The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-06-08


box of chocolates-a whole two-pound
box all at once; and I've never had
more than half-pound at once before.
But just as I was thinking how for
once I was going to have real feast.
and, all I wanted to eat-what do you
think she told me? She said I could
have three pieces, and only three
pieces a day; and not one little tiny
one more. And when asked her why
she gave me such big box for, then,
if that was all I could have, she said
it was to teach me self-discipline. That
self-discipline was one Of the most
wonderful things in the world. That
if she'd only been taught it when she
was a girl, her life would have been
very, very different. And so she was
giving me a great big box Of choco-
lates for my very own, just so as to
teach me to deny myself and take only
three pieces every day.
Three pieces land all that whole
big box of them just making my mouth
water all the while; and all just to
teach me that horrid old self-disci.
pline! Why, you'd think it was Aunt
Jane doing it instead of Mother!
ONE WEEK LATER
It's come-Father's letter. It came
last night. Oh, it was short, and it
didn't say anything about what I
wrote. But I was proud of it, just the
same. just guess was! He didn't
get Aunt Jane to write to Mother, as
he did before. And then, besides, he
must have forgotten his stars long
enough to think of me little-for he
remembered about the school, and
that T couldn't go there In Anderson
vile, and so he said I had better stay
here till it finished.
And was so glad to stay! 1t made
me very happy-that letter. 1t made
Mother happy, too. She liked it, and
she thought it was very, very kind of
Father to be willing to give me up
almost three whole months Of his six,
so could go to school here. And she
said so. She said once to Aunt Hadie
that she was almost tempted to write
and thank him. But Aunt Hattie said,
"Pooh," and it was no more than he
ought to do, and that she wouldn't be
seen writing to a man who so care
fully avoided writing to her. So
Mother didn't do it, guess.
But I wrote. had to write three
letters, though, before I got one that
Mother said would do to send. The
first one sounded so glad was stay
ing that Mother said she was afraid
he would feel hurt, and that would be
too bad-when he'd been SO kind. And
the second one sounded as If was Sc
sorry not 60 60 to Andersonville the
first of April that Mother said that
would never do in the world. He'd
think 1 didn't want to stay in Boston.
But the third letter I managed to
make just glad enough to stay, and
just sorry enough not to go. So that
Mother said it was all right. And 1
sent it. :
APRIL
Well, the last chocolate drop Went
yesterday. There were just seventy
six pieces in that two-pound box.
counted them that first day. OF course,
they were fine and dandy, and 1 just
loved them; but the trouble is, for the
last week I've been eating such sn1ppy
little pieces. You see, every day, with
out thinking, I'd just naturally pick
out the biggest pieces. So you can
imagine what they got down to toward
the last-mosuy chocolate almonds.
AS for the self-discipline-I don't see
as feel any more disciplined than l
did before, and know want choco-
lates just as much as ever. And said
so to Mother.
But Mother is queer. Honestly she
is. And can't help wondering-is she
getting to be like Aunt Jane?
Now, listen to this:
Last week had to have new party
dress, and we found a perfect darling
of a pink silk. all gold beads. and gold
slippers to match. And I knew I'd look
perfectly divine in it and once Mother
would have got it for me. But not
this time. She got horrid white mus
lin wtth Cots in it, and blue silk sash.
suitable for a child-for any child.
OF course. l was disappointed. and J.
suppose did show it-some. In fact,
I'm afraid I showed it whole lot.
Mother didn't say anything then; but
On the way home in the car she put
her arm around me and said:
I'm sorry about the pink dress,
dear. I knew you wanted it. But It
was not suitable at all for you-not
until you're Older, dear. Mother Will
have to look out that her little daugh-
ter isn't getting to be vain, and too
fond of Dress"
I knew then, of course, that 1t was
Just some more Of that self-discipline
business.