HOW SUSAN ADA LIZA MADE BELIEVE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue VIII, 19 February 1898, Page 239

HOW SUSAN ADA LIZA MADE BELIEVE.

Busan ADALIZA wasa very observing child. She noticed that some of the girls always managed to make their mothers say ‘ yes ’ when they wanted to go anywhere, and that most of the girls liegan to cry whenever they missed a lesson, and that when they cried they were not punished. Now Susan didn’t like to weep, for she was nearly always happy; and then she had five brothers at home, and you know very well that brothers never cry, unless they are very small and have colic or get bumped. Susan sometimes felt that this was a failing of hers. Once when she and Mary Ladd had whisjtered in school they had been kept in at recess. Mary cried, so the teacher didn’t punish her; but Susan couldn’t. How could she, when Tom was going to take her coasting after school 1 So Miss Adams gave her little hands seven strokes with the big ruler. Jennie Smith was Susan’s next-door neighbour. When it stormed, Jennie’s mother let her stay home from school, or if she had a little cold, or there was company at the house. But no matter what the weather or the fun going on at home, Susan Adaliza had to pack up her dinner-pail and her little old-fashioned school-bag and trudge off to school. One morning Celia Kinlin was tardy. She rushed into the school-room, crying and sobbing so that you could heat her all over the room. Miss Adams came down to her desk, and gently removing her wraps, said, in her very sweetest tones ; ‘ Never mind. I’m sorry you are tardy, but I know you tried not to' be, Celia.’ A week later, one glorious morning when the sap was dripping from the sugarmaples, and there was just enough snow to go on runners to the sngar camp, Susan lingered over the packing of her dinner pail, hoping that mother would say for once that she could stay out of school and go with the boys to the sugar camp. She packed the cakes and apple turnover at the bottom of the pail; then she took everything out, and packed the turnover at the bottom, and the cakes at the top, with the bread and meat between. * Oh, mother,’ pleaded Susan, * can’t I stay home just this once? Ido want to go with the lioys to the sugar camp so bail !’ But Susan’s mother said, ‘ No, dear; run along to school now.’ Susan stood at the back door. Oh, such a day to be out in the great maple grove, riding on the sledge while the lioys gathered sap ! And then the boiling down in the savory-smelling sugar-house, and the making of * wax ’ in some big snow-drift ! Then what do you suppose Susan Adaliza did ? She went out to the barn, climbed up on the hay-mow, and stayed till she heard the last schoolbell ringing. When the last peal sounded, she ran panting into the house, saying, ‘ Oh, mother, I can’t go to school, ’cause I’m late, and you know I never was tardy.’ Her mother looked down at the bits of hay clinging to the brown braids of hair and the little lieaver coat. * Susan Adaliza,’ said she, ‘run along to school.’ Susan went very slowly. * What will Miss Adams say’/thought she. ‘1 don’t care. I’ll cry, just like that other girl, so I will.’ When she reached the school-house she rushed in without taking off her coat and little red hood, and began to cry as hard as she could. She peeped through her fingers to see if Miss Adams was coming to comfort her, and she saw Miss Adams biting her lips to keep from laughing. Then Susan Adaliza ceased weeping. Miss Adams asked her to stay after school. When the boys and girls had all gone to their homes, she asked Susan what made her late. Susan told her all about it. ‘ Now,’ said Miss Adams, ‘ father and I are going to drive out to his sugar grove, and I believe if I take you with me you will remember never to “ make believe ” again. ’ Susan Adaliza spent a very blissful afternoon at Mr Adatns’ sugar camp, which was even bigger and sweeter than her father’s. And I’m sure you’ll l>e glad when I tell you that she never ‘ made l>elieve’ again. In fact, she has grown to lie a very plucky little woman, who is too honest to * make lielieve ’ aliout anything. Nellie Nelson Amsdkn.