Dosia's New Desk-Mate

Illustration 13. Dosia’s New Desk-Mate Mother Jones knew by the way Dosia came tramping through the living room that something had displeased her at school. “Who’s hurt your feelings this time, Dosia?” she asked.

“I didn’t say my feelings had been hurt, did 1?” Dosia replied. “You don’t have to speak,” answered her mother softly, “to let me know what the condition of your mind is. I can always tell by your actions.”

“Well, mother,” replied Dosia, “Miss Dale separated Dilly and me today and who do you think she gave me for a desk-mate?” “T’ve no idea,” replied her mother, ‘‘Who?” “Nobody you or I ever heard of before,” snapped Dosia, “a girl named Myrtle Ryan—lives over in the shoe factory district.”

“A stranger?” said her mother, giving Dosia a keen glance. “Do you think that’s the proper way to treat strangers?” “Tt’s all right for this girl,” declared Dosia, “she’s not in my class.” “By what marks,” asked her mother, “do you measure the standard for your class?”

“Well,” responded Dosia quickly, “good clothes, nice manners and a pleasant disposition.” “Clothes don’t always make the person, my dear,” reminded her mother. “But her clothes, mother, are too coarse for words and her stockings are mended!”

“Ts she clean and neat-looking?” questioned her mother, “She’s clean,” admitted Dosia, “but you couldn’t be neat in patched garments.” “She doesn’t happen to be a girl anywhere near your size?” ques- tioned Mrs, Jones. “About my size, I expect, but a little smaller.”

“T believe, if I were you, I would look around and find out some- thing about this little stranger and should she prove worthy, then why not pass on a few of those out-grown dresses of yours ?” “Of course,” whined Dosia, “you would find something for me to do for her.” “I merely suggested this,” said mother, “hoping to solve the problem of those out-grown clothes of yours.” “T’ll think about it,” agreed Dosia, “but I will not promise yet that I’ll give her any of them, I don’t think I will.”

TALKS TO BOYS AND GIRLS 175 “Look into her every day life,” said her mother thoughtfully, “and then make your decision.” The next afternoon when Dosia returned, Mrs.

Jones noticed with delight she said nothing against her new desk-mate. Just a week later Dosia told her mother she was going to turn over her out-grown gar- ments to Myrtle Ryan. Her mother said, “You’ve looked into her record, I suppose,” as she handed over the keys to the packing room. “VYes’m,” answered Dosia.

“I’ve learned she is the daughter of a crippled man that worked at the shoe factory and—and—mother—she does all the work in their little home before and after school hours, but she hasn’t learned to sew yet and even if she could sew, her father is terribly in debt, and is trying to pay off everybody before he makes any more purchases for home or family.” “T’m sure you will not make any mistake in giving your clothes to a girl like that,” responded her mother eagerly.

The next afternoon when Dosia came home she found her mother waiting for her at the front gate. “Oh, Dosia,’ she exclaimed ex- citedly, “I’ve lost my diamond pin!” Dosia opened her mouth to speak and then suddenly closed it.

“You’ve had it,” exclaimed her mother. “Where did you leave it?” “J—I—” stammered Dosia, “saw it on your dresser last Saturday morning when I was dusting the furniture in your room and IJ—I know I pinned it on the collar of my dress to admire myself in the mirror—and—and.

Her mother said, “You gave away the dress you were WapUDeE Saturday. Oh, what will I do, what can I do?” “T guess I will have to go down and explain the situation to Marie and ask her to return the jewel, mother,” said Dosia solemnly. The rap of a light hand falling on the door interrupted the con- versation and the next instant a timid girl in a beautifully pressed dress walked into the room.

“Dosia,” said this stranger, “I know you gave me your out-grown garments and I appreciate them, but I am wondering if you inten- tionally gave me this sparkling pin.” “Oh,” said Dosia excitedly, “did you find it? That is mother’s and she’s been grieving herself sick over the loss.” “Well, I have come to return it,” said Myrtle.

“T’m glad you brought it back,” exclaimed Dosia happily. “What did you expect me to do?” asked Myrtle. “It doesn’t belong to me, here it is.” And lifting the jewel into Mrs.

Jones’s hand she said, “I must be running home.” “Wait a minute,” said Dosia eagerly. “I’ve a sudden feeling I want to go with you.” “Well,” said Dosia as she hopped into bed that night, “I’ve learned 176 THE ILLUSTRATION something through Myrtle’s acquaintance, mother, that I’ll never for- get.”

Her mother asked, “You have? What is it?” “Never to judge anybody by appearance alone,” said Dosia solemnly, “but by their true worth, and Myrtle has proved beyond a doubt that she is a true girl and I hope we will always be friends.” (Hester A.

SLATER in Junior’s Pleasure)