Daily Republican., 1881-03-16
mumers Of sns Census.

Of Scotland, the parish schoolmaster
Igivss in Chambers Journal incidents
in his experience, and We copy one o
them:
They are three maiden ladies-sis'
ters. II seems the one would not trus
the other To see the census paper file:
up, SO they agreed to bring 1t 70 me IL
| fill In.
"Would you kindly fill in this cen
sus paper for us!" said Miss M'Fsrlan'
"My sisters will look over, and give
you their particulars by and by"
| Now Miss M'Fsrlsne is q very nice
lady; though Mrs. Cameron tells me
she has been calling very often at the
msnse since the minister lost his wife.
Bs that IS it may, said to her that
would b. happy TO fill up the paper;
and asked her in the meantime 10 give
me her own particulars. When it
came TO the age column, she played
with her boot on the carpet, and drew
the black ribbons OF her silk bag
through her fingers, aud whispered:
"You can say feur and-thirty. Mr.
M'Lauchlin." "All right ma'am."
ssys l; for | knew she was fcar-snd-
thirty At any rate. Then Miss Susan
came over-that's the second sister
really a handsome young creature, with
6ne ringlets and curls, though she is a
little tender eyed and wears spectaclss.
Well when We came TO the age column,
Miss Susan played with one Of her ring.
let's, and looked in my face sweetly and
said: "Mr. M'Lauchlin, what did Miss
M'Fxrlsps ssyi Ny sister, You know, is
considerably older than am-there
was . brother between us.
"Quite so, my dear Miss Susan" !"
said 1 "but you see .the bargain was
that each Of you was to state your own
age"
"Wsll," said Miss Susan, still play.
ing with her ringlets, you can say
age, thirty four years, Mr.. M'Lauch-
lin"
In little while the youngest sis
ter came in. miss M'Fsrlane," said
she, "sent me over after the census pa
per-"
20 no, my DEAR" says 81 caE't
part with the paper"
"Well, then," said she, 'just enter
my name too, Mr.. M'Lsuchlin."
"Qn!ts 90. But tell me, Miss Robina,
why didMiss M'FArlsne not Oil up the
paper herseli?" Miss Robina and
Ii were always on very confidential
terms.
49," she replied, "there was a dis
pute over particulars and Miss Mar.
lanelWeuld not let my other sister see
how old she was; and Miss Susan refus.
ed to state her age 10 Miss M'Farlane !;
and so, the end of the quarrel, we aersed
10 ask you to be so kind as to I'll in the
paper"
eyes, yes. Miss Robena," said
"that's quite satisfactory and so,
I'll fill in yOur name now, il You
please"
"Yes," sLe uttered with 4 sigh.
When we came to the age column-"Is
it absolutely necessary" said she, "to
81! in the age ? Don't you think q
most impert,nent question to ask, Mr..
7
"Tuts, 1t may be SO to some folk; but
to . sweet young creature like You, it
cannot matter q button"
"Well," "said Miss Robina. "BUt,
now. Mr.. M'Lsuehlin, I'm to tell you a |
reat secret" and she bluShed as she
slowly continued: THE minister comes |
sometimes 10 see u.s."
~ have noticed him rather mora at.
tentivs in his visitations in your quar-
ter OF late, than usual, Miss Roblna."
"Very we'll, Mr.. M'Lauchlin; but
you must not tease me Just now. You
know Miss M'Farlane is Of opinion that I
he is in love with her; whllsMiss Susan |
thinks her taste for literature and her
knowledge of geology, especially her
pamphle! Oh the Old Red Sandstone
and its fossils as confirming the Mosaic |
record, are all matters Of great interest
10 Mr.. Fraser, and she fancies that he
comes so frequently for the privilege OF
with her. "But." exclains
Miss Reblna with look of triumph,
''look at that and she held in her
hand beautiful gold ring. 81 have
got that from the minister this very
day."
congratulated her. She had been
a faverite pupil of mine, and l was
rather pleased with what happened.
But what" asked her, "has all this
10 do with the census?
ooh, just this" continued Miss Ro.
pima: 81 had no reason to conceal my
age, as Mr.. Fraser knows it exactly, |
since he baptized me! He was a young
,reature then, only three-and-twen.y;
10 that's just the difference between
ls."
"Nothing at all, Miss Robina," said
.-"nothipg at all; no! worth mention.
ng."
"In this changsful and passing
vorld," said Miss Robina, three and
wenty years are not much, after all,
dr. M'Lauchlin ?"
, "MucLv, said l. "Tuts, ny dear,
rs nothing-just indeed what should ,
,e."
II was just thirty four last birth.
lay, Mr.. M'Lauohlin," said Miss Ro-
,ina; "aud the minister said the last
ime he called that no young lady
hould take the cares and responsible
ties Of household upon herself till {
he was-well, eight-aud-twenty and !
10 added that thirty-four was late /
l.
"The minister, my dear" said l, I
is man of sense" II
So thus were the Miss M'Farlanss' g
snsus schedules filed up; and If ever
ome one in search Of the Curiosities of
he Census should come across it, he
,sy think it strange enough, for he G
Ill fad that the three sisters Mar. :
snes are all "as years bairns!" d