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Show r .sc "Mother's Apron Strings. N I ' "Hurry up, Annie and Rose, tailed f Jennie Marsh. "We're going down to I tlie lower woods for violets. Come and E g0 with us." I "yes," added Hattie Fay; "it's such J a pleasant afternoon, and the boys say jj ilu1 woods are blue' with violets; -you I I don't want to miss it." " : j School was over for the day -at the white school house on the hill. 1 The iliililren. formed in little groups, had j scattered on their different ways; two I ,.r three paused under the great maple that grew by the roadside, bright with ii be tender green of Jts springtime 1 leaves, to wait till a couple more jrirls joined them. One of the last comers hung back, with a hesitating air. "I'd like to go, but I'm afraid mamma will expect me home." the words coming half timidlv, its though it Mas a reason she was 7 if almost ashamed to give, jj "(,h nar Annie:", jeered Jennie. ! I "She's always lied to her mother's I a Ton strings!" if liose Delaney, smiling and freckle- ,J fa -ed, opened her blue eyes wide. Hose i was a new scholar at the Avhite I -' Iiool house, and while all the girls liked her, she was so smiling, good j naiured. and always ready for a part ' I in c very game, slill they were not very I well acquainted with her. The red rushed to Annie's face at the . pecfr, for she was keenly sensitive to I ridicule. A color also Hushed Hose's I die-k. " i' ': - -" - I "1 don't think that's anything to be a.shamed of," she said, stoutly. "I tell you. mother's apron strings are pretty ! I ""d to lie to." Her lip dimpled with (I u smile. "You'd better believe, I think j the world and all of .that mother of mine, and I tell her I am so tied to her apron strings, that I tan hardly stay away from her all. day at school. " !f Annie looked at Kose. Her head was ! . v,'ll up, her.; eyes were 'clear; she . i ' didn't seem to think that she was tell- 1 i"g anything, to lie the least bit ashamed, of, so she stood her ground j boldly. jj "Tou see," continued Rose, "I know '" f a girl whose mother died last winter. an,3 think pretty often how would I feel if my mother was to die. I don't seem, anyway, that I could live without with-out her." j There was a little catch at every I heart. Not a girl there but loved her I mother, only well, somehow they had gotten in the way of thinking that it I was a fine thing not to show it. I A minute of silence followed. Jen- I nie was the first to rally. I "Then I suppose you won't go with I us. Rose?" . . . I "Not till I've seen mother first," was I the firm answer. 1 1 And with that Annie found voice and oourage to . say: "I'm. going home, too," as, stepping out from the others, she walked away by Rose's side. ' ' "I think it was ever so brave of you to say what you did." she faltered, when they were well out of hearing'. !"My mother isn't very well, and she worries about me if I don't come right iaome from school, and Jennie and the other girls twit me with it."' j "Well, what if they do?" said Rose, i "Why, I don't care if the whole world i I knows that I love my mother. "Why Should I?" . . -Annie -had never thought of it in that night before,, and did not answer, a.s she picked a dandelion by the way. "Besides," continued Rose, " just think how we would feci if our mothers moth-ers were ashamed of us. and I'm sure they might be often enough." "Rose Delaney:' and Annie gave her a little hug, "you're a dear, and Jennie Marsh may say 'mother's ,apron strings' to me as much as she likes, and I'm nqver going to mind it again!" "I wouldn't, either," answered Rose, cheerily, as she; returned the embrace. ! In the. meantime the other girls. ha.d climbed the worn gray fence and "were crosFing the meadow toward the lower woods. . . - . ' "I tell you," remarked Jennie, with a mAot . 1 . . : . . r. ,i ii. j i " 1 - vclouo.1 lll, ill LCI II1C.V lielU rtltcu a little - distance, , "how, Rose did. fly up ab9ut her mother!" "" ' "She didn't do it in a mad way, through." said Grace Foster. "And and I'Ve" been thinking, and I believe she's about right, after all. If we go down to the woods tonight our motf-ers motf-ers will have to wait supper for us, most likely, and wonder where we are." , "Yes." assented Hattie Fay,' "and 6ur baby is teething. I know I ought to go home and help-" ' - "Run tjoiiWi" jthfW babie'sT, I cn go alone!"" Iepnie triad. to;-make her voice exceedHigly scornful, 'bat it failed of its usual effect. v "Beside?" it was Grace who spoke "day aftev tomorrow is Saturday. .We can then go when our mothers know it, and have more time and a good deal better time." Annie and Rose had followed the road down into a little valley. As they climbed the 'hill beyond Annie looked back toward the meadow. "See there, Rose!" and she caught her companion's arm; "those girls are ail coming back, after all! Even Jen- j nie is lagging ,-a.lcng behind. . I guess," with an odd, choking laugh, "they have included that mothers' apron strings are pretty good things to tie to, after all." Catholic Union and Times. |