Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-05-14
WHO TOOK THE PREMIUM?

AMANDA WHEATING and Nell Eustis
were neighbors in the town of Briefly
Centre, both daughters of welLto-do
farmers. They had both been at South
Hadley together for finishing touch
after the district school had done its best
for them, and Nell had learned, among
other things, to play few tunes on the
piano by means of natural aptitude for
the fine arts; and since returning home
she had found time to look after her
fathers house and dairy, and by teaching
the district school summers-they never
allowed that privilege to a woman during
the winter term-she had laid up enough
money to buy a secondhand piano in the
city When Nell showed Amanda the
money, and contided her intentions to
her, Amanda had new sensation. Hith-
erto she had always been ahead of Nell,
so to speak Her black alpacas had been
finer than Nell's, and had borne off the
palm in the matter OF trimmings, her
shawls had been more numerous and
more gorgeous, her bOnnets more SNOWY
her ribbons more frequent; for a country
girl, in short, she had invariably led the
styles in Briefly Centre, and she had done
them credit with her sparkling eyes and
rosy cheeks. But now if Nell was TO
on it, Amanda's existence would be en-
Uttered beyond peradventure. There
was but one piano in all Briefly Centre,
and that was up at old Squire Brierly's,
and nobody to open il from years end to
years end.
''Oh, dear sakes Nell" said Amanda,
"what makes you think of wasting your
money on such fooliShness as a piano,
when you don't know how to use it either,
and it'll take up such q sight of room ?"
ooh, it'll just fit into the niche by the
chimney" said Nell, happy as cricket
on the hearth and [ mean to learn to
use it-see if 1 don't"
81 don't see who'll teach you; and it
costs a power of money"
1--we thought maybe Deacon Small
might give me some hints; he plays the
basS-viol in the choir, you know And
then folks can learn by themselves. I've
read about it-there's Mozart and"
"Lor sakesl" laughed Amanda. I"
s'pose you're a Mozart, or some of those
fellows who know music by nature You
aren't vain nor anything, are you, Nell?"
Maybe | am" answered Nell, pleas
antly. Zone can't get on without tri6e
of vanity; it's sort of wholesome stuff,
after all that has been said about it,
IDOuSu IL IihC nplhNSOp dlllG hlCutCIuc-
a little goes good ways. But, anyway, l
could play Fishers Hormpipe and Chorus
,Jiq and Old Hundred at South Hadley.
And | thought it would sort of liven faith
er up after the days chores were done to
hear little music, if it wasn't so fine,
before the candles are lit, between day
light and dark. It's sociable like, little
music is: and then it would be all handy
for dance any winters evening"
"What's that about winter evenings
asked Tom Briefly, the 'Squire's son, and
the hero of the place, lounging in at the
open door with that familiar air of his
which made him welcome everywhere.
"a dance? I'll engage you tor the first
cotillion, Nellie, shall | ?"
20 dearl no." giggled Amanda.
She's going to be the band herself"
"Mandy's laughing at me-" exclaimed
Nell because I'm going to buy piano
with my earnings"
Let those laugh who win," cried Tom
nign ign, Well play duets together