TWO SIDES OF IT

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 3, 17 January 1907, Page 37

TWO SIDES OF IT

For a whole week before the Grantleys' picnic Mollie was on tiptoe with delight. The Grantleys were such lovely people, and she had so longed to know them. J Moilic's mother, ' watching the girl's happy face, thought proudly that Stella Grantley was .not a bit sweeter or prettier than Mollie. She guessed folks would see it if they were not . blind. ' Mollie, dancing into the kitchen, Tuesday afternoon, found her mother ironing a white shirt-waist suit. " Oh, mother,*" she said, reproachfully, "/I was go-, ing to do that !" - . " I thought mebbe you wouldn't get back in time," her mother answered. "It was ever so good of you," Mollie returned, absently. " Mother, I've just thought— don't you , suppose I could make some of those littfe spice cakes before breakfast? I know nobody else^ would have anything like those." ' " Why, I guess you could," her mother answered. " And stuffed eggs and chicken sandwiches and olives," Mollie counted oft triumphantly. " I'm not expected to carry so much, but I wanted people to know what things my mother can make. Besides, I do so want them to ask me again." " I shan't think much of them ir they don't,'' her ,ipg her. " Then I'll make' the cakes before breakfast." mother declared. " That's 'cause you're mother," Mollie laughed, kissWhen she came down to breakfast, however, Die caKes were all ready. Mollie did not seem greatly surprised ; she was, jn fact, already dressed in her white suit^ At nine the buckboard came, and Mother at the back door watched her ride away. There was not any girl so pretty as Mollie. • ' ' ' The day was one triumph for Mollie ; she was quick and adaptable and added much to the fun, and her sandwiches and spice- cakes were voted unsurpassable.^ That was in the morning. In -the afternoon tiie sky - darkened suddenly, and the horses were hurriedly put into the buckboard; there. was an eight-mile ride -before them, and but two umbrellas in the crowd. And then Mollie had an inspiration. " Drive into our barn," she begged. "We can all have supper there. I won't promise you very much "—" — dimpling prettily—" just hot biscuits and honey, but it will be better than losing half our day," and, after a little hesitation, the others accepted her offer. At four Mrs. Bennett saw" the load of young pwple drive into the yard. Five minutes later the, Jiouse was overrun with girls, whom Mollie was arraying in dry clothes, while Mrs. Bennett was hurrying about, ihe kitchen making biscuit and salad. " I knew you wouldn't mind," Mollie whispered. That night in a dozen different homes the talk was of Mollie-rhow thoughtful she was and -how- unselfish, and what a lovely hostess. In Mollies own home a tired woman, washing the last of the supper dishes, was " thinking with dismay of the dresses that would be in the next week's wash. " But girls will be girls," she- said, tenderly.