The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-04-10
TIFF'S BIRTHDAY.

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 q chirrup of
"Wate up and hear the birds sin'!'' 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
drowedi'
Graudpa,s obedience was the begin
ing Of the trouble! Not even standing
on pink toe-tips would bring T'iff's sun
ny head to the desired and expected
height.
"Pd been all drowed up bid, if only
mamma had let me staid out in the wet
yesterday moaned poor little Tiff,
anXiOus-like older mUrtals-to turn
the blame in the manner most satisfac-
tory to herself.
Tiff was ''drowed up" That was an
incoutrovertible fact in her small mind.
to remain there in spite of all proofs to
the contrary.
Papa had met with a wifely reproof
for swallowing his coffee so extremely
hot; and Tiff, thinking that merely q
privilege of grown-up people, had at
tempted three large swallows, s'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
sou with an air of pomposity that had
duly impressed itself on Tif'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 old9
Mamma had seen fit to issue some
command that had been met by Miss
Tiff with pompus Snow, Moderator,
You must dust understand I've no at
tention to newer do so!' and for this
large impertinence Tiff spent long
half-hour in the dim recesses OF man.
mas closet.
Grown-up ladies wore fowersi For
once, hers must be the right of selee-
ton. Of all the rare plants in mammals
conservatory the one most rare must be
rified, that its one dainty bloom might
be companion for the one immense
sun-fower Tiff had-by dint of climb
ing-at last secured. from the garden.
Disobedient Tiff! One rare flower
and the plant broken! The result was
one more scolding added to the birth
days list.
Jane, the colored cook, taking a
brief leave OF absence, returned to find
her own particular domain invaded BY
the small mistress of the mansion; o,
trail of white showing the paths Miss
Tiff had taken while making mixture
of lemonade, flour, milk and sugar, de-
nominated by her as ''pie-curst.n Poor
Lift, 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
Lndia-ink ears of her sympathizing doll.
''I'm droWed up, but they won't be-
ieve it, nor let me have flowers nor pie
curst, nor nothingn' walled the child
Then a 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 upEfted as
though calling on all objects to witness
her despair.
Not in vain had been the espionage
placed over mammals toilet-makinp by
this same small Tiff, as mamma had OPP
portunity for realizing, when grotesque
little figure entered alone and unan-
nounced were she afternoon callers were
being entertained. 81 (.
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 surrounded by
q cast-off switch of mammals, 9iv-
ing all the striking contrast of black and
gold. A.. a.i..ia n
The scissors, in mammals absence,
erringly guided by the wee hand, had
done their work thoroughly, if not went
as the short, ragged, Jagged fringe of
hair over the forehead and about the
ears plainly showed. JJe cd
Alas, for mammals complexioni and
alas! for Tiff's! How was She to under
stand the art of applying paint and
powder, or the proper distinction. be-
tween red and white? So it was that
red bore witness to a prorniscuous ap-
plieation on brow and nose and chin,
while the white produced an equally
startling effect on the round, usually
red cheeks. Was it T'iff's fault that
mammals ideas suddenly became con-
fused by the sudden appearance of her
four-year-old daughter in this guisep
Was not Tiff ''drowed up?
Poor Tiff! would the day never end
that had seemed to go so wrongly The
day she had asked SO eagerly aboutP
That had been 'day-after tomorrow"
tnen tomorrow, and at last this Bit
ter to-day?
When the twilight shadows fell there
was . sad little Iaee et. mamma,s Inca