The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-03-24

How She Was Cured.
Ida" said Mrs. Harland, one morning, 81
wish you would give up the very unladyllke
| habit you have of using slang phrases. Such
expressions as You bet and Not by Jug
full sound vulgar when used by young men,
but when lady condescends to such express
,ions, they are positively revolving"
"Why, mamma" and pretty black. eyed Ida
looked up with mischievous smile, ''its be
coming quite the fashion. Everybody-l
mean all the girls-use them nowadays"
"Not everybody, Ida" replied Mrs. Har-
land; mot those who are refined and sensi-
tive 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 q moment, my dear,
how coarse and vulgar 1t would seem IN your
papa or myself, if our usual habit was to talk
after that fashion"
~ don't know, laughed Ida lit would be
so comlcal-ralher jolly, fancy. Odd, too!
Just wish you would. Then we'd be fra
tcrnity of slang, wouldn't we? But there's
the clock-always on the strike when Pm
not quite ready. Good morning, mamma, l
must absquatulate," and she laughed merrily
again.
Mrs Harland sighed to herself. Ida was
her only daughter, and 1t panied her to feel
companionship. "Alas for the school girls of
the present day" she nurmured. what
will the future bring!"
When Mr.. Harland came home to dinner,
his wife and he went into conference, and
held long and interesting conversation, that
seemed to result in satisfaction 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 q kiss, when
she was greeted by her mother with the ex'
clamatlon:
"Hello, pard Home again.
Ida tor a brief second looked at her in as
constituent; then she answered merrily:
ayes, mamma, right side up with care
as they say on the china boxes
oh, cheese it! don't chew my gum but
once" replied her mother, restraining her
self by a violent effort, though she could
hardly keep grave face at Idas surprise.
M"Nor either, Ida responded, with light
and rather constrained laugh, and went to
the piano to practice on a new song.
II say, sis, shut that Off" cried her father,
who had entered the room. We'll excuse
let's waltz down to it,"
what waltz shall play" queried Ida,
with another faint laugh
III say, hasn't this been Jolly day." ex-
claimed her brother Ned.
"Hunkadory Sam responded-the grave,
lawyerlike Sam, with whom no one dared to
take liberty.
Did Idas ears serve her right, or was home
really getting "tepsy turvy' IN her own ia
vorile language.
"Bet your life" added Ned, coolly. say,
sis, how are you at school-up tree"
"Yes, at the top" retorted Ida, no longer
laughing, but Just little inclined ia pou,.
"Bet your sweet life you'll tall soon, then,
was the courteous answer.
Papa SAID Ida, after an almost silent
dinner, for, some way, the slang seemed out
of place there, may take lessons OF Miss
Parker, the new teacher She is awful sweet,
end the girls are going wild over her"
"Arc they? Then suppose she is what
you would call bully, eh' Do you think she
really knows her biz? If she don't, you see,
I'd rather you woulud't have any truck with
her. YOU see it isn't every mosey that sets
herself up who makes the best sort OF q teach
or, and that kind OF thing is gauzy and get
ting played out"
"She isn't played out re,ortcd Ida with
shirt. "If You could hear her play, you
would not think So"
Undoubtedly you think so, my tender
cherub," her father said, with grave face
but most teachers don't pan out wcrth cent
Ifthls Miss parkins is some punklns, and
can teach you knobby pieces you have my
consent to SKIP around the corner and begin
10 take a term of lessons from the fair dam
sci. Bows. dry up and stop your racket
You've got more cheek than government
mule. Don't give me any OF your lip he
added, as Charley attempted an answer, "ol
YOU may get moss agate over your orb oI
vision, and a.
Papa! papam exclaimed Ida oh, pray
pray stop; il is hiGeous! l know why you
are doing it. I'd rather promise anything
than TO hear you talk as you do"
MY DEAR" said her mother, we have only
been showing you yourself as others see you,
Il know H." sobbed Ida; land IN cured
never dreamed it sounded so horrible; ane
ask everybody's pardon for offending thei
ears. But, papa" and she half smiled, ~
never talked as you did. Why, where ciC
you learn so much slang?"
I'm sorry to say that hear II from DAY U
day among my clerks was the reply; ant
/ have been almost tempted TO fine them
But when heard my daughter