The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-12-14
THE CHILDREN'S HOUR.
ELIZABETH AND HER UNCLE.

| lesson when the visitors arrived. She
got home about an hour later, her
cheeks very pink, and her hair par
| ticularly curly after ~its wetting. By
| this time the other greetings were
disposed of, and Elizabeth's was the
sole attraction.
My" cried her uncle, holding her
at arms length. you don't mean
| that this young giantess is my little
Betsy. And I'd expected to carry
you pickaback and ride you to Ban
| bury Cross on my knee"
ooh, uncle" Elizabeth eXpostulated,
Il was too big for such things the
last time you saw me. I'm seven
teen"
I'm glad to see you looking so
| well, dear child" said Aunt Margaret.
81 felt a little anxious about you
| when your mother kept writing about
your splendid marks in school, I
| was afraid you might be sacrificing
health to scholarship, but l see there
| isn't any need for me to worry And
so you really lead your class at the
high SCHOOL,"
Il did this year," explained Eliza
| beth, "but it doesn't follow that l
shall next year. There are several
girls who we're very close to me-"
Uncle Alec loved to tease. He put
on his glasses, and looked Elizabeth
| over.
"This is certainly a niece to be
proud Of" he said. "An athletic
| prodigy and an intellectual marvel.
l don't know, Margaret, how you and
are going to live up to such a
responsibility"
There was no question but that
Elizabeth was a little spoiled. She
was an only daughter and the home
life centered about her rather more
than was best for her. She was a
girl who had been successful in most
things she had attempted, and she
was so accustomed to praise that her
uncle's jocose eulogy hardly seemed
to her exaggerated. Although Eliza
beth's vanity never manifested itself
Extensively, in her heart she honestly
believed herself a rather extraordi-
nary person.
If nothing had gone wrong during
the visit of Mr. Alec Mercer and his
wife, they might have departed think
ing almost as highly of Elizabeth as
she thought of herself But as it
happened the first day was not over
before something happened. Eliza
beth had an invitation for the even
ing and went to her room to dress
shortly after dinner. Two minutes
later she made her appearance in the
living room, her manner indicating
perturbation.
Mother, Ellen has starched my
dress"
HAS she, dear?" Mrs. Mercer
looked as if she fully appreciated the
seriousness of the situation. I'm
sorry. I don't think she can have
used a great deal Of starch l saw
the dress in the laundry and l
thought it looked very nice. The
evening is rather damp and I fancy
that by the time you get to Luella's
your dress will be all right
do you suppose I'm going to wear
it?'' cried Elizabeth, in voice so
sharp that her aunt looked at her in
amazement. well, should think not.
I'd rather not co.
Suppose we go upstairs and look
your wardrobe over" suggested Mrs.
Mercer, with an embarrassed smile. 81
hardly believe the situation can be as
serious as you think
Mrs. Mercer returned, looking
flushed and tired. 1t was difficult to
go on with the talk as if nothing had
happened.
A good many things went wrong
with Elizabeth during the next week.
And one day she overheard an IL
that set her to thinking.
Il wonder if Betsy is ever going to
grow up?"
1t was her uncles voice.
"A girl almost a woman, who sulks
and frets whenever some little thing
goes wrong, is always behind in her
development. / can't see that she's
grown at all in some things since she
was baby. When she visited us
that summer at the seashore, she was
six years old, and quite inclined to
make a fuss if things didn't go to.
suit her. That was to be expected
from a child of that age. But she
is still baby in character. She flies
into a tantrum if the least thing goes
wrong. l don't see how her mother
stands it with her."
Elizabeth's mother came out on
the porch just then, and the converse
ton took another turn. Elizabeth by,
her window sat motionless. She had
accepted a new unit of measures as
far as she herself was concerned.
Elizabeth always viewed herself in
the mirror with pardonable pride, and
her good looks were not misleading.
She was the star basketball player
among the feminine contingent of the
high school In winter, her skating
reused her mates to emulation, and
her swimming babe fair to set a
standard. From physical stand
point she had made the most of her
opportunities for growing.
But she drew a long breath, and
slowly she went back over the days.