The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-17
FINDING THE REAL.
By Julia A. Robinson.
Copyright, 1921, by Wheeler Syn.
dictate Incl

/ As 4k0ulASOhs
| Copyright, 1921. by Wheeler Syn
| dictate, Inc)
Nothing had ever come Gather
| ines way AS a child she had liv-
| ed on a farm with her father and
mother, far from neighbeFs. They
were very poor. Her father work
ed prodigieusly for a bare living,
and the little girl became accus-
toned to giving up things that
might have brought happiness. It
| did not trouble her as much as it
would some children to go without
| what she would have liked to have,
| for she had the power of imagining
that she had everything she longed
| for.
Catherine was an only child, and
would have been lonesome had it
not been for her vivid Imagination
her faculty of converting the
| common things about her into the
beautiful ones just beyond her
reach. The chickens, the kittens,
puppies, even the bessy-caif and
the pony were her brothers and
sisters. What a big family you've
got, papai" she would say, as She
ceaxed them, one by one. into the
great, comfortable kitchen. Il don't
wonder you're so poor"
She had always loHged for a real
baby sister and brother. and de-
clared when she grew up she would
have large family of children, so
there would be plenty of brothers
and sisters, enough to go around.
Why don't l have pretty dresses
like Sadie, at Sunday SCHOOL," she
asked of her mother.
Dear child" her mother answer
ed, 81 wish l could give you pretty
clothes, but your father cannot
spare the money to buy them. Such
dresses as Sadie wears cost a great
deal"
The child gazed from the win
dow. thinking; then she locked I'D
with a smile. Never mind, mann
ma, don't feel bad about it. I'll lust
play I've got them"
Her mother sighed. but soon for
got the matter. A short time later
she. saw her little girl stepping
about on her toes, holding her head
high, looking about with a proud
air.
Isn't my pink dress lust love-
ly?' asked the child, with a toss of
her head. And don't you think nv
velvet hat is a dear? See the long
plume"
Her mother laughed. Your cos
tune is certainly beautiful" she
assented, entering into the spirit
1T surpasses Sadie's. even. but If
mustn't make my little girl vain"
mo, shall never be vain of nv
clothes asserted Catherine. in
self-praise. II shall ALWAYS think
of little girls who do not have such
nice things as l do"
Another time her mother found
her sitting up, prim and still. in
straight-baek chair. gazing into
space. a rapt look on her face.
What are you doing, daughter ?'
she asked.
"Sh!" admonished the child. hold
ing up warning finger. Listen
to the music. Isn't it Just grand %
She had heard chance visitor
tell of a concert she had attended
in the city. and she was nov enjoy
ing the imaginary treat herself.
AS Catherine grew up her power
Of imagining was of great use ia |
her. Beautiful things did not CONS
into her commonplace life. and she
still had to play that she had them
She was quick at her studies and |
longed to go On to more advanced
schools than the country VILLAGE
college was her am /
hition. Her dreams never eama
true except in her active brain |
Her father and mother were get I
ting feeble, They needed her helm |
She worked in the mill to helm nav
expenses, but in the evening she
sat by the small ell lamp, a pile of |
books about her that the minister |