BETTY’S ODD WISH

New Zealand Tablet, 25 August 1910, Page 1377

BETTY’S ODD WISH

* Betty, what would you like to have for your birthday?’ asked Aunt Mary. ‘ I have thought and thought and cannot decide what would do for a little girl who has so many toys and dolls.’ ‘ Well, then, I wish you would make me some checked gingham aprons with long sleeves,’ said Betty. ‘ I want the kind that have a strap across the back.’ ‘Gingham aprons! What an odd wish! Don’t you like your ruffled white ones?’ ‘Yes, but I’d like to have a gingham one, auntie. I truly would like them better than anything else. Please don’t ask me why, but I want them ever so much.’ ‘ We’ll see,’ said Aunt Mary. ‘ That is a very modest wish for a birthday gift.’ Betty could hardly wait until the great day came, and when she ran into the dining-room the first thing she looked for was the gingham apron. Four sober little checked aprons hung on the back of her chair, and Betty squeezed them for joy. There were pretty things of all kinds, but the aprons Betty liked best of all. That morning she set out to school with a checked apron over her pretty dress, and the children all looked to see her take her seat/in the schoolroom. ‘My dear, brave little girl!’ whispered the teacher, patting Betty’s curls, ‘ No one at home knew why Betty wore the checked aprons all winter, until Aunt Mary met Betty’s teacher on the street. ‘.I have wanted to tell you for ever so long how much good' Betty has done with her little checked aprons,’ she said. ‘Didn’t she tell you why she wanted them? That is just like.her, bless her heart ! There is a poor little girl in the school and the children laughed at her dark aprons, so Betty asked for dark aprons, too, and. since then there has been no trouble. The children all play together as happy as birds, and poor little Jessie is not left out in the cold. lam very glad to have such a brave, sweet little girl as Betty in my class.’ ‘ No, she never told her reason,’ said Aunt Mary. ‘We all thought it an odd wish, but I am glad she is so unselfish. I wish more little girls would do as she did.’ ‘So do I,’ said the teacher: ‘but I am thankful for Betty.’ *