But Minnie's trials were not all over. Children have their troubles all through childhood. Indeed, trouble is like an evil genius, who visits all parts of the world, peeps in at every house, sits at every table, and meddles with every body. You need not wonder, therefore, that Minnie, good and gentle though she was, had frequent trials.
This new trial was caused by Lillia. Fanny, Rhoda, and Jeannie had told that selfish girl about Minnie's swing, and the fine time they had enjoyed with her. Lillia was vexed because she was not invited too. She could not bear a slight. Her selfish heart always felt galled at the least neglect from others. So, when Fanny and the other girls told her of Minnie's swing, she said,—
"How did you know that Minnie had a new swing?"
"Why, Minnie told us, to be sure, and invited us to a kind of swing party."
"Invited you, did she?"
"Yes, she came to our house, and asked us to go with her."
"The hateful creature! Why didn't she invite me? It was only the other day I took her into my father's arbor, and let her swing all the afternoon."
This was a wicked lie. A selfish child, like Lillia, never regards the truth. She seeks only to gratify her evil passions, as Lillia did by this falsehood.