The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-10-16

Sdlu, dSdtn III THAT COulpldC6nI~ fOlCSs
And she wears imitation lace, too!
She has new dress with some imita-
ton Val on it, and when one of the
girls said how pretty and becoming
the dress was, she just answered, I
think those little Val edges are
dainty
What on earth is 'VaF?" inquired
Jack, but a boyish whistle sounded
outside, he stopped not for enlighten-
ment, but vaulted through the open
window.
THAT was Florence Simms was
talking about, mamma" Freda turned
to the sweet-faced woman who had
been arranging pile of magazines at
the library table. Il suppose | am a
little hard on girls who aren't-well,
just genuine--for as said to Jack,
I'm nothing if not frank and open my
self"
"Genuineness certainly is fine
quality and something we all need to
strive AFTER her mother returned.
why, mamma, think it comes nat
ural to some of us to be genuine, don't
you? I'm sure I've never had to cul-
tivate it. I'm naturally frank and |
simply can't make any excuses for
people who aren't. 1t seems so un-
forgiveable."
1t was the next afternoon that Freda
busted herself wrapping up two gifts
for her twin cousins birthday.
This certainly was bargain" she
remarked complacently to her mother,
holding up a little gold frame
containing a miniature. 1T doesn't
seem as if it could be as heavily plat
ed as they said. Only seventy-nine
cents, picture and all, and the girl
told me that they'd been selling for
dollar and a half Somehow l sort
of distrusted that girl, but anyway,
it's pretty-now Freda was careful
Iy removing the tissue paper from the
box that had held it and transferring
it to another box.
why, dearie, where did you get it?''
her mother asked suddenly. AT Ben.
edict's? You can always rely upon
what they tell you there"
ooh, no, mamma, | found this at
Leonard's, but you don't think l would
you, when Beth knows just what a
cheap store that is | just happened
| to have this box from Benedict's and
! it's such a good fit-so [ thought I'd
| put the frame into and-Why
mother" Freda's confident voice fal
tered, what makes you look like that:
Isn't it all right? Very likely the
frame is as good as the girl told me
and so-what harm
But somehow it was hard to go on.
why, dear child" her mother said
don't you remember what we were
saying only yesterday about genuine
ness? Even if the frame should turn
out to be all they claimed it, il
wouldn't be quite honest to try tt
make any one think you bought it al
Benedict's, would it? And on the
other hand, if it should prove to be
as cheap in quality as it was in price
then what injustice you would be do
ing that fine store! In any case
dear"
Freda's cheeks were flaming now.
Why. of course" she said, "in any
case it wouldn't be square in me
would it? Oh, mamma, why is it 81
easy to fool ourselves into thinking
we are so much better than we are
Why, when l was talking about Flor
ence yesterday | never once though
of anything like this. And it isn't the
first time I've done things like this
either
"You haven't stopped to think, hel
mother said, comfortingly. Nov you
do think it over, you wouldn't for any
thing be dishonest about it. It's prob
ably that way with Florence, and We
need to be pretty careful in our iudg
ments of other people I've found"
ooh, mamma, you! Why, you never
say anything harsh about anybody,
Freda said, affectionately.
Suddenly she tore open the CAREFUL!
wrapped book she had addressed tt
the other cousin.
; Mammal" she exclaimed. Her
I've done it again. This was a bar
gain book-it was dollar and quar-
ter, but they'd put it down to fit.
cents because it's defective-worn OF
at this corner, you see. l wantet
Martha to think I'd spent more thai
did!-and so II rubbed out thu
reduced price mark and left in tn,
!, dollar and a quarter. Oh, mother
what fraud l ami"
mo, not fraud" mother said, "be
cause you are so anxious to make i
J right now. You didn't stop to think
but l am pretty sure, after this, yo1
will be on your guard and not let an.
of these little insincerities creep in.
ooh, I'm sure l WILL" said Freda
land l won't be so hard on Florenc
or any of the other girls that I've BEEF
i feeling so superior to-
SACRED MEMORIES