The Family Circle

New Zealand Tablet, 15 July 1915, Page 61

The Family Circle

, SIX LITTLE FEET ON THE FENDER. In my heart there liveth a picture Of a kitchen rude and old, Where the firelight tripped o’er the rafters. And reddened the roof’s brown mould ; Gliding the steam from the kettle That hummed on the foot-worn hearth, Throughout all the live-long evening Its measure of drowsy mirth. Because of the three light shadows That frescoed that rude old room— Because of the voices echoed, Up ’mid the rafters’ gloom—Because of the feet on the fender, Six restless, white little feet— The thoughts of that dear old kitchen Are to me so fresh and sweet. When the first dash on the window Told of the coming rain, Oh ! where are the fair young faces That crowded against the pane ? While bits of firelight stealing Their dimpled cheeks between, Went stumbling out in the darkness, In shreds of silver sheen. FREDA’S ‘ FRANKNESS.’ I like genuineness above everything else,’ Freda spoke with emphasis and a nod of her pretty auburn head. ‘lt does seem to me the one most unforgivable thing—to be trying to pass yourself off for more than you’re really worth.’ ‘ What’s up now, Free?’ inquired her brother Jack. Who’s been shamming, and what made her do it, and all the rest. ?’ Jack simulated a look of intense interest and curiosity as he bent over his sister, his boyish face close to hers. ‘ Oh, nothing very special, Jack,’ Freda said smilingly. ‘ I was talking more in general, 1 suppose. And yet, I was thinking particularly of one of the girls, too.’ ‘ Naming no names,’ interpolated Jack. Well, it’s nobody you’d be interested in anyway,’ Freda replied, ‘ She's a nice girl in ever so many ways, but she doesn’t always ring true.’ Freda paused rather complacently as if she liked the phrase she had chosen. ‘ They live away over on the south side, and her father is a clerk in a little store there, but to hear her telling of her trips to the seashore and automobile rides you would suppose they were in affluent circumstances.’ ‘ Ahem !’ said Jack, ‘ and what does that word mean V ‘ You know perfectly well,’ said Freda with dignity. 1 I suppose somebody must have taken her out for a ride some time, for she never in the world would get a chance to go in a car of her own. Now, I’d respect her twice as much if she’d just be frank and say right out what a treat it was to be taken for a ride.’ ‘ I like frankness myself,’ Jack said seriously, ‘ I don’t know who you’re talking about, but if she’s trying to fool people into thinking she’s worth more than she is, I don’t like her any more than you do.’ ‘ I’m nothing if not frank,’ Freda said, again in that complacent voice. * And she wears imitation lace, too ! She has a new dress with some imitation Val. on it, and when one of the girls said how pretty and becoming the dress was, she just answered, “I think those little Val. edges are dainty.” ’ ‘What on earth is “Val?”’ inquired Jack, but a boyish whistle sounded outside, he stopped not for enlightenment, but vaulted through the open window.

