The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-02-15

by young men, Dut when d iauy conue-
sends to such expressions, they are
positively revolving"
"Why, mamma" and pretty black
eyed Ida looked up with mischieyous
smile, "it's becoming quite the fashion.
Everybody mean all the girls-use
them nowadays"
"Not everybody, Ida," replied Mrs:
Harland; "ri0t those who are refined
and sensitive, among either young or
old. l think / have often been in the
company of well-bred people, and not
word of slang has been spoken. Consider
for moment, my dear, how coarse and
vulgar it would seem in your papa or
myself if our usual habit was to talk
after that fashion,"
"I don't know" laughed Ida; cit
would be 80 cOmical-rather jolly, l
fancy. Odd, too! just wish you would.
Then we'd be fraternity of slang
wouldn't we? Bat there's the clock
always on the strike when Pm not hall
ready. Good-morning, mamma. l must
absquatulate )" and she laughed merriiy
Mrs. Harland sighed to herself. Ida
was her only daughter, and 1T panied her
to feel that she was under the influence
of coarse companionship. "Alas for the
schoolgirls of the present day!" she
murmured. "What will the future
bringW
When Mr.. Harland came home to din
ner, his wife and he went into conference,
and held long and interesting CONVEX
sation, that seemed to result in satisfac-
ton and some fun, for he laughed
heartily, and declared that he would see
what he could do, for it was worth
trying. Ida's brothers were also let into
the secret, and they too declared that it
was grand idea, and might cure her.
Ida, coming straight from school, ran
into the sitting-room, as usual, for
kiss, when she was greeted by her
mother with the exclamation
"Hello, pard! You home again?"
Ida for brief second looked her
astonishment; then she answered,
merrily-
eyes, mamma, fright side up with
care as they say on the china boxes"
"Oh, cheese it / don't chew any
gum but once" replied:her mother re-
straining herself by violent effort,
though she could hardly keep grave
face at Ida's surprise.
"NOr / either" Ida responded with a
light and rather constrained laugh, and
went to the piano to practice a new
song.
al say, sis, shut that off p cried her
father, who had entered the room. Well
excuse the squalling just now. Hash is
ready, and let's waltz down to it,"
"What waltz shall l play?" queried
Ida, with another faint laugh.
81 say, hasn't this been a jolly day ?"
exclaimed her brother Ned.
Hunkadory" Sam responded-the
grave, lawyer-like Sam, with whom no
one dared to take a liberty. Did Ida's
ears serve her right, or was home really
getting topsey.turvey," in her own
favorite language.
"Bet your life," added Ned, coolly.
"Say, sis, how are you at school-up a
treep'
eyes, at the top" retorted Ida, no
longer laughing, butjust little inclined
to pout.
bet your sweet life you'll fall soon,
then" was the courteous answer.
"Well, it won't be your fall, will it ?"
and Ida bit her lip.
"Papa," said Ida, after an almost
silent dinner, for, some way, the slang
seemed out of place there, may l take
lessons of Miss Parker, the new teacher
She's awful sweet, and the girls are all
going wild over her."
care they7 Then / suppose she is
what you would call bully, Ell? Do you
think she really knows her biz? If she
don't, you see, I'd rather you wouldn't
have any truck with her. You see ii
isn't every mosy that sets herself up who
makes the best sort of teacher, and that
kind of thing is gauzy and getting
played out"
"she isn't played OUT retorted Ida,
with spirit. off you could hear her
play, you wouldn't think So"
Undoubtedly you think 30, my ten.
der cherub," her father said, with q
grave face; "but most teachers don't
pan out worth cent. If this Miss
Parker is some 'punkins,' and can teach
you hobby pieces, you have my consent
to skip round the corner, and begin tC
take a term of lessons from the fail
damosel. Boys, dry up, and stop your
racket. You've got more cheek than a
government mule. Don't give me any
of your lip" he added, as Charley at.
tempted an answer, "Or you may get a
moss agate over your orb of vision, and
az
"Papal papal" exclaimed Ida, oh
pray, pray stop-it is hideous / know
why you are doing it. I'd rather promise
anything than hear you talk as you do. u
My DEAR" said her mother, eve
have only been showing you yourself a,
others see yOu."
az know it," sobbed Ida and Pm
cured. 1 never dreamed 1t sounded sc
horrible and I ask everybody's pardon
for offending their ears. But papa" and
she half smiled, Il never talked as you
did. Why, where did you learn SO much
slang 2"
al am sorry to say that / hear it from
day to day among my clerks" was the
reply, "and have been almost tempted
TO fine them. But when / heard my
daughter
"Oh, papa, don'tp cried Ida, putting
up both hands.
"Well, then, won't" he responded
laughing. 4" 1 think you have bad good
lesson, and we will all resume our com
pany manners, which ought to be every
day manners. We will let the whole
matter drop now, and not even refer "
it again."
l am happy TO say that by this lesson
Ida was completely cured.
AN OLD MANS REGREr.-I wonder il
any of you, my young friends, ever hap
pened to read Of poor, unhappy old
man who stood one New Years night al
the window of his dwelling and thought
over all the errors of his youth, what he
had neglected to do of good, what he
had committed of evil how his bosom
was filed with remorse, how his desolate
soul was wrung az he reflected on the
past follies of long life. The day,
when he was strong and active wandered
about him like ghosts. 1t was too late
to retrieve his lost youth. The grave was
waiting for him, and with unspeakabls
grief he thought of the time spent In
idIenes, of the left-hauded road he had
- -L..b haI Iad hin, into mi mons