The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-08-27
NEAR-SIGHTED.
SOPHIE MAY.

BlluB OF Olu6T every fdCdIlOus duu bu6y
came so near drowning in that canoe
summer before last that they took
great dislike TO the water, and have
hardly gone near it since, except to
drink. So last summer they thought
they would make a journey by land as
far as their money would go; and, to
exc it out, they took one of Beecher's
works and book of Dio Lewis to sell
on the way. Phil can talk and he told
the people in the little out-of-the-way
towns that Beecher was quite popular
writer, as good as Mrs. Southworth,
with rather a moral tone. So he sold
off his books and sent for more, while
Ben was clearing the frog out of his
throat
They had capital times, stopping to
see elephants and things, till by and-by
they came to town in Iowa Its SO
large that I don't dare to tell the name
of it-and there they stayed day or two
with a friend of Ben's and, as their
money was low, they decided to call
that the end of their journey. 1t seemed
to be very lucky that they should have
happened along just at that time, for
there was two young ladies in the
family, who had been teaching drawing
and music in an academy, and wanted
to go back to their homes in the east
and could they go in company with
the young men? D, how nice it would
be !"
Let's see; Phil was eighteen that
June, not fresh any mere, but almost
cut and dried into sOph. o, Phil, l
didn't put ct" to the end of that
Bless your old heart you are dear,
nice, gullible darling-so you are and,
though you do get sold sometimes,
we know your brains are sound-sound
for boy. Not that Phil can see into
things as we girls can near sighted to
begin with, and won't wear spectacles.
And that state of things does place
body at the mercy of an anfeeling world.
His objection to spectacles is, that
they would make him look like pro-
lessor of Greek. You see he thinks he
looks as old as anybody, and feels older
yet.
Well, these young ladies were named
Ann Shotwell and Fanny Hit. Miss
Hit was nice, friendly little thing.
Ben couldn't remember much about
her but as for the other one-Miss
Shotwell-he said she was a sumner !
seemed to carry all before her and
people gazcd at her when she came into
the cars.
couldn't make out what the secret
of it was. for Ben's descriptive powers
are weak.
g Was it her dress ?"
He couldn't exactly say.
"She was got up killinglY. Those
what-you- calI-'ems sewed on the skirt,
with a tassel to it, hitched on some
where, and some fzzy-my-jigs around
the head lots of ffummy- diddle tackled
to her somehow"
All he could describe nationally was
her boots.
"French kids, all lowered off, and
fitted like ducks foot in mud pud-
de"
But if Ben can't talk he can see, and
there's where he has the advantage of
Phil. He saw at once that Fanny Shot
we'll was a played-out coquette, and
''houred her face, and streaked on a
little red" That must have been be-
fore they began travel. She wouldn't
dare be painted in the cars would she [?
with dust blowing so.
She wore two long braids Hopping
down her back and Ben thought they
and grew on her head. But gust of
wind happened to blow under them and
he happened to see where they were
tied on
That finished him, he said but he
did not mention 1t to Phil, for Phil was
growing very gallant all of a sudden.
Just fancy that boy She was a
dozen years older than he was, if she
was day, and ought to have been sort
of good auntie to him, and told HIM
when his collar was one sided, and
helped form his manners. But instead
of that the old thing undertook to fiirt
with him. Ben said it was a fact.
When they stopped at the hotels she
played and sang straight at Phil. Her
voice was sweet, but too much in her
throat 10 suit Ben. He hates operatic.
| But it took Phil right off his feet.
"Did you ever" said he to Ben.
''H she sings like that now, what1l
Why, how old do you call her :"
said Ben,
Phil.
I was sixteen that month Ben
| thought he should choke. Phil was
very far gone indeed, and it was hard
work getting him to bed, he was so alb
sorbed in the moon.
Ben didn't go into particulars, and ]
had to picture it out for myself but I
| could almost seem to see the whole
/ thing those two creatures-Philt and
the ancient-sitting together in the
cars smiling at nothing Phil strok-
ing his chin, where the '' underfringe' -
ought to be ; popping to fluid ancient's
old handkerchief, or open the window,
or shut it saying twill you allow
me ?" when she can't fasten her old
gloves.
When can't fasten n1y gloves, it's
Gv1ko = I'll L =
toner, Kate. That'll fetch it" But
this is another, not sister," as the
| song says and it makes all the differ
| ence, you know.
Shouldn't wonder if he is quoting
poetry at her. He despises poetry ;
but he's learned two or three lines.
hearing me say them over. Antiquity
smirks and rolls up her eyes to the bell
rope.
wish did know how they do it.
these flirts. Not that I would act so
myself 1t would be more excusable
in little girl like me; but, young as /
an, I'd scorn such silly behavior.
Phil runs his fingers through his hair,
and leaned forward in the most insin-
uating manner to hear her talk, with
the cars going rattlety bang. And there
are Ben and the other one looking on
laughing in their sleeves.
They go by the Canada route, and
stop at Niagara Falls; and the night
before they get there they travel little
IN the evening, and reach Niagara about
ten o'clock. Now, here is where the
jokes comes in.
It was a lovely evening. Diana
that the moon-was daintily picking
her way through the white clouds over
head. and Phil and Miss Ann Tiquity
sat looking at h-r with a very moon
struck expression. They had talked
themselves all ont and that boy, I pre-
sumo, was conjugating Latin verbs to
himself that's what he does when he's
trying TO think mp something to say.
Miss Ann was sitting by the window, a
few inches nearer the moon than he was.
and more sentimental; il anything.
q Why cant somebody sing p said
she. I've must have music by moon
light"
She was such a gushing little thing.
you know? Never stopped to think
there was anybody else in the car but
their party, and struck, ''Are I lo'e
dear" with the very top notes of her
throat. Everybody sat stock still and
listened, as if a nightingale had flown