‘ That was Florence Simms I was talking about, mamma/ . Freda turned to the sweet-faced woman who had been arranging a pile of magazines at the library table. ‘ I suppose I am a little hard on girls who —well, just genuine—for as I said to Jack, I’m nothing if not frank and open myself.’ ' Genuineness certainly -is a line quality, and something we all need to strive after,’ her mother returned. ‘ Why, mamma, I think it comes natural to some of us to be genuine, don’t you ? I’m sure I’ve never had to cultivate it. I’m naturally frank and I simply can’t make any excuses for people who aren’t. It seems so unforgivable.’ It was the next afternoon that Freda busied herself wrapping up two gifts for her twin cousins’ birthday. ‘ This certainly was a bargain,’ she remarked complacently to her mother, holding up a little gold frame containing a miniature. ‘lt doesn’t seem as if it could be as heavily plated as they said. Only seventy-nine cents, picture and all, and the girl told me that they’d been selling for a dollar and a half. Somehow I sort of distrusted that girl, but anyway, it’s pretty—now.’ Freda was carefully removing the. tissue paper from the box that had held it and transferring it to another box. Why, dearie, where did you get it?’ her mother asked suddenly. ‘At Benedict’s? You can always rely upon what they tell you there.’ ‘ Oh, no, mamma, I found this at Leonard’s, but you don’t think I would let it go out in one of their boxes, do you, when Beth knows just what a cheap store that is. I just happened to have this box from Benedict’s and it’s such a good —so I thought I’d put the frame into that—and—why, mother,’ Freda’s confident voice faltered, ‘ what makes you look like that? Isn't it all right? Very likely the frame is as good as she girl told me, and —what harm— ’ But somehow it was hard to go on. ‘ Why, dear child,’ her mother said, ‘ don’t you remember what we were saying only yesterday about genuineness? Even if the frame should turn out to be all they claimed it, it wouldn’t be quite honest to try to make any one think you bought it at Benedict’s, would it? And on the other hand, if it should prove to be as cheap in quality as it was in price, then what injustice you would be doing that fine store ! In any case, dear— ’ ' Freda’s cheeks were flaming now. Why, of course,’ she said, ‘ in any case it wouldn’t be square in me, would it? Oh, mamma, why is it so easy to fool ourselves into thinking we are so much better than we are ? Why, when I was talking about Florence yesterday V never once thought of anything like this. And it isn’t the first time I’ve done things like this, either.’ ‘ You haven’t stopped to think,’ her mother said, comfortingly. ‘ Now you do think it over, you wouldn’t for anything be dishonest about it. It’s probably that way with Florence, and we need to be pretty careful in our judgments of other people I’ve found.’ ‘ Oh, mamma, you! Why, you never say anything harsh about anybody,’ Freda said affectionately. Suddenly she tore open the carefully wrapped book she had addressed to the other cousin. ‘Mamma!’ she exclaimed. ‘Here I’ve done it again. This was a bargain book—it was a dollar and a-quarter, but they’d marked it “as is” and put it down to fifty cents because it’s defective off at this corner, you see. I wanted Martha to think I’d spent more than I did ! —and so I—l rubbed out the reduced price mark and left in the dollar and a-quarter. Oh, mother, what a fraud I am !’ No, not a fraud,’ mother said, ‘because you are so anxious to make it right now. You didn’t stop to think, but I am pretty sure, after this, you will be on your guard and not let any of these little insincerities creep in. ‘ Oh, I’m sure I will, ’ said Freda, ‘and 1 won’t lie so hard on Florence or any of the other girls that. I’ve been feeling so superior to.’

AN OBJECT LESSON. “

The Minturn family were seated at their breakfast table one beautiful spring morning when Teddy, the youngest member, exclaimed, ‘ We must be later than usual this morning, for here comes the postman !’ 1 Run and get the letters, son,’ said Mr. Minturn. ‘ I am expecting something important.’ Teddy ran to the door, and presently came back with the mail. By an odd coincidence, there was a letter for each member of the family. Mr. Minturn finished his letter first, and was about to express his dissatisfaction with its contents when he glanced at the rest of the family, who were all deep in their letters. As one by one they laid them down, their mood seemed so exactly like, his own that he laughed heartily. ‘ What’s the joke?' everyone exclaimed. Why don't you ask instead, “What’s the trouble?”’ said Mr. Minturn. ‘ You all look as if you had the worst of news.’ ‘Let’s begin with mother,’ said Ethel, and hear what it is all about.’ Mrs. Minturn flushed a little. ‘ I’m ashamed to be annoyed,’ she said, ‘ but two weeks ago I sent a printed letter to each member of our club telling her the time and place of the meeting this month, which car to take, and where to leave the car. This morning 1 have received my third letter accepting the invitation to the meeting, and asking me to let the writer know exactly how to get here. My circular letters are all used up, and so I shall have to take the time from a busy day to write the whole thing over again because these three ladies did not take the trouble to read their letters !’ ‘ Well,’ said Mr. Minturn, ' I wrote to my partner, who is in New York, and asked him to give me the address of one of our best customers. As it was necessary for me to know immediately, I asked him to send the letter here. lie replies promptly, congratulates me on the sale 1 expect to make, and forgets’here Mr. Minturn paused dramatically 1 to send the address.’ ‘ Which means,’ said Teddy, ‘ a long-distance telephone call to New York at a cost of $5.35.’ The family laughed. ‘ Let the experience meeting continue,’ said Mr. Minturn. ‘ Ethel, what is your difficulty V ■ ‘ Mine is an excited letter from Kate, saying that after weeks of waiting she has at last got the dressmaker, and that if 1 will buy the material and send it at once she will have the dress finished in time for the party. But,’ continued Ethel, as she shook the envelope expectantly for the tenth time, ‘ she didn’t inclose the sample.’ ‘Now, Blanche!’ they all cried. ‘ Oh, it’s nothing much,’ said Blanche, trying to speak unconcernedly, ‘ only Agnes is coming, and says to be sure and meet her, since it frightens her to try to find her way alone about the city, and she doesn’t say what train she’s coming on.’ The family groaned, and Mr. Minturn said, ‘ Now, Teddy, who has betrayed you?’ Teddy scowled, and plunged his hands into his pockets. ‘ Uncle Frank hopes I’ll have a good time at the ball game this afternoon—’ ‘And forgets to inclose the tickets!’ shouted (he family in chorus. ‘ Children,’ said Mr. Minturn—and his eyes were twinkling let us be instructed by the faults of our friends/ ‘Agreed!’ said the family, as they rose from the table. Yit fh Companion, ROBBIE NOT CONVINCED. Robbie’s first experience of a concert hall was at a recent mammoth entertainment in aid of a patriotic fund. The most celebrated soprano of the day was engaged in singing to the .accompaniment of a famous orchestra when Robbie and family arrived.

