The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-04-01
Recollections Of a Highland Census.

hecollections Of q Highland Census.
Ihe Miss McFarlanes are three maid
en- iadies-sisters. It seems the one
would not trust the other to see the
census paper filled up; so they agreed
70 prlng it to me to fill it in.
would you kindly fill in this census
paper for us?" said Miss McFarlane.
'My sisters will look over. and give Won
their particulars by and by."
Now, Miss McFarlane is very nice
Lady; though Mrs. Cameron tells me
sne mas been calling very often at the
manse since the minister lost his wife.
be that as it may, 1 said to her that
would be happy to fill up the paper !;
ana asked her in the meantime to give
me her own particulars. When it came
70 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.. MCLAUGHLIN .All
night, ma am, - says 1; for knew she
was four and-thirty, at any rate. Then
Miss Susan came Over-that's the second
sister, really handsome young Great
ure, with fine ringlets and curls, though
she is little tender-eyed and wears
spectacles. Well, when we came to the
age column Miss Susan played with one
OF her ringlets, and looked in my face
sweetly, and said: ''Mr. MCLAUGHLIN,
what did Miss McFarlane say? My sister,
you know. is considerably older than 1
am-there was brother between u.s."
''Quite so, my dear Miss Susan, !" said
L; shut you see the bargain was that
each of you was to state your own age. {"
''Well,' said Miss Susan, still playing
with her ringlets, ''you can savage
thirty -four years, Mr.. MCLAUGHLIN.
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 I; 81 can not
part with the paper"
''Well, then," said she, ssjust enter
my name, too, Mr.. MCLAUGHLIN
"Quite so. But tell me. Miss RObina,
why did Miss McFarlane not fill up the
paper herself?''-for Miss Robina and
[ were always on very confidential
terms.
"Oh." she replied, sthere was a dis
pute over particulars; and Miss Nc
Farlane would not let my other sister
see how old she was; and Miss Susan
refused to state her age to Miss McFar-
lane; and so, to end the quarrel, we
agreed to ask you to be SO kind as to fill
in the paper"
eyes, yes, Miss Robina," said I;
"that's quite satisfactory; and SO I'll
fill in your name now, if you please"
Yes," she said, with a sigh. When
we came to the age column" Is it alb
solutely necessary" said she, "to fill in
the age? Don't you think it is a most
impertinent question to ask, Mr.. Nc
Lauchlin?''
''Tuts, it may be so to some folk but
to sweet young creature like you it can
not matter button.''
SWELL" said Miss Robina. "But
now, Mr.. MCLAUGHLIN, I'm to tell you a
great secret;' and she blushed as she
slowly continued: "The minister comes
sometimes to see u.s."
81 have noticed him rather more at
tentive in his visitations in your quarter
of late than usual, Miss Robina."
Every well, Mr.. MCLAUGHLIN; but
you must not tease me just now. You
know Miss McF arlane 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 as confirming the Mosaic
record, are all matters of great interest
to Mr.. Fraser, and she fancies that he
comes SO frequently for the privilege of
conversing with her. But" exclaims
Miss Robina, 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
favorite pupil of mine, and I was rather
pleased with what had happend. s.But
what asked her, s'has all this to do
with the census?''
''Oh, just this" continued Miss Robi-
ma. 81 had no reason to conceal my
age, as MIR. Fraser knows it exactly,
since he baptized me! He was young
creature then, only Internationally so
that's just the difference between u.s.
s.Nothing at all, Miss Robina," said I
-s'nothing at all; not worth mention
ing"
'.In this changeful and passing world"
said Miss Robina, ''three-and-twenty
years are not much after all, Mr..
McLauchlin.''
ssMuch?" said I. "Tuts, my dear, it's
nothing-just indeed what should be.'
81 was just thirty-four last birthday,
Mr.. McLauchlin,' said Miss Robina,
ssand the minister said the last time he
called that no young lady should take
the cares and responsibilities of a house
hold upon herself until she was-well,
eight-and-twenty; and he added that
thirty-four was late enough
''The minister, my dear, said I, sis
a man of sense"
So thus were the Miss Farlanes' CEN
sus schedules filled up; and if ever some
one in search of the Curiosities of the
Census should come across it, he may
think it strange enough. for he will find
that the three sisters McFarlane are all
ane years bairns!-Chamber's Journal.
Nature Making Mummies.
Saws the Phoenix (Arizona Territory