The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-04-19
TED'S APOLOGY.

4 lillhh IL WIS All cousin BdDDett $
fault, and that she should have been the
one to apologize.
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, 50 az not to get her
mixed up with mother.
1t was April FOOLS Day, and that
year it came in vacation; not a real va
cation; but the teacher had to 90 home
10 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 a pity.
because you can always get such good
chances to play tricks on the girls at
school.
Wen, Nate Winslow and I were snow
balling, 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 our
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.
. want you TO 20 down to Miss
Parkcr's, Ted, said she, land 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"
"All right ma am, ~ said l; "can
Nate 90, too?''
Yes, of course, only don't forget the
crrand, said mother; and then she
went in, but in Just a minute Cousin
Babbett came and put her head out,
with a purple wooden hood on.
Theodore, - said she, ''yOur mother
says if the minister isn't home, leave
the message with Miss Parker Now
mind you don't 90 and forget it.
just as she started to go in she hap
pencd 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 brown
paper, and card inside with April Fool
written on it.
Theodore" said Cousin Babbett.
puckering up her mouth and looking
solemn, Theodore Davis, what Il boy
You air! Don't you let me know Of
your taking that foolish bundle to the
minister, now! l wonder what under
the canopy you'll think of next"
Now there's something very queer
fAtObN N'ON4SlI lDdDDtlls anu somehow.
even if she is my own second cousin, |
don like her very well
1t isn't that she wears felt slippers
and you never can hear her coming;
nor because her hands are always cold;
nor because she calls me Theodore; nor
because she thinks mincc-pie is I'M
wholesome for boys, and always scowls
when | have 4 piece; and | don't think
1t Is because she has earache and always
wears a hood
In fact ! don't know what it is, but
when Cousin Babbctt tells a fellow not
to do a thing, it does just everlastingly
make him want to 90 and do it,
1t must be something in the way she
says things; for | never feel that way a
bit about mother; or father, and Nvhen
visit Aunt Sophia and She says: II
wouldn't if | were you, Ted why, 1 |
wouldn't 60 and do anything, not for
hundred dollars!
But Cousin Babbett is different If it
hadn't been for her, | never would have .
taken that package to the minister; of
course not; | never would have thought /
of such a thing But when Cousin Bah |
bett went and said don't" that put it |
into my head, and / wanted to do it /
right away.
She went in and shut the door, and | |
picked up the package and put it in my
You dasscn't give it to him, " said |
Nate, giggling.
Yes, do dass to- said I; ''come |
along and see if | don't"
felt brave enough then, for it was a .
good long way to Miss Parkers. where
the minister boarded. but when we
reached the house and had Knocked. I'd /
hnyp trjNpr, orppI .Jpof if I h.Irr+ til
Nate I'd do it.
Miss Maria came to the door; she
was the youngest and the crossest Of
the two Miss Parkers. When she
opened the door and saw who was
there, She clappcd it to again, all but
n little crack. as if she was afraid we
would rush in pell-mell in spite of all
she could do. Don't come in" said
she; your feet are muddy. What do
YOU waut?N
is the minister in?" said l.
NO, he isn't. said She, very snap
pi~hly, indeed. Hes gone to Durham
Center to funeral, and won't be back
till two
win you please give him this
bundlc?' said l, land tell him that
teachers meeting viii be at our house
tomorrow, because Mrs. Dunlap's
baby's got the measles"
"Of course it has, said Miss Maria.
speaking very sharp and quick. i
amt mite surprised. THEY'RE ALWAYS
havin' somcthin'. They only do il 10
hc aggravatin'. Shut the rate and
latch it. ~
I was sorry I had done it even then.
and by the time l got home I'd have
given my skates and my 'Sviss Family
to have that package safe in
my hand again. :
/ almost made up my mind to 90 back
and tell Miss Parker it was a mistake
about the package, and ask for il back:
but of course / didn't really dare To do
that; and to make thinks worse. Nate
kept saying; ''Oh, my, Ted, I'm glad
didn't do it. Won't You catch il
when your father knows. l wouldn't
be in your shoes for a good dcalr'
till l Just wanted to shake him till
his teeth chartered.
AT dinner il was Just as bad. / didn't
care about the chicken and rice, and
almost didn'twant any pudding, though
mother makes the best fig pudding in
The world.
1t seemed exactly as if Cousin Bah
1ett knew just what I'd done, though of
course she didn't. 1t was only that / I
elt so sort of guilty; for Cousin Bah !
Jett always has a way of looking at
elbow as if he had done something he
ought not to do. Iii