The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-09-23
NELLY'S TEMPTATION.

"I think shall 90 by the Mill road
10 school this morning." said Nelly
May to her little brother Fred, as the
two started out from home, one fine
October morning, TO walk the mile that
stretched out through pleasant fields be-
tween their fathers house and the
school-room.
'.Oh! please DON'T" said Fred, plead
ingly. THAT is an ugly, rough road.
but the hicllory-nuts grow there"
said Nelly. I" There may be some fallen
by the bridge. l shouldn't wonder a
bit if there were"
Il know there aren't" answered
Fred. John and came by there
yesterday, and there wasn't one"
"Oh! that was yesterday said
Nelly. There may be lots to-day"
And it's ever so much farther, and
We Il be late at school, persisted Fred,
holding back.
There is no danger of being late"
answered Nelly; land it isn't much
farther. You're lazy; that's all. But
I'm going that way, and you may as
well come along"
81 don't want to-" urged little Fred,
beginning to cry, ''rm tired, and it is
n long way. Mother said we were to
go straight to school, and not loiter."
''Who is going to loiter, I'd like to
know snapped Nelly. You need a
shaking, Fred May. You're just the
LATEST boy / know Tired! hredn
That's all you can say" continued the
little girl, quite GROSSLY, and getting
angrier every moment. Il guess /
walk as many steps as you do and carry
this great heavy lunch-pail and all my
books into the bargain, while you have
only that teenty -toonty baby Reader
and Arithmetic. Pm not tired, and
neither are you; so Just march along.
I'm going the Mill way, whether YOU
like it or not. So!'
Freddy, who was weakly little fell
low, only seven years old, and not used
to walking, began to cry, as he followed
behind his sturdy ten-year-old sister,
who trudged briskly over the uneven
Mill road, instead of following the
smooth pike, which was not only the
shortest way to school. but also much
the pleasanter walk.
For few minutes Nelly walked verv
fast and with firm steps, holding her
head high, and looking straight before
her. Presently Freddy's little whimper-
ing cry attracted her attention. She
looked around. The little boy was all
most running, as he tried in vain to keep
up with her.
'What are you crying for, baby?"
she asked, as she waited for Freddy to
come up. You're Il great bog, l must
say"
81 don't want to 90 this long, rough
way" Freddy said, as he tried to choke
back his sobs, for Nellys scornful tones.
as she pronounced the words baby"
and 'boy," stirred the little lads heart.
''9ou wouldn' want to, either only you
think may be Nancy Lewis will be at
the bridge, and you'll get some of her
grapes without going to her house,
cause mother said you mustn't 90 to her
house any more"
"You naughty, hateful boyr' cried
Nelly, catching Freddy by the arm, and
giving him a little shake. "How dare
you say such thingP You're as mean
and hateful as you can be. | was just
going to offer to carry your books for
you, but now | shant. You may carry
them yourself, and | have a great mind
TO make you take this dinner-pail too"
Poor Nelly! Her cheeks were red,
and her eyes flashed, while her pretty
mouth parted with all its beauty as the
two rosy lips puckered themselves up in
to very ugly pout.
Freddy said no more, and the two
children walked on in silence for some
moments.
Then voice that seemed TO come
from inside her heaving bosom spoke so
plainly to Nelly.
Freddy is right, and you are wrong"
it said. % You know that you are only
walking ON this road in the hope Of
meeting Nancy at the bridge, and get
ting some grapes from her without ex-
actly going to her house for them. Your
mother forbade you to 60 to Nancy's
house for any more grapes. You think
youican still get the grapes by coming
this way, and you do not care for your
weakly little brother. Perhaps he may
fall i'll from this long trudge. Your
mother told you to be Kind to him, and
30 take good care of him. And you