The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-12-10

abject tone. There's just no end of the
girls telling what magnificent time
they had. A supper at half-past ten, and
the dancing kept up till two. Now, l
want to tell you"-in very impressive
whisper, and not without fdgeting and
hesitation that Rilla Dow, next
Wednesday evening, Rilla's birthday,
you know
At this momentous epoch our CONVEX
sation was interrupted by the entrance of
Nellie's mother, and Nellie, with her
book open before her, glided back to the
center table. Shortly after, the friends
who were to take her to the concert
rang, and with hasty good evening my
little neighbor departed.
Next morning as l sat down with my
sewing at the window, familiar voice
called,
Look up, please
/ looked, and then threw up the sash
to Nellie, who, resting her strap of books
on the iron pickets. leaned over them to
finish her incomplete sentence of the
evening before.
at is such favor have to ask I'll
be grateful to you as long as l live if you
will speak to mama in favor of my going
to Rilia Dows party next week. Win
you ?-oh, please"
Il am inclined to think, Nellie that
would rather you should be less gratefal
and live longer" l said, leaving her to
infer my meaning; however, l will con-
slider the matter, dear, and in case /
would be willing you should go were you
my daughter, l will use my influence in
that direction with your mother You
can drop in this evening and learn the
result"
The girl WINGED and bit her lip anxious
ly. Knowing it was late she could not
purs;!e the sui0rt. 50 with a pleading
look and a nod OF aOoI morning, sLs
hurried on to school. l watched her to
the head of the street, where she took
car, though the distance could easily be
walked inside quarter of an hour; but
first she had not so much time, and sec
ondly she must improve the minutes in
reviewing her lessons. Further still,
Nellie does not enjoy walking-you could
see at glance why. Her dress is both
too close and too long to allow her any
freedom of lungs and limbs. Earlier in
the winter she took heavy cold from
damp feet, her boots being no sufficient
protection against either wet or cold
and as for wearing rubbers, she feels out
ragged by the bare mention of anything
that would make her feet look so big.
She is in love with her English walking
jacket; it is pity she cannot appreciate
the style of boot that completes the cos
tune of our transatlantic cousins.
Upon Nellie's calling in the evening as
requested, l read to her this slender,
though in her ear portentous sketch. 1T
pleased her infinitely less than the verses
"On a Love-letter, which she begged
leave to clip from a newspaper borrowed
of me a short time ago. In fact, had
produced it from motives of vanity, my
Appropriateness would have perished of
hunger On the young brow, when | had
finished, hung a shadow dark enough for
the pail over the dead hopes of attend
ing Miss Dow's party.
MY dear" l asked mindful of her
need of support in so heavy trial, have
you dined p
Thank you, yes-no," lanquidly;
''that is, l took dessert-a piece of pie
nothing more. I'd no appetite for any
thing else; and ate slice of cake on
first coming home, for l was feeling too
tired and faint to wait for dinner"
You began the day with a good break
| fast, | presume p
Il breakfasted on a cup of coffee alone;
usually | eat hot biscuit with it, but
this morning slept late and the biscuits
were too cold for my liking"
And at recess p
'At recess? Do you mean to ask if
|
ed little confectionery-we commonly
have some of that to pass around, you
know. Oh, but we had a sensation to-
day, to be sure we had Minnie Monroe
is out in an engagement ring, do you
think She calls it diamond Mollie
Griggs whispered me that there are va
rious qualities of diamonds in these days.
Her beau is a youth of twenty-nine, and
Minnie was sixteen at Christmas-one
month younger than l. She says she
may leave school at any time to be mar
ried. Don't you think that very fool
ish thing for girl to do p
Indeed l incline to that opinion. But
have you and the girls of your set no
fear of injuring yourself by study, and
graduating, if at all, with ruined health
perhaps paying for your education in
invalidism for the rest of your lives
A dreadful possibility, if you will con
slider. To be plain. though l do not wish
to alarm you, you are not looking as
healthy as you looked a year ago. Hon
estly, Nellie, don't you feel good dea
tagged with school already p
Tagged is no word for itr' exclaimed
the student, flinging herself on my prof
fered sympathy. "Half of us are jus
dead-or sure we shall be by this time
next year. Such lessons teacher.
haven't any mercy-no one has any
mercy on us. AS Will says, we mus
either do or die"
"Y our brother seems to be getting or
in his books easily as rapily. What dt
, you suppose would be the effect, were
you girls to adopt some such clothing a
boys wear2 / do not mean coats anC
trousers, but style of suit as easy anc
commodious-and were you to take you
recreation in out-of-door exercise, CORES
ponding to rowing and playing ball
These amusements, by the way, do mo-
commonly extend far into the night. en-
croaching on the best hours for sleep
which gives them another advantage ovel
concerts, parties, and theatres. Such {
revolution in your habits of living wou1o
give you boys appetites for somethin:
from which your systems may manufac
ture more and better blood than can b.
. manufactured from pies and cakes, can
dy, hot, fne-four bread, tea, and coffee
In my most candid opinion, Nellie, it il
only question of time when the major
ity of you girls will find yourselves unde
a doctors care for everything that a doc
tor cannot cure; and your usefulness t.
the world will be limited to the exam
pies you will furnish certain medica
writers, of the awful consequences of fe
male education There now, dear, it is
quarter to nine; run home and be in bee
when the clock strikes; shut down Oh
all longing after this party, and be sen
sible girl generally, for the sake of fu
ture sound mind in sound body"
My young lady, who during the who'll
; paragraph had stood in blank amaze
ment, dropped her eyes, rose, and obeyec
me, SO tar as concerned going home; bu
the delightful enthusiasm which woule
have rewarded my promise of interces