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Lily Norris' Enemy
Lily Norris' Enemy
I
THE "QUAKER LADY."
"If Lily Norris isn't just the most provoking child that ever lived!" said Maggie Bradford, indignantly.
"Yes, I b'lieve she just is," assented Bessie.
"Why," said Mrs. Rush, who was that day making a visit to Maggie's and Bessie's mamma, "how is this? Lily the most provoking child that ever lived! I thought Lily was one of your best friends, and that you were so fond of her."
"Yes, Aunt May, so we are," said Maggie. "We're very fond of Lily indeed; she's one of our dearly beloveds, and we like to have her with us; but for all that, she's very trying to our patience."
"Yes," sighed Bessie, "I think she's tryinger than any child we know; and yet she's hardly ever naughty, – really naughty, I mean."
"How does she try you?" asked Mrs. Rush, though she believed she could herself have answered as to the cause of complaint.
"She puts off so," said Bessie. "Aunt May, I think she's the greatest put-offer we ever saw; and sometimes it makes things so hard to bear. We try not to be provoked 'cause we love her so; but sometimes we can't help being a little. I b'lieve it troubles people as much as if she was real naughty in some way."
"Yes, procrastination is a very troublesome fault," said Mrs. Rush.
"Not a fault, is it, Aunt May?" asked Maggie. "I thought it was only a habit of Lily's."
"And Lily is a pretty good child," said Belle Powers. "She is mischievous, and makes us laugh in school sometimes; but I b'lieve that is about all the naughty things she does, and I think that is a pretty good account for one child."