The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-08-06
AN 0NLUCKY DAY.

Nell has come down to breakfast with
her "grief muscles" in full play. Per-
haps You do not happen to know what
the grief muscles are, though. They
are, on the authority of Mr.. Darwin,
those muscles which, in some faces, act
upon the inner corners of the eyebrows.
drawing them up in q pathetic little
curve, and giving to the whole face an
expression of pathos which nothing else
can impart. | have never seen face in
which these same muscles act rs per-
fectly as in Nell's; and as / know the
signs of the times, ask what is the
matter, as an affectionate brother should.
"This is going to be an unlucky day"
says Nell, with deep sigh, and a more
rueful expression than ever upon her
pretty face.
1t is a very pretty little face, round
and fair, rose-tinted, and dimpled a
ravir, lighted up by two deep blue inno-
cent eyes, and crowned by crisp waves
Of bright brown hair-a very pretty lit
tie face, and generally bright and cheer
full one. When Nell makes her little
speech about the "unlucky day." know
what has brought the cloud upon it"
"My DEAR" l say, sagely, "you are
too old for such follies. Have your re-
peatea youthful perusals of RoSamo,ltl
instilled no wisdom into your mind ?
Do you not know that whether day is
lucky or unlucky depends upon our
selves?"
. II wish you wouldn't be so deadly
wise" says Nell, with another deep sigh.
THAT is the last and bitterest drop in
the cup Of adversity. None of my i'll
luck this morning was of my own max
ing-so, now"
"Suppose you tell me what these
dreadful tribulations were?" l say, sooth.
ingly, for pathos is extremely unbe-
coming to Nell's style, and l am proud
enough of my little sister to ike to see
her always at her best.
"Well," says Nell, slowly, in the
first place I left my pet begonia on the
window-sill, as I often Do. 1t is q
broad sill, you know, and l thought it
quite safe; but the wind came up in the
night and blew it down, and broke the
pot"
"Shall I go and see about it?" 1 asked,
half rising.
mo" Says Nell, shaking her head
Il did it myself. Butdon't you think,
Cyril, there was great earth-worm in
the pot. Of all things on earth, I hate
earth-worms; and there was the great
Shiny thing wriggling about on the floor
of my room. had to take it up myself
on the dust-pan and throw it out of the
window. ughm
. IF the begonia was not severely in
iured." say, as Nell pauses for little
shudder, ait was very good thing that
the pot did break. The worm would
have killed the plant, sooner or later, il
t had staid there. Then just think how
uncomfortable the poor thing must have
been, all cramped up in that little place
As far as / can see, your first piece Of il
luck was very good luck for all three O.
you-the begonia, the worm and you
"Oh, the worm" says Nell, scorn,
fully But that is only the beginning
| thought / never should be ready fol
breakfast, for everything went wrong
In the first place. / dropped one of my
jetearrings, spent a quarter of an houl
in hunting for it, and only found it al
last by setting my foot on it and smash.
ing it. And only think. Cyril" cries
Nelly, in brisker tone, "while l was
looking for it found my pearl ring thai
I thoug ght I had lost while we were Out
boating last week. 1t was under {
corner of the carpet, where it might
have staid until we clean house again l.
l hadn't just happened to see it."
"Good luck out of i'll again" say
Because. as this is a furnished house
it might have lain there forever if W.
leave it next spring"
IT ,cish you'd hush" walls Nell, dis
consolately. Cant you let me be mis-
prahle if / want t. There is nothini
more maddening { lan to have people
persist in being ch erful over your mis-
fortunes. It's my i'll luck, and l dom
see why you need meddle with it,"
1t will be my i'll luck if you dom
give me my breakfast pretty soon,"
say, laughing. for Nell's eyes are twink
ling in spite of her savage words.
Nell pours out the coffee while Icarv'
our favorite dish-beefsteak and mush