The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-04-21
TED'S APOLOGY.

lllDh IL W dS an SOuSlll baDOCbb .
fault, and that she should have been the
one to apologize. .....l-
Her name is really Ellen-her first
name-but mothers name is Ellen, too;
SO when she came to spend the winter
at our house, father said we better call
her Cousin Babbett, SO as not to get her
mixed up with mother.
1t was April FOOLS Day, and that
wear it came in yacation; not real va
cation; but the teacher had to go home
to comfort her mother because the
brother that they had heard was
drowned at sea wasn't really drowned,
but had come home alive and well. So
there was no school April Fools Day;
which we fellows all thought was pity,
because you can always get.such good
chances to play tricks on the girls at
school.
WE'LL Nate Winslow and Iwere snow
baling, out in the side yard. There
was plenty of snow, and it was Just
moist enough to make good balls, and
we were, making up.a lot to stock sour,
fort with. We were Just Beginning to,
build the fort when mother came to the
door in her little red shawl, and called
me up TO the Steps.
q want YOU to 90 down to Miss
Parker's, Ted said She, ''and tell the
minister that the teachers, meeting will
be here at three o'clock tomorrow aft
ernoon, instead of at Mrs Dunlap's;
her baby has the measles.9 AONA
"All right, ma'am," said I; "can'
Nate 90, too?3 NEFnA..ItLGg
Yes. Of course, only don It forget the
Grand" said mother; and then she
went in, but in just n minute Cousin
EBabbett came and putgher head yout, !.
With afpunle Yoolens hoodfpn. IN x
4 A1heodere,,h said she,' ssyour mother
says if the minister, isn't home, leave
the MESSAGE with MISS Parker Now
mind you, don't go and forget it,
,Hist 'as she started to 30 IN she hap
pened to see a little bundle that was on
the steps. 1t was only an April Fool
parcel that we had been leaving about
on the sidewalk to fool the girls with-a
square BLOCK of wood tied up in Sbrowu
paper, ana card inside with April Fool
written on il. q ~ - n
Theodore" said Cousin Babbett,
puckering up her mouth and looking
solemn. Theodore Davis, what boy
YOU air! Don't you let me know Of
your taking that foolish bundle to the
minister, nowt~SI wonder what under
the canopy you'll think of next"
Now there's something very queer
about Cousin Babbett, and Somehow,
even if she is my own second cousin,
don't like her very well. -7sI.I q
1t isn't that she wears felt slippers
and you never can hear her coming;
nor because her hands are always cold;
tinor because she calls me Theodore; nor
because she thinks .mince=pie. is .un-
wholesome for boys, and always scowls
when l have piece; and i don't think
it is because she has earache and always
wears a hood.
In fact l don't know what it is, but
wheh Cousin vBabbett cells fellow not
sto do a thing, itlaoes Just eyerlastingly
make him want to 90 and do til
1t must be something in the way she
says things; for l never, feel that way a
bit aboutmether; or father, and when
visit Aunt Sophia and she says: II
wouldn't if we're you, Tedn-Awhy,
wouldn't 90 and do anything, not for q
hundred dollars!h 1 'i<ANA
But Cousin Babbettis different. If il
hadn't been for her. l never would have
taken that package to the minister; o.
course not; | never would have thought
of such a thing. But when Cousin Bah
bett went and said s'don't," that put i
into my head, and 7lwanted to do i
right away.
She went in and shut the door, and Z
picked up the package and put it in my
,jacketpucket. .DrssEsS -,
f15Yddl dissent gE0 Tito HIM, i'iSaii
Eyes, II do das5 to, + said l.. i.eom,
along and see if don't" ~
.HfSli hrt4e enoigh then, for il was
good long way 10 Miss Parkers, wher
- the minister boarded, but when w,
reached the house and had knocked. II,
have given a good deal if hadn't toll,
Nae'FddQttTQ .8Ik)VOO
Miss Maria came to the door; sh
WIS the Youngest and the crossest o
a., t,ro NIi-s parLara Whan an