The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-12-19
oUR YOUNG FOLKS.
Her Four boy Cousins.

She was named after her mothers oldest sis
ter. Miss Ann Bagley, but Ann Bagley
isn't bali as bad" she often said. It's bad
enough. but Ann Mann has such a ridiculous
Chinese jingle about il, that don't wonder
that people often laugh when they hear ii for
the first time.
Ann aud her father. mother and Aunt
Ann lived very happy life together in
pleasant city home. brother or sister the
young girl never had, but she was rich in boy
cousins
There were five of these delightful relatives.
They were the sons oil Mr.. Mann's four sis
tiers and lived within a stones throw of each
other, i'm a country town. only half days
journey by rail from the city in which their
fair cousin resided.
They consisted of Benjamin aud Archibald
button, aged respectively, at the time of eur
story. eighteen and sixteen; Nelson Knight
aged seventeen; Frank Green, aged sixteen
and last. and least-in his own opinion and
IN that of everybody else except his moth
er's-JacOb Corning, who was fifteen, very
stadious, hOmely and bashful boy.
Not daughter was in either family. So
when Ann went 10 spend her vacations
among her sisterless cousins she was the re.
cipient of their undivided attentions.
Ann was studying diligently. preparatory
TO the examinations. which she hoped were
to result in her promotion at school, when
she took a severe cold. Pneumonia set in.
For hours her life hung by thread. but her
strong constitution carried her over the crisis.
and then she was left with = dismal, wearing
cough. She took cOugh-syrups until the very
mention of them nauseated her, and she ate
eough-drops upon the recommendation OF
anxious friends, and still she coughed and
grew thiuuer every day.
81 am getting very uneasy about AIMS
cough, said Mrs. Mann to her sister, one
day. two months later. "Since her sickness
she has cOughed constantly, and il seem, TO
me to have more hollow sound every day"
''0f course il has; and must say, | think
il is a sin the way you and Charley are let
ting the child 20 on, said MisJ Bagley. who
was always very o.inionatcd when the
welfare of her beloved namesake was con-
Gerned.
Go on? What do you mean
Il mean" Miss Bagley replied you've let
her 60 back TO school and study herself to
death fOT that examination she's always
talking about. It's home from school. Off
with her things, and study. study. study, till
dinner-time; and after dinner. it's hurry
upstairs and study, study, study again till
bedtime Now what possible chance has
she t0get rid OF her cough?'
avon know Ann, Mrs. Mann protested, IN
self defence, II opposed her going back to
school this year; but she was so heart.brok-
EN- about 10 that finally gave way. You are
right. 1 am sure. and she will probably not
get rid OF her cough until she leaves school;
but how 20 induce her to do so, and not
make her miserable, I'm shure ! don't
know"
''Sugar-coat the pill, said Miss Bagley,
SententOuSly.
What do YOU mean?' asked Mrs Mann.
"Why. Ann will not like the remedy for
her cough; but put sugar enough on the
pill she'll take it eagerly" Miss Bagley ex-
planned.
Perhaps So" said Mrs. Mann, thought
fully; but what kind of sugar.
Trip to Europe" was Miss Bagley's laugh
reply.
"Trip TO Europe" Mrs. Mann repeated,
with huge exclamation point in hei voice.
There's your sugar. Miss Bagley proceeded
calmly; and enough of il TO make the pill
acceptable, I'll venture TO say. She's
been longing to go abroad for the last two
years.
The same evening, Miss Bagley's plan was
made known to Mr.. Mann, and met with his
approval. And now" said he, 1.-The sooner
she leaves school the better; so will al
minister the pill tomorrow"
Accordingly, the next day, at dinner Mr..
Mann began. Ann, that cough of yours
doesn't seem to get any better, does it?''
NO. papa" Ann reluctantly admitted;
but then 1t doesn't seem to get any worse,
either
really matter Of doubt whether your cough
ever will be better, if you continue TO con-
tine yourself to your books"
But, papa" Ann began to protest, eager
~, I'm studying for the examination, you
know"
yon will be tempted to overwork that's just
the trouble"
Why, papa, you don't meaR-you can
not want'-and Ann stopped and choked.
ayes. do want and that very much
for your life may depend upon it,-that you
should leave school immediately" said her
father, earnestly.
30 papa" Ann exclaimed, bursting into
tears
There, therel pray don't cry. until I'm
through" said her father LAS have said,
1 want you to leave school Immediately and
then 1 want you to try what change of air
will do Tor you; and so, in few weeks, we
will start for Europe"
20 papat' Ann again exclaimed, but this
time in q very different tone.
Yes. we will 20 to Europe and try and
lose the cough on the way" said Mr.. Mann.
And more than this, want to ask how YOU
would like to invite one of your cousins TO
go with us?'
"It would be Just delightful. papa
81 thought So" said her father Well,
which boy shall it beT'
''Oh dearp' exclaimed Ann. an expression
of profound perplexity coming over her face.
Pm sure don't know. Ii one of the boys
or done me some unusual favor, It would aft
ord sufficient reason for taking him in
preference to either of the others. But you
see, not one of them has ever done a partic-
ularlY heroic thing. that know Of, certain
ly not for me, and at the same time, they
are ali just as;gallant and attentive rs they can
be-"
HIN! Inever yet saw the boy in his teens
that wouldnt show off his best to a good
looking girl-cousin," said Aunt Ann, who
wss not an admirer Of boys in her teens.
why. Aunt. Ann what do YOU mean?
You speak though the boys
put on and took off their politeness as they
do their suits. said Ann, in a rather re-
proachfui tone.
We'll. I've no doubt they do said Aunt
Ann, cOmposedly. Anyway, what ! am
getting at is, it is no test of what they really
are. or what their manners really are. the
way they act towards you. or, for the matter
OF that. towards any pretty girl
81 wonder if the boys really do just polish
up the manners, as they do their boots, for
the benefit of their girls" thought Ann as
they went up stairs. 81 wish | could
think Of some good way to test THEN and find
out"
A few days after this conversation, Mrs
Dutton received letter rom her brother
which read as follows:
''DEAR SIsrER:-If convenient, Ann will
run down for few days visit among YOU