The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-07-19
A Little Mistake I Made.
BY L. B. wALLING.


no fellow can stand, and all for standing
up for my cousin Lefty Mason, and I'd
like to know what kind OF boy I'd be
not to stand up for my own cousin-visit-
ing at my house, too.
You see Ned Allen was mad because
[ said Lefty was as smart and pretty as
any six girls in town put together, and
his big brother goes with young lady
that Ned thinks is Just perfection, be-
cause she treats him as if he was grown
up, and asks him questions about history
and things, and I'd like to know what
business she has to make him think he's
the best scholar in school, when he gets
the worst reports of most anybody it's
deceitful, I think.
Then, besides, she hash t any eyebrows
TO speak of, and her teeth stick away out.
Lefty has little curly rings of black hair
all over her head, and her great black
eyes shine like Uncle's boots after
polish and the pinkest cheeks with the
cunningest little dimples whenever She
smiles. But all that wouldn't go for
much if she wasn't so smart
But | was going to tell you about Ned's
brother Phil. He isn't here all the time,
because he's lawyer, and this town ism t
half grand enough for Master Philips
talents 1 haven't anything against
Phil though he's a nice fellow, only he
does wear such dreadfully clean shirts,
and is forever twirling his mustache.
Well, so it was the last week of school,
just after Ned said that Lefty couldn't
hold candle to Phil's young lady, that
Phil came home with broken arm. A
horse had run away with two ladies, and
Phil grabbed the bride and stopped it,
but he was thrown down and trampled
upon and got pretty we'll bruised up, be-
side his arm. But l guess it paid, for he
was hero. The sewing society talked
about him a whole afternoon. Ned felt as
set up as if he had done some great thing
himself, and was always telling what my
brother Phil said And Phil went
round as grand as you please, with his
arm in sling, and said any man with
the courage OF a mouse would have done
the same, but of course that was all talk,
he knew as well as anybody and liked it
too.
And ali this time Lefty was shut up
in the house with sore throat; and she
pretended to think it wasn't anything
great and couldn't see what all the fuss
was about. But the queerest was when
Mrs. Allen gave lawnparty in honor Of
Pills being at home, and let Ned invite
some on his own account,-wed made
up by that time he promised to keep
still about Pills young lady, and 1
promised not to say anything about
Lefty only I told him l should think
Just the same. And Mrs Allen
came over on purpose to ask Lefty
to come, and get acquainted with the
young people in the village; and Let
looked as scared as anything, and said
something about her throat. I guess Mrs
Allen thought it wasn't polite, for she
looked surprised, and said rather stiffy {:
u hope Miss Masons throat difficult
ty is not serious and will disappear be-
fore then; and at any rate I shall expect
Joe, that's me-and she smiled and
patted my head. I can't bear to have
folks pat me on the head, generally it
makes you feel so small but Ned s moth
er is not that kind bit. It's an awful
thing to have your mother die when
you're baby. So after she was gone
aunt says:
Letitia, what possessed you to be so
rude to Mrs. Allen?"
Lefty s face was as red as fire, and she
burst out crying, and ran out Of the room
So then she turned to me and said:
Josephus, Aunt tdont approve of
nicknames,-" Have you any idea what's
the matter with your cousin?'
" Not the least, ma am, said l, with
ont her throat's made her deiirious.'
Throat" says Aunt, stuff and non
sense She takes after the Pendletons
always were queer lot. Old Mr.. Pen
dleton s more than half crazy
And off she stalks up stairs, and twas
lucky she did, for / wasn't going to sit
there and hear my own second cousin
called luny. I'm fond of Lefty. And
/ was glad ! didn't get chance to say
anything
The next morning at breakfast Lefty
says 81 believe ! WaS rude yesterday,
Aunty, and if Joe will carry it for me,
will write Mrs Allen the incest note
can and accept her invitation"
Aunty looked real pleased and so that
was settled but all the same Lefty was
scared and worried about going ] could
see that, and when the day Of the party
came she just stayed up in her room
most all the time. We started about
half past seven and ] tell you Lefty
Iooked heautif11 She had q LOT If