The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-01

.Hoshef' eai0 Dotue' iookin8
up with frown. II wish you would
let me stop studying arithmetic. !
don't see any use In IT. / just hate
the old stuff can't get these sums
to come out right at ALL"
Just keep on trying, dear. and
they will come out" smiled her
mother.f
II have tried and tried. And. dear
me, I am so anxious to get at my new
book"
Her mother smiled. "Ah! that Is
the reason that you do not get the
answers right; your thoughts are on
the new book"
There was q silence, and Bette said:
II can't get the answer out. / guess
the answer in the book Is wrong"
Let me see your work." said her
mother.
Bette brought over; her pad to the
table where mother was sewing. Her
mother glanced at the sum she had
been working and, after q minute,
said: II see your mistake. Work 1t
over slowly again"
80 mother. show mo the mistake"
mo, Bettie; you must find 1t out
for yourself"
and do want to get through so that
1 can read my book pleaded Bette.
Her mother shook her head. at Is
a simple mistake; and II you had been
giving all your thoughts to your work,
you would not have made It. Come,
dear; go over your work very care
fully. and you will easily see your
mistake. There will be no trouble
about the answers coming out when
you have found your mistake and
corrected it,"
Bette took her pad and returned
to her seat, frowning and feeling very
cross indeed. She wished there was
never such a thing as arithmetic. any
way. o dear, and there was that new
book that grandma had sent her! She
knew It was a perfectly splendid story,
and she didn't read word of It at
all on account OF those horrid sums.
Mother" she said presently, may
I not do these sums this afternoon?
You see. am tired now and
mo, Bette" returned her mother
firmly. you must finish those sums
before you do anything else"
With q great sigh Bette went to
work again. In short time she
think what a silly mistake I made!
said three and two are four. and
| that put all the sum wrong"
"Of course II did. Now get the
answer to the other five sums. and
you may read your new book"
In about half an hour Bette an
nounced that all the answers had
come out correctly. and she brought
the paper of neat figures to show
her mother.
Her mother kissed her. Now read
your book. dear =.
Bette curled up on the cushioned
window seat. 1t was just the day to
read. she thought. for 1t was rain
ing outside, and there was a bright
fire In the CRATE.
Presently the maid came to the
door and called her mother out. After
few minutes her mother came back
and said: Mrs. Murphy has brought
little Hilda for Bridget to keep while
| she goes to the tcity on business.
hope she won't trouble Bridget. for
she is so busy" Mrs. Murphy was the
washerwoman.
Presently Betty thought she would
kitchen to get one. Bridget was busy
I with her Saturday baking. Little
Hida was sitting in corner on a
low stool with her hands folded, and
/ looking very lonely. Bette spoke
kindly to her and gave her an apple
When she had returned to her book
again, she couldn't help thinking OF
little Hilda. How lonely she looked
Bridget was too busy even to talk
had good time. Her mother was out
washing most of the time. and she
had to be left In the care of neigh
| Dor. who was not always kind to her
she might come in here and sit.
thought Bette. But / am reading
and mother is going down town pres
entity
Somehow the new book did not
interest Bette as much as she thouhi
it would. She could not get Hilda gu,
of her mind.
II guess I'll bring her in here and
play with her while. Then / can
read afterwards"
She told her mother, who said I.
was splendid idea Poor little Hilda
was delishted to be brought in and
to look at Bettie's dolls and picture
i books. And Bette got so interested
in entertaining her that she forgo,
all about her book. You see there
ia nothing like making some one else
happy.-Christian Advocate.