Page:The Poor Rich Man, and the Rich Poor Man.djvu/129

Rh It was difficult to decide whether this was said with simplicity or impertinence. Unfortunate, indeed, are those children who, with their acquisitions, acquire a contempt for their parents' ignorance. The next note opened was a polite notice to Mrs. Finley, from Mademoiselle A——, that a box of newly-arrived Parisian millinery would be opened for her patrons' inspection the next morning. "Very attentive in Mademoiselle!" said Mrs. Finley, when unfortunately the pleasure of being a patron was checked by one of the usual penalties for such distinctions. A bill had dropped from within the note, which the little girl handed to her mother, reading the amount, $57 45. "How very provoking!" exclaimed Mrs. Finley; "she might better have sent it at any other time: your father frets so about the expenses for the party. I am sure they are necessary; but I can't ask him for the money to pay Mademoiselle now, that's certain; so, throw the bill in the fire, Sabina Jane; and, when Mademoiselle sends for the money, I can say I haven't got the bill."

"Yes, mamma, and you can say it must have dropped out; it did drop, you know."

"That's well thought of, Sabina Jane, and no lie either." Thus did this poor child receive from her weak mother a lesson in fraud, lying, and hypocrisy. Mrs. Finley proceeded in the examination of her notes. "'Mrs. Dilhurst accepts,' &c. Oh, I knew she would accept; I wonder when she ever refused? 'Mrs. Kingson regrets an engagement,' &c. What a shame it is for people to lie so! She cannot have an engagement a fortnight ahead!" We have not space to give the