Why She Was Not Popular by Martha E. Warner

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 20, 1916

Why She Was Not Popular

By Martha E. Warner

MARTHA E. WARNER

I was half asleep in my chair on the hospital veranda when I heard a voice at my right say, “She is not very popular with the young people. Oh, there she comes now to visit her aunt! Speak of angels—”

Looking up, I saw a young girl and her brother coming up the steps. They took

possession of the little lady at my left, so I could not help hearing their conversation.

The aunt spoke of attending three symphony concerts during her lifetime. The girl remarked, “Why, my dear, surely you have been to more than three! I have heard you speak of going. You think!” The aunt did think, and proved to the girl that she had spoken the truth.

Her brother began to relate some boyish prank that was carried out the preceding Tuesday.

“Are you sure it happened Tuesday?” asked the girl.

“Yes,” he replied, and started his story again.

“I think it was Monday,” persisted his sister.

“Bother the day!” the boy exclaimed, and again tried to finish his tale, only to be again interrupted. Leaning back in his chair at last, his face showed his displeasure plainly. His scowl disappeared, however, as an elderly man joined the group.

“Going to Stafford Fair with me tomorrow?” asked the newcomer of the invalid. A smile flitted over her face, and she was about to reply when the girl said, “The idea! Stafford Fair was over long ago.”

“Stafford Fair begins tomorrow,” answered the man very decidedly.

The girl lifted a flushed face, and with a pained look said, “My grandmother lives at Stafford, and she wrote me some time ago to be sure to visit her during the fair. The fair is over.”

My nurse came just then, so I heard no more, but I knew that the girl was wrong. To me it was very evident why she was not popular. She was rude, and so busy keeping other people straight that she had no time to spend in training herself. Unless she changes, she will be a very disagreeable woman. No friend has had the courage to tell her her fault; but if she would only stop and take an inventory of herself, she would not have to be told.

Back of it all, however, lies the fact that some mother failed in her duty to her daughter. A child should be taught to listen quietly when another is speaking, and never to interrupt even his playmates unless it is really necessary to give some information. If this lesson is learned in childhood, the youth will never be guilty of such a crime against good form as the young woman in question committed.

Clintonville, Conn.