From 8-year old Hilda’s diary:
Today I saw Alma again. She is at Lizzie’s house now, where the priests live. Grandfather brought me, we all sat in the garden and the nice nuns came and joined us. Grandfather asked them what they had done to make me love them so much. And then Sister Alba asked me if it was true and I said, “Oh yes! But though, I am so sorry that you have to wear those ugly black dresses.” Grandfather spoke up and said, “Why, Hilda! These lovely women are not interested in party clothes. They are too busy doing things for other people and thinking of God and His words. They can’t and don’t want to spend money on hair ribbons and fancy clothes like your Grandmother spends on you.” I said that I thought that they could be just as Holy wearing pretty dresses and maybe God would enjoy looking at them all dressed up. They all smiled and Grandfather asked them to please excuse me, that it seemed that I had left my very best manners at home today. They all said that they would.