Morris tribune., 1881-04-21
RecOllectiOns of a Highland Census.


From Chambers Journal
The Misses McEarlane are three maiden
ladies-sisters. 1t seems the one would not
trust the other to see the census paper fill
ed up, SO they agreed to bring it to me to
fill it in.
Would you kindly fill in this census pa
per for us?" said Miss McFarlane. my
sisters will lookaGever, and giyeyou their
particulars by and BY" .,,
Now, Miss McFarlane is a very ice lady;
though Mrs. Cameron tells me she has
been calling very often at the manse, since
the minister lost his wife, Be that as it
may, I said to her would be happy to fill
up the paper, and asked her in the mean
time to 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
and whispered: You can say four-and-
thirty, Mr.. McLauchlin. "All right,
ma'am," says /; for I knew she was four
and-thirty at any rate. Then Miss Susan
came over--that's the second sister-really
handsome young creature, with fine ring
lets and curls, though she is a little tender
eyed and wears spectacles. Well, when we
came to the age column Miss Susan played
with one of her ringlets and looked into
my face sweetly and said: "Mr. McLauch-
lin, what did Miss McFarlane say? My
sister, you know, is considerably older than
l am-there was brother between u.s..
"Quite so my dear Miss Susan" said I;
but you see the bargain was that each of
you was to state your own age"
''Wen," said Miss susan. still playing
with her ringlets, !"you can savage, "a
years, Mr.. McLauchlin.
In a little while the youngest sister came
in. Miss McFarlane," said she, sent me
over for the census paper"
"Oh, no. my dear" says l. Il cannot
part with the paper"
We'll. then said she, Just enter my
name, too Mr.. Mclaughlin"
'Quite so. But tell me, Miss Robina,
why did Miss McFarlane not fill up the pa
per herself?" for Miss Robina and I were
always on very confidential terms.
"Oh, she replied, there was dispute
not let my other sister see how old she was
Miss McFarlane; and so, to end the
quarrel, we agreed to ask you to be so kind
as to fill in the paper"
"Yes, yes, Miss Robina," said L; that's
quite satisfactory; and so I'll fill in your
name now, if you please.
Yes, she said, with sigh. When we
came to the age column-"Is it absolutely
necessary" she said, ito fill in the age?
Don't you think it most impertinent ques-
ton to ask, Mr.. McLauchlin?"
''Tuts! it may be to some folks; but to
sweet young CT eature like you it cannot
matter button" ..... .....
"Weu, said Miss Robina, "but now, Mr..
MCLAUGHLIN, I'm to tell you great secret;
and she blushed as she slowly continued:
"The minister comes sometimes to see us. "
II have noticed him rather more atten-
tive in his visitations in your quarter of
late than usual, Miss Robina.''
very well, Mr.. McLauchlin; but you
must not tease me just now. You know
Miss McFarlane is of opinion that he is in
love with her; while Miss Susan thinks her
taste for literature and her knowledge of
geology, especially her pamphlet on the
"Old Red Sandstone" and its fossils yn con-
frming the Mosaic record, are all matters
of grert interest to Mr.. Fraser, aud she
fancies that he comes SO frequently for the
privilege of conversing with her. But, u
exclaims Miss Robina, with look or
trump, "look at that" and she held in he
hand beautiful gold ring. Il have got
that from the minister this very day!".
congratulated her. She had been IA
vorite pupil of mine, and I was rather pleased
with what happened. But what" asked
her, ''has all this to do with the census?'
Oh, just this" continued Miss Robina,
II had no reason to conceal myage, as Mr.
Frazer, knows it exactly, since he baptized
me. He was young creature then, only
three and twenty; so that's the difference
between u.s..
Nothing at all, Miss Robina," said L
nothing at all; not worth mentioning. "
I'm this changeful and passing world,
said Miss Robina. three and twenty years
are not much after all, Mr.. Mclaughlin. y
"Much!' said I. "Tuts my dear, it's
nothing-just, indeed, what it should be. NJ
Il was just "a last birthday, Mr.. Nc
Laughlin, "said Miss Robina, and the min
lister said the last time he called that no
young lady should take the cares and re-
sponsibilities of household upon herself
till she was we'll eight and twenty; and
he added that "a was late enough"
"The minister, my DEAR" said 1, is a
man of sense"
So thus were the Miss McFarlanes' CEN
sus schedules filled up; and if ever some
one in search of the curiosities of the Gen.
sus should come across it, he may think il
strange enough, for he will find that three
sisters McFarlane as all ae years BARNS