The small boy at' once became interested in the gesticulations of the conductor. ‘ Mother, why is that man shaking his stick at the lady?’ he asked. ‘ Hush, dear; he is not shaking his stick at her.' But Robbie was not convinced. ‘ Then what is she screaming for ?’ THE CHICKENS NOT RESPONSIBLE. Uncle Josh was comfortably lighting his pipe in the living room one evening when Aunt Maria glanced up from her knitting. 'Josh/ softly remarked the good woman, ‘do you know that next Sunday will be the twenty-fifth anniversary of our wedding?’ Ye don’t say so, Maria/ responded Uncle Josh, pulling vigorously on his corncob pipe. ‘ What about it?’ ‘ Nothing,’ answered Aunt Maria, ‘ only I thought maybe we ought to kill them two Rhode Island Red chickens.’ ‘ Say, Maria,’ impressively demanded Uncle Josh, ' how can you blame them two Rhode Island Red chickens for what happened twenty-five years ago?’ HOLD THE CAKE. A new Territorial, who had not quite learned his • business, was on sentry duty one night when a friend, brought a cake from the canteen. As he sat on the grass eating the cake the major sauntered up in undress uniform. The sentry, not recognising him, did not salute, and the major stopped and said: ' What’s that you have there?’ ‘ Cake,’ said the sentry, good-naturedly. ‘ Have a bile V The major frowned. ‘Do you know who I am?’ lie asked. ‘ No,' said the sentry, ‘ unless you’re the major’s groom.’ The major shook his head. 1 Guess again/ he growled. ' The barber from the village/ ‘ Maybe—here the sentry laughed —‘maybe you’re the major himself?’ 'That’s right. lam the major!’ was the stern reply. The sentry scrambled to his feet. ‘ Good gracious!’ lie exclaimed. ‘ Hold the cake, will you, while I salute V VERY HOT STUFF. When Thomas placed a rosy apple by the garden gate and then secreted himself behind a hedge, he thought he had done so unobserved. But he was mistaken. An old gentleman approached him and began to lecture. ‘My boy,’ he said, ‘ do you not know that you are very wrong in placing that apple by that gate? Some poor boy might be tempted to purloin it?’ ' Well,’ said Thomas, ‘ that’s just what I want him to do.’ Why?’ inquired Old Curious. ‘ Why V repeated Thomas. ‘ Because I’ve hollowed out the inside and filled it with mustard.’ IT SEEMED THAT WAY. The farmer, wearing a long face, entered the country drug store. ‘ I’ve got something wrong with my stomach/ he announced, ‘ and I want you to give me something for it.’ _ ‘All right,’ replied the apothecary, cheerfully; ‘ what are your symptoms?’ ‘ Every little while something seems to rise up and settle back, and then by and by rises up and settles back again.’ The druggist stroked his chin reflectively. Look here,’ he said, gravely, you haven’t gone and swallowed an elevator, have you?’