American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-09-13
LITTLE GIRL.

LITTLE GIRL.
Pretty as picture was Little Girl.
Silky, faint-golden hair; eyes " deeply,
beautifully blue; - lashes long and dark
lips daintily curved and red as straw
berries, and the most angelic expression
of countenance-an expression that art
lists often seek in vain when endeavoring
to portray infantile saints or cherubim.
Ethel was the name that her sponsors
in baptism unto her did give; but, being
the only girl among ten children, as well
as the youngest of them all, Little
Girl - she had been dubbed by her nine
brothers, Immediately on making her
appearance in the family circle, and
Little Girl with various fond adjec-
tives prefixed, she had remained ever
since. Never, verify believe, in this
world, was child so adored by her father
and mother-so worshiped by her broth
ers-so petted and caressed by her I'M
Giles, her cousins and her aunts-of
whom she had great number-as Lit
tie Girl. She had actually gone through
the first four years of her life without
ever hearing an impatient word, much
less receiving an impatient blow. But
in the beginning of the fifth year Little
Girl came very near learning the crisp,
old English word "spank" and feeling
the definition of it. And the way it
happened was this:
Aunt Della Steele, who lived in New
York, came to visit Mrs. Raymond, Lit
tie Girls mamma, that summer. She
was a tall, fine-looking woman-girl she
called herself-with great, heavy braids
of jet-black hair-arched eyebrows to
correspond-rosy cheeks and chin, and
dazzlingly white teeth. She owned to
five and twenty, played and sang toler-
ably well-danced, not badly-and talk
ed upon many subjects with so much
animation and so many shrugs of her
sloping shoulders and flashes of her black
eyes that you wondered why it was that
you could never remember a single thing
she said.
Shortly after her arrival at Raymond
House-Mrs. Raymond by the bye,
was only half-sister, and as different
as possible-being fair, short, and rath-
err stout-the following conversation
took place between the two ladies one
bright morning when they sat sewing to-
gether in the coy sitting-room:
Mrs. RAYMOND-Delia, my dear, it is
really time you were settled.
Miss STEELE-As if didn't know it,
Minnie! And you've no idea how stingy
pa is getting raised an awful row about
my last dress-making bill. do wish /
had accepted Will Hazelton
MINNIE-Why didn't youP
DELIA| thought Harvey Young,
who had thousand a year more, was
coming forward. I'm sure he gave me
every reason to believe he was-but
he didn't.
MINNIE (sententiously)-I girls would
only wait until the men they want did
come forward before jilting the men
who want them
DELIA-Yes, yes; L know ali you
were going to say. I've heard it hun
dred times before. And there hasn't a
soul proposed to me since Will-that's
two years ago-except Mr.. Beers, and
Icould'nt marry him, you know-now
could I9 He had dreadful squirt and
six children.
MINNIE (dropptng her Uork and clap
ping her hands1I have it. Elam
BEAM
DELIA-What a namei Who is he?
MINNIE-A young farmer who lives
couple of miles from here His mother
died a few months ago, and / know he
wants wife. He has houses, lands,
cattle and money. Is decently well ed
ucated, tall, good-looking and generous.
DELLA (,oith grimaceJ-A farmer,
I'm afraid 1 never could bring myself to
love pigs and chickens.
MINNIE-You'd have nothing to do
with the pigs and chickens You'd
have splendid home and be near me
and Little Girl (dvelling nth fonduess
on the pet nance. You'd better make
up your mind to marry him, Della. I'm
sure you can if you choose. There's no
one in this place to rival you. He wants
an accomplished wife. He has told me
so. He's few years younger than
you
DELIA-But he needn't know that.
MINNIE-Of course not. That is, he
need not know how many. 1t may
be your last chance, Della, and it's al
most good enough to be a first one
Nice home, fruit orchard, pony, phae--
DELLA Gnterrupttn9)-Enough. Ring
up the curtain. Enter Elan Bean.
MINNIE-I'll invite him here to-mor-
row evening.
She did, and he came and was smit-
ten at once with the dark hair and
brows, the rosy checks and chin, the
fine teeth and the brilliant
of the stately city lady.
II. I,,a1aIf Nfrg pa I.I