voice was not
always harsh and loud. 1t was a very
different woman who called on Lady
Mary Stuart at the Castle, ten days
later. Her little daughter accom-.
panied her.
Il want you to know the Stuart
children" she explained; they will
be such particularly nice friends for
you; beautifully dressed, well brought
up, and with all sorts of grand rela-
tions.'
81 don't think / shall care about
that, Mummy DEAR" said Maggie; 4
hate best clothes myself"
She was decked out for the visit in
a scarlet pelisse with brass buttons
and velvet cuffs, a satin ribbon sash,
lace collar, locket, chain, bracelet, and
brooch; and feathers in her hat. She
felt uncomfortable, and looked far less
attractive than she had done in her
holland overall, with her dark curls
flowing naturally.
Nov you look nice" remarked her
mother. Il want her ladyship to think
my little girl is smart"
And, as a matter of fact, that was
exactly what Lady Mary did think,
though she also thought some other
things, which were charitably left I'M
said.
1t was a most unfortunate visit.
From the moment that Mrs. Noberry
entered the drawing-room she felt out
of her element, and i'll at ease. There
was another visitor whom she did not
know She talked a great deal, and
said things that she did not mean to
say, out of sheer nervousness.
Il am so glad you have some to re-
side here" she began. Most of the
people in this neighborhood are SO
dreadfully common. / hardly know a
family with whom care for my Mag
gle to associate
"Oh, Mummy! the Johnsons are
very nice children interposed Mag
gle, who was not shy.
Hush, dear! Their father is a re
tired dentist"
"a man of whom my father has the
highest opinion, said Lady Mary
quietly. Il am hoping that the little
Johnsons win be able to do lessons
with my daughters"
81 should so like to see your little
girls" said Mrs. Noberry Maggie il
| longing to make friends with them"