The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-03-22

all Centreville will he out on the hill"
No" replied Bertha, u am not
strong enough for such wild sport"
- N Onsense,'' said Doctor Sumner.
you're no fine lady, full OF aches and
pains Go with your brother, and have
a little healthy enjoyment.
1T would not be en- Oyment to me-
said Bertha, land though you may re-
fuse to acknowledge it, father, [ am
very far from stro g. and her coun
tenance took on an expression of deep
melancholy.
Don get that notion in your head,
"There'll be no living with you if YOU
begin to imagine yourself an interest
ing invalid"
AUNT Hattie often said she believed
l would die young" said Fe tina, look
ng deeply hurt. " She understood
me-"
Your Aunt Hattie is a very foolish
woman said Doctor Sumner. If
had found out that fact three years ago
she should never have had charge OF you
for a single hour. You are completely
spoiled by Over-indulgence and novel
reading"
Bertha looked as il another word
would cause her to burst into tears, and
it was a relief TO every one when Ned
changed the sub.e / by saying that be-
fore going cOasting he would make a
rough draft of his essay for the club
meeting the coming Thursday night.
''What is your sub ect?' asked his
father.
The difference between boys and
girls" answered Ned. u think | shall
touch up Bertha a little, as an illustra-
ton to my argument"
Make me the butt of your wit if
you VIII" said 'ertha, with an air Of
injury. Il expect to be misunderstood
always"
"G.ve me some blank paper and per-
haps L Il spa e YOU" said Ned.
- There's some in my desk" said
Bertha, . but can't
" Oh, I'll 90 for it, 5" interrupted Ned.
q didn't think of asking you to take
such a Journey. You know YOU are far
from strong, - and with a teasing laugh,
he went out.
He was gone so long that Bertha be-
came uneasy.
4 hope Ned isn't rummaging over
all my things she said ut last Il
dare say shall find all the bureau draw
ers upside down in the middle of the
floor. d" -
fut as she spoke, Ned entered the
room.
did you End the paperPr asked
Lena. d" Why, what as the matter?
Bertha. do see how Ned is laughingn'
Bertha looked up. aud regarded her
brother curious y. He was IA rly shak-
ing with suppressed merriment.
" Have YOU been playing any trick in
my room, NedP" she asked, with grave
suspicion.
But Ned made no reply, and he left
the room before the question could be
repeated.
The club to which Ned belonged
was composed of twenty-five members
all boys and girls under eighteen
years of age-whO met once a week at
the house of Judge Barstowe, and had
a thoroughly enjoyable time. The pro-
gramme for each meeting was arranged
by a special committee, and each mem
Der was given a chance during the win
ter to exhibit his or her proficiency in
recitation, reading, music and song.
Ned had asked Bertha to become
member; but she had refused. How
ever, when the night came on which
Ned was to delil or his essay, she con-
sented to accompany him to the meet
ING, to his evident delight.
The exercises of the evening had al
ready begun when they entered the
Judges parlor There was no time for
introductiOns, and Bertha slipped into
back seat by one of the windows, an d
soon became interested in the essay
then being delivered on THE Wonders
of the Mineral Kingdom" She won
dered as the young orator stepped
down, how Ned wo Id acquit himself.
She had never heard her brother de-
liver an essay.
She felt very nervous as he came
forward with his roll of manuscript in
his hand; but she soon saw that he was
master of the situation. He began by
contrasting the sports of boys and girls,
and the occupations in which their nat
ural instincts led them to engage.
The natural inclination of every
girl is toward a diary" he said "A
boy may keep n journal of prominent
events, but what healthy, vigorous
minded specimen of the masculine sex
would indulge in such gush as this, my
friends, which I assure YOU is a bona
fide copy of passage in the diary of
young lady whose name l must hold sa-
cred from The curious She assures us
on the first page of her book that the
sentiments within transcribed are her
: most sacred and inuermost thoughts
Listen:
So misunderstood! Is there n sadder
word in the vocabulary of the English
language? All, in many a young and
sensitive heart it has ruug the death
knell of all happiness"
AS these words fell on Bertha's ears,
she grew deathly pale, then flushed
scarlet She had no difficulty in recOg-
nizing them as her own and she knew
now why Ned had fingered so long in
her room where he had gone for the
paper the night of the coastinC party.
What could She do? If she interruDted
him every one would recognize the fact
that it was from hc7' diary that the ex-
tract had been taken. No, she must sit
still and hear it to the end. She tried
to appear uncOnsc Gus, and even es-
sayed faint laugh, as the words:
when am lying cold and dead. my
frail hands clasped over my pulseless
heart evoked a torrent of merriment
from those about her But she was
actually faint from modification. She
saw now how ridiculous the sentiments
she had imagined so z and and sublime
really were. In one moment her ewes
were opened to her folly.
As Ned closed his essay there was a
general uprising; a perfect furore of
of eXpostulation and denial
Several of the girls contended that none
of their sex could be GU ltv of writing
such trash, and others declared Ned had
VIZ item the extract himself. Bertha was
forced to listen to all sorts of comments
upon her ''innermOst thoughts" and
they did her good She was even, to
Ned's great amusement, made to give
her opinions upon the subject, and
was asked how she could tolerate
brother who could so baseIy SANDER her
sex.
Poor Bertha! Her shame and cha
grin increased with every moment, and