The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10


white wings clipped yet awhile. Why, you
ridiculous Patty, don't you know she has the
dovcst Of dove eyes and her hair isn't any col
or in particular? How do you suppose |
should have pulled through whole year II
hadn't had red hair to begin with That's
the color for hair, 1 can tell You, though
made up my mind at the end of the first term
that ii didn't in the least answer for eyes"
suppose may as well mention right here
for the saving of papa's and cousin Patty;
credit, that Jessics style in conversation has
undergone radical change during her absence
from home. Through what dreadful quagmire
of nostalgia the dear chid's bright locks nae
carried her, could form no idea, for that was
allEhc would say on the subject However, she
finally decided that, since Nellcs mother was
determined to have the poor dear.s wings clip
ned il was best that a friend should be neal
during the operation. SO the two girls shed
their parting tears in company, for Nellie was
always mothers baby, and Mrs. Edwards
thought that season from home would tend
/ said nothing to Jessie's papa about her ap
parent reluctance to return to school, for the
poor man had enough to trouble him about
that time; but gave it many anxious thoughts
knowing that no mere tritlc would call forth
such expressions from a girl like Jessie no
tcctl, too the difference in the tone of her let
tiers, which were not now filcl up with de.
scriptions of her surroundings, but with
inquiries about the welfare and occupations Of
those left behind her; as if she were as anX'
ious to return and take her part in our quiet
everyday life as she had formerly been to es-
cape from it.
entered the dining room yesterday, after walk,
to see Jessie quietly seated at the table waiting
for the rost of the family to come to dinner.
There, now, there's really no cause for
alarm" she 5aid coolly, seeing that leaned
trembling against the door.post while papa
who had just come in, stared anXiously over
my shoulder, II am not eXpelcd-on the con
trary the tears and blessings Of maid and mat
ron follow me on my wilful way-and there's
nothing the matter with me, except II fearful
state of aching voidncss induced by the ride
in the cars without any breakfast and the walk
from the depot, which | entirely overlooked
when counting the cost of IA first class surprise
DO let me enjoy this nice dinner with you, and
then I'll tell you all about it,"
And its the call about it" that is the occa-
sion of this communication, Mr.. Editor since
| believe YOU to be the sensible, kindheartcd
sort of man To help lone female out of
difficulty.
in the first place, papa" Jessie began, curl
ing herself like kitten on his knee as the
surcst way to obtain his indulgence, in the
first place, Ncllics mother wrote her IA full
account of the trouble you were 50 careful to
hide from nc, and she condocd with me, of
course That made me wonder if it were not
ridiculous to be paying SO much for learning
the very same things that | might have
learned long ago at our high school, if I'd
been in earnest about an education. The idea
Of your being director and telling everybody
that your aim j. to make ii unnecessary for
any one to leave town in order to prepare for
college and then sending your own daughter
of TO Il girls school Then there's all this non
sense about the dresses for Jubilee nights, and
every new room mate wants YOU to have your
picture taken with her and every blessed girl
in the school must have a copy, and, papa, I've
scared myself counting up the postage stamps
I've wasted on girls that didn't care Il straw
for but who thought it an act of charity to
write to one at least once II week after leaving
the Seminary AT amy time in the course of the
wear. suppose tall goes To the government, but
| don't feel like taking the national debt on my
shoulders, you know, especially when it all
comes out of your pocket That is one side OF
the question, and since you don't like that
view, AS see 10y the way your hair witches
forward, let me give you my secondly, which
ought to move the heart of the stOrmiest par
cnt in the land My health is not as good rs
it was year ago, but expect TO come home
a confirmed invalid if I'm obliged to
90 on TO the end ofthc COURSE Now sir, don't
laugh. That's not an argument against WON
ans right to an education, but against the alb
surd system of restraint which prevails at all
these schools for young women. You see,
had that part of the speech thought out before
hand, SO that | could put ii in big words for
the benefit of this august assembly. There,
but step &c, so now | want TO know If you
think ii good for II girl growing rs fas, aS
am To bc hungry and not allowed 10 spend =
cent of her pocket money for Il slice of bread
Well Let me tell you about our Sem Sundays
We had rather early breakfast, and for one
and not The only one can seldom eat heartily
early in the morning. Then rain or shine, VIZ
were expected to attend church over Il mil,
away and remain 10 Sunday school About
the middle OF one OF those long sermons used
To begin To think wonlcringly of the bread ano
steak | couldn't cat i'm The morning. ard lbs