The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-06-08
MAY
What do YOU suppose 1 am learning

What do you suppose I am learning
now? You'd never guess. Stars. Yes,
stars And that is for Father, too.
Mother came into my room one day
with a book of Grandfather's under
her arm. She said it was very Won
derful work on astronomy, and she
was sure I would find it interesting.
She said she was going to read it
aloud to me an hour day. And then,
when I got to Andersonville and
Father talked to me, I'd know some
thing. And he'd be pleased.
She said she thought we owed it to
Father, after he'd been so good and
kind as to let me stay here almost
three whole months of his six, so I
could keep on with my school. And
that she was very sure this would
please him and make him happy.
And so, for most week now, Moth
er has read to be an hour day OUT
of that astronomy book. Then we talk
about it. And it is Interestingly Moth
er says it is, too. She says she wishes
she'd known something about astrono-
my when she was a girl; that she's
sure it would have made things q
whole lot easier and happier all
around, when she married Father; for
then she would have known some
thing about something he was inter-
ested in. She said she couldn't help
that now, Of course: but she could see
that I knew something about such
things.
It seems so funny to hear her talk
such a lot about Father as she does,
when before she never used to men,
tion him-only to say how afraid she
was that I would love him better than
i did her, and to make me say over
and over again that I didn't. And l
said so one day to her-I mean, I said
thought it was funny, the way she
talked now.
She colored up and bit her Tip, and
gave a queer little laugh. Then she
grew very sober and grave, and said:
II know, dear. Perhaps I am. talk
ing more than I used to. But, you see,
I've been thinking quite lot, and 1
I've learned some things. I'm trying
to make you forget what I said-about
your loving me more than him. That
wasn't right, dear. Mother was wrong.
She shouldn't try to influence you
against your father. he is good
man; and there are none too many
good men in the world-No, no, I won't
say that" she broke off.
But she'd already said it, and, OF
course, I knew she was thinking Of the
violinist. I'm no child.
She went Oh more after that, quite
a lot more. And she said again that
I must love Father and try to please
him in every way; and she cried lit
tie and talked a lot about how hard 1t
was in my position, and that she was
afraid she'd only been making 1t
harder, through her selfshness, and 1
must forgive her, and try to forget It.
And she was sure she'd do better now.
And she said that, after all, life
wasn't in just being happy yourself.
It was in how much happiness you
could give to others.
Oh, it was lovely! And cried, and
she cried some more, and we kissed
each other, and I promised. And after
she went away I felt all upraised and
holy, like you do when you've been
to q beautiful church service with soft
music and colored windows, and
everybody kneeling. And I felt as If
I'd never be naughty or thoughtless
again. And that I'd never mind being
Mary now Why, I'd be glad to be
Mary half the time, and even more
for Father.
But, alas!
Listen. Would you believe it? Just
that same evening Mother stopped
me against laughing too loud and max
ing too much noise playing with Les
ter; and I felt cross. just boiled
inside of me, and said hated Mary,
and that Mother was getting to be
Just like Aunt Jane. And yet, just
that morning
Oh, if only that hushed, stained
window-soft-music feeling would last
JUNE
Well. once more school is done, my
trunk is all packed, and I'm ready to
20 to AndersQnville. I leave tomorrow
mornine. But not as left last year.
Oh, no. It is very, very different. Why
this wear I'm really going as Mary.
honestly, Mother has turned me into
Mary before I go. Now, what DO you
think Of that7 And if I've got to be
Mary there and Mary here, too, when
can I ever be Marie? Oh, l know
said I'd be willing 6 to be Mary half.
aad maybe more than half, the time.
But when it comes to really being,
Mary out of turn extra time, that s
quite another thing.
And 1 am Mary.
Listen.