The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-03-08
TIFF'S BIRTHDAY.

There seemed to be no reason why |
Tiff's trials should have reached the |
elimination of their real existence on |
that one particular day; that they did |
so, not one of the household felt at all |
inclined to dispute.
Only the day before Tiff had been but |
'free years old-'most four" On this |
day, however, she had attained to the !
advanced age of four years. Ample |
reason for added dignity on Tiff's part. |
and Grandpa Davidson had been
awakened at an unusually early hour
by the pat of wee dimpled hand on
his old wrinkled face, and chirrup of |
"Wate up and hear the birds SIM ~ in a
tone sweet as echoes from fairy-land |
land, Dranpa,' went on the sweet little |
voice, ''dit yight up an see how tall
I've drowed! I'm four years old to-day,
Dranpa, and | shan't play With Drace
Wheaton any more! cause she said in
dust little while | wouldn't have any
teeth-dust like you, Dranpa! Come,
Dranpa, dit up and see how I've
drowedr'
Grandpa's obedience was the begin
ing of the trouble! Not even standing
on pink toe-tips would bring lifts sun
ny head to the desired and expected
height.
"Pd been all drowed up bid, if only
mamma had let me slad out in the wet
yesterdayl' moaned poor little Tiff,
anxious older mortals to turn
the blame in the manner most satisfac-
tory to herself.
Tiff was ''drowed up" That was an
incontrovertible fact in her small mind,
to remain there in spite of all proofs to
the contrary.
Papa had met with q wifely reproof
for swallowing his coffee so extremely
hot; and Tiff, thinking that merely a
privilege of grown-up people, had at
tempted three large swallows, "as papa
| does" and the result was scalded and
sore little mouth.
Papa had way of saying: ''Now,
Margaret, listen! You are to under
stand that I've no intention of doing
| duly impressed itself on Tih's quick lit
tie mind. But now, at last, all the airs
of older folk must surely be hers, for
was she not four years old?
| Mamma had seen tit to issue some
command that had been met by Miss
| Tiff with pompus "Now, Moderator.
| YOU luuSU uuSJ ulucISGduu We HO dJ-
! tention to newer do sou and for this
large impertinence Tiff spent n long
half-hour in the dim recesses of NAM
mas closet.
Grown-up ladies wore flowers For
once, hers must be the right of selec-
ton. OF all the rare plants in mammals
conservatory the one most rare must be
riled, that its one dainty bloom might
be companion for the one immense
sun-nower Tiff had-by dint of climb
ing-at last secured from the garden.
Disobedient Tiff One rare flower
and the plant brokenl The result was
one more scolding added to the birth
days list.
Jane, the colored cook, taking q
brief leave of absence, returned to find
her own particular domain invaded by
the small mistress of the mansion; a
trail of white showing the paths Miss
Tiff had taken while making a mixture
of lemonade, -four milk and sugar, de-
nominated by her as ''pie-curst." Poor
Tiff, elected from the scene, trudged
away, and in spite of her advanced age,
at last took up dilapidated "Adelaide-
May''--first of doll-family of eight
and for five minutes found comfort in
pouring her wrongs and griefs into the
India-nk ears of her sympathizing doll.
"Im drowed up, but they won't be-
lieve it, nor let me have flowers nor pie
curst, nor nothing!" walled the child!
Then bright thought caused poor
"Adelaide May to bow her leaky head
low on her breast in apparent detection,
as her small mistress suddenly left her
lying ON the edge of the garden-path,
with her one remaining arm uplifted as
though calling on all objects to witness
her despair
Not in vain had been the espionage
placed over mammals toilet-mal;ing by
this same small Tiff, as mamma had OPP
portunity forrealzing, when a grotesque
little figure entered alone and unan-
nOunced were the afternoon callers were
being entertained.
Where were the long curls and the
fresh, rosy face hidden! Fat little hands
had tugged at the wealth of sunny hair
until it was quite securely tied high up
on the little head-there surmounted by
a cast -off switch of mamma s, Civ
ing all the striking contrast of black and
gold.
The scissors. in mammals absence.
erringly guided by the wee hand, had
done their work thoroughly, if not well!
as the short, ragged, Jagged fringe OF
hair over the forehead and about the
ears plainly showed.
Alas, for mammals complexion! and
alas for Tif's! How was she to under
stand the art of applying paint and
powder, or the proper distinction be-
.hgeen red and white9 So it was that