Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-12-03
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER.

match"
Mrs. Slimborn's voice expressed gen.
uine satisfaction. Her daughter, Miss
Birdie Slimborn, playing brilliant
waltz in the hotel parlor, and James
Nicklespoon, Esq, engaged in turning
the young lady's leaves, were the sub.
jects of this remark.
"Then you like Mr.. NicklespoonP"
Mrs. Slimborn's companion inquired.
"Oh! very much! He is q perfect
gentleman, and enormously wealthy,
you know"
$50 have heard" said the plain
little woman in black silk and thread
lace, who was evidently watching the
proceedings at the piano with consider
able interest; "and have also heard"
she added, &" that Mr.. Nicklespoon was
somewhat dissipated."
"Not to speak of, l think" Mrs.
Slimborn responded, smiling face
turned to the young couple at the piano.
"Mr. Tablespoon may be little gay"
she went on, lightly, "but, my dear
Mrs. Beaufort, you wouldn't recon-
mend a minister for son-in-law, would
youP"
"If the minister were good man,
and your daughter loved the minister,
most certainly" the little lady replied.
elf Mr.. Tablespoon were to lose his
money, has he anything to depend upon,
Mrs. SlimbornP" she inquired.
"Mercy on us" the maneuvering
woman exclaimed. "You don't know
what you are talking about, Mrs. Beau
fort Why, Mr.. Tablespoons place on
the Hudson is worth half million at
the very least. Mr.. Tablespoon lose
his money!"
This was so comical and preposterous
n suggestion that Mrs. Slimborn was
obliged to ask pardon for being so eX-
ceedingly impOlite as to laugh in her
companions face.
"Your daughter is fine pianist"
Mrs. Beaufort remarked, after her
neighbours merriment had subsidized.
fShe ought to be-" said the pianist's
mamma. awe have spent thousands
of dollars on her musical education. |
left everything and went abroad with
her for two years, just for the sake of
having her perfected, you know" Mrs;
Slimborn ran on. "Dear me! | did
think | should die with homesickness
and ennui. Brides teachers didn't
want her to come back for two or three
years more, do you think; but of course
that was all nonsense"
"In what way was it nonsenseP'
Mrs. Beaufort inquired.
"Don't you think she can play well
enough as it lisp If we had been educat-
ing her for q public performer, that
would have been different"
81 suppose she could teach music
This plain little lady in black silk and
thread lace seemed determined to be
disagreeable; but as she happened to b(
the distinguished wife of very wealthy
and distinguished man, Mrs. Slimborr
felt constrained to put up with her &c
Centricities.
"Birdie teach music!" Mrs. Slimborr
was again very much amused. "Why
she is the most nervous creature in tn,
world, and extremely delicate. You
wouldn't think it to look at her, bu
Birdie cries at the least thing. Thu
used to annoy the professors so mucl
when we were abroad, but she is s,
sensitive, poor child"
81 suppose your daughters study 0
music was thorough?" Mrs. Beaufor
remarked.
"Wcll, in way" Mrs. Slimborn re
piled. 81 had her skip harmony an
thorough bass, and all that nonsense
They weren't necessary for her, you sec
We wanted her to be just what she is,
brilliant performer, able to read diff
cult music at sight, and all that, 20
know"
"In other words, Mrs. Slimborn, 20
desired your daughter to shine in soc
ety." said the little woman in blac
silk.
"That's about u" Mrs. Slimborn r,
piled, frankly. "We mothers have
fearful responsibility, for so much d,
ponds on the way we begin with OF
daughters. If they are not well settled
then they have the most perfect right
blame u.s."
$50 much depends on what you mea
by well settled" Mrs. Slimborn's neigl
Dor remarked. 'If parents educate the
daughters, as they do their sons, to |
self-supporting-"
"Self-supportingP" Mrs. Slimboi
interrupted with frightened eXpressiC
of countenance. "You don't mean,
work and take care of themselvesPn
"That is precisely what mean," Il
lady responded. 'If, for instance, "
had seen to it that your daughter h;
studied music so thoroughly as to
able to teach it if occasion required, TIN
you would have secured her against t
future"
"EXcuse me-" said Mrs. Slimbor
with some GOODNESS; "but if you "
allow me to make n personal matt
of it, l should like to ask if you ha
educated your daughters on this plan
The little lady in black silk smil
pleasantly.
"Myoldest daughter, Mrs. Slimborn
she answered, sis now perfecting hers
try not to be shocked-in the art
dressmaking. Touse more plebeian
preston, she has learned trade. 5
made the dress, Mrs. Slimborn, that y
admired so much to-day at dinner. /
taste ran in this direction, and my a
has been to have her learn everythi
that can be learned of the science
(lrcssmaking. Ifs nythingwere to hapI
now or in the future which made it n
eSsary for her to support herself, {
could do it. My youngest daughter
graduated from college, and will retI
this fall to take up astronomy with
professor of that institution. To ado
little to this personal narrative, NJ
C1;r,bC,.y - opI now tho littlp L.