The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-08-14
draw him into discussion. He guards

at Worth.
Sand an excellent one," he answers
"Indeed! So you concede as mucf
as that?" This with the utmost sar
casm.
can excellent work." he continues
"It's on cookery"
"Oh!" Nina says, little chagrined
"I didn't hear what the subject was.
Then, without any provoeation, she as
serts, defantly, "Well, George Eliot Il
woman, and she writes better thai
any man."
"Oh, far better" McAllister agrees
eagerly.
Nobody disputes George Eliot
ability, nor the ability of many other fe
male WRITER'S" Worth says.
sob, indeed !''-again with sarcasm
"and what is it you do dispute, MIR
WorthP"
"Nothing. 1 hate dispute"
"But you despise the intellect o
woman"
"Please say aoo,nen," Worth requests
"The sort of rhetoric that gives sCo1aG'
in the singular reminds me of thu
stupid public speakers who, for lack o
wit and power, keep pounding on SOM
new-fangled phrase that catches thu
vulgar ear"
After moments pause, Nina flies a
his eyes with new assertion: ga WON
an ought to do every thing she knows
how to do.''
When a woman, man, or any
other creature does what she, he, or it
knows how to do, the work is worthy OF
respect" Worth says.
Well, sir, and don't women do what
they know how to doP"
"Some of them. A womln who is
willing to learn an art or trade by the
plodding processes that insure thorough
ness is to be respected and encouraged.
But too many women try to jump at re-
suits, and are impatient of discipline in
work, then feel agriered because their
unskilled labor commands no reward.
There's large class too, who only talk
talk eternally of their so-called infe-
rior place in society but really make nc
patient, continued exertion toward fill
ing any of the positions that are occu-
pied by men," .s
ado you mean ne?" asks Nina.
"How can L? During the past year
you have studied German one month,
bookkeeping two weeks, porcelain.
painting six weeks, botany about as long,
logic-under my tuition-one hour
You have begun to write story,
and
"That will do,' Nina says. You
,,ooap T IN, foo ot,1,>iI tn c,oooaI xrri !,
any thing" 81,
"No, but like many young persons
you haven't the power of steady and
consistent application.
GIVE known boys as bad" Nina re.
marks, tartly. ...
"But boys are liable to be thrown
upon the world and taught by privationE
and hard knocks.' W
Perhaps I ought to be thrown upon
the world, and taught by privations and
hard Knocks" Nina laughs, nervously
and tries to look careless.
For once Worth answers inconsist
emily.
"Women make a grand blunder il
depreciating their own value-in strain
ing after what they can't have, instead
of cultivating what they have.''
"And, in your opinion, have the,
any thing?" asks the sharp young lady
"Yes; so much charm and so mucl
power as women that man wonder
why she"-here Worth grew inaccurat,
in his numbers, and looking full at Nina
went on-''why she should be eternall,
trying to make an anomaly of herself b.
aping manners that are against her ma
ture, and that she only keeps up in
spirit of bravado." Worth helped him
self quietly to green peas; there was
little awkward silence. / felt Worth
chances were over, and Nina smiled
sweetly on McAllister, who was fiatter
ing her most Transparency.
At four O'Clock the next morning
the Fourth of July-my son Frank
with red soldier cap on his head, ex
ploded torpedo by my bedside, yelled
81 say, papa, it's Fourth O. July!" thel
danced out of the room like wild In
dian, poor old Muff barking madly a
his heels. BERTHE, aged five, and Jenny
wise little woman of eight, l heard il
loud quarrel about fire-crackers on tn,
front piazza.
"Oh dear!" sighed my wife, "some
thing dreadful is sure to happen" a.
By breakfast-time Tom had becom,
an ungovernable young brute, and coult
talk nothing but "soldiers," and "can
non," and "crackers in a BARREL" ant
'rockets tonight He had face al
powder-smeared, and very dirty hands
The younger imps followed his lead
and little LIS pinafore was burned
through in three places. Muff caught
the spirit of the day, and jumped ant
barked as well as his infirmities permit
ted, retiring at intervals under the pi
azza steps and into shady corners to en-
joy his frequent maps.
At the height of MONDAY heat tn,
children formed grand parade. Min,
encouraged them from the midst of {
heap of colored paper, which she Gu
into caps and belts and warlike rigging
of all sorts. An express wagon brough
Worth's contributions, in the shape o
wooden swords, drums, flies and endless
fireworks. ........ l... ............
eve thought you wasn't goin' t.
bring us nothin', Mr.. WORTH" says my
eldest son, with that charming franknesl
and in that pure English peculiar to the
gentle youth.
"Aunt Billy said you were too dis
gustingly prudent,'n saws Jenny. wht