"If you were older, dear, it would be quite different. But, instead of improving Annie, who is a self-willed child, I fear you would only grow worse yourself. She is bold, and you are rather timid. She wants to lead, and not to follow. I fear she will set you bad examples."
"I didn't know, mamma; but I thought I was almost old enough to set my own examples! I'm the oldest of the family."
Susy said no more about becoming a home-missionary to Annie; for, although she could not quite see the force of her mother's reasoning, she believed her mother was always right.
"But what does she mean by calling me timid? She has blamed me a great deal for being bold."
Yes, bold Susy certainly was, when there was a fence to climb, a pony to ride, or a storm to be faced; but she was, nevertheless, a little faint-hearted when people laughed at her. But Susy was learning every day, and this time it had been a lesson in moral courage. She did not fully understand her mother, however, as you will see by and by.
CHAPTER X.
RUTHIE TURNER.
"The darkest day,
Wait till to-morrow, will have passed away."