Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-05-11
SOMETHING FOR THE GIRLS.

SuMElHlNu run IhE dAhLSs
SUPPOSE you really love these rough,
teasing brothers of yours, but don't you
think you might show 1t little more
pleasantlys ! can tell you l know all
about boys. was brought up in house
full OF them. l have enough in my own
house this very minute to keep things
from getting dull and stupid. know Just
how rough, and noisy, and needless they
are; how they forget to wipe their feet on
muddy days, throw their caps and scarfs
on the floor. and leave their books in the
queerest places, to be hunted up In the
last minute before school time. know
how they white on the carpets, paste
kites on the chair seats daub the table
covers with paint, and spill mucilage on the
bed and bureau. | know how they come
in with whoep, and clatter up stairs
like so many fire engines, the moment
the baby gees to sleep; and how they are
always leaving the doors open, and cut.
ting, and burning. and blowing themselves
up. But tor all that we could not spare
them from our homes very well, could
wes and isn't there something wrong in
the family when sisters can call their
brothers "nuisances Yes, that's the
very word she used, and I've remembered
| il thess half dozen years, for the speaker
was a pretty d licate girl, and | was a
good deal astonished to hear her say:
A boy in family of girls is a perfect
nuisance"
! The nuisance" came home from school,
| presently; hearty, good natured looking
| boy of eleven or twelve, whistling King
dom Coming" with all his spare breath
He stopped suddenly as he saw me, and
came forward, awkwardly enough, to speak
! TO me, for he was evidently unaccustomed
TO meeting company. Unfortunately his
foot came in contact with his elder sisters
dress. soiling it slightly.
"You clumsy thing" was the impatient
exclamation, "you ought to be kept in a
cage
/ looked from the crimson face of the
nuisance" and tried To fancy how sweet.
| ly that sister would have assured an older
| gentleman that it was Of no consequence
at all, and was entirely her own fault for
taking up so much room. In an arm chair,
one of the younger sisters was curled up,
ex lmining with great interest new mag
azine. An exclamation Of delight
brought her brother TO her side, and he
was soon absorbed the engravings, look
ing over her shoulder.
wan JUST a seCohu, uC UcSSou, I'D ene
was turning page.
90, you always want TO see something"
said the sister, fretfully. ~ hate to have
any one look over my shoulder"
So it was from morning until night.
There was not place in that house, so far
as could see, where the boy was wanted,
or a person who wanted him and won
dered IL the dear, dead mother knew how
it was, and whether II would not make her
heart ache, even in heaven, to see It. II
the sisters walked or rode, or sang, or
played croquet, no one ever said, Come,
Johnny" And / really suppose they
thought he did not care for their laugh
ing, and teasing, and snubbing, just be
cause he was boy, and was too brave to
show that he cared. ] found out another
thing, too, and that was that the "nui-
sance" was very convenient when the pony
was to be harnessed, the pitcher to be
| filled with cool water, big bundle TO he
carried down town, or disagreeable er-
rand to be done: yet never heard any one
say; ,, :, . hind -
| you TO take the trouble"
No doubt he would have stared If they
had said 30, but l think he would have
liked it, and think it would have helped
him TO remember TO be polite himself
Why didn't you thank that boy for
bringing your hat" ! asked Of pleasant
| little girl.
"Why," she exclaimed, "that's our
| Tom" az il that was reason enough for
not being polite TO him.
81 wish / had sister," said boy to his
companion, in my hearing. 1t must be
so nice 10 have sisters Of your own"
| THAT'S because you don't know" said
his companion. II tell you they plague q
fellow the worst way, and the bother OF 1t
is, you have to take It, because you know
you darent lick EN-"
That made me think of little fe,.-,n
! whom once charged with cruelty for
pulling out the long legs of grass
hopper. 81. ..e,,,,.
'aint mite Of juice IN 'em. An he
don't squeal, neiver-course II It hurt him
he'd say somef' bout it,"
These brothers of yours will not always
say when you hurt them by unkind, care
less words, but they feel 1t all the same,
and il hurts In another way, by gradually
chilling their love for you, and making
them hard hearted, and careless OF the
comfort of others.
tell you, girls, you cannon aHoru "
lose your brothers in this way. You need
them, and they need you. Many boy
has gone into bad company, and yielded
to evil, degrading influences, simply DO
cause there was no stronger, purer innu'
ence at home to draw him away from 1t,
and lift him above it. Make your brothers
your companions and friends, and never
be afraid or ashamed TO show your love
for them.-Ldttk Corporal.