The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-07-01

prevent tnem from appearing like we'll
bred and well-edueated people,"
'But doesn't everybody talk slangp''
asked Fanny. "rm sure all the peo-
pie IN English story-books do"
''Boys and young men do, l suppose,
admitted Aunt Eunice, .'and girls, too,
sometimes; but they don't do It without
correction, as with us; and grown peo-
pie, as rule, talk more carefully than
we do, and are far more particular as to
what expressions they use"
"What bother it must ber' said Ted.
mo, Ted, it's just as easy to speak
good English as bad, If once you form
the habit. Now l will propose bar
gain. The one of you who uses the
least slang for the next month shall
have Bayberry Lodge, and the otherr
shall live with him or her. ! will keep
a little notebook, with your names,
and whenever hear a word that isn't
good English / will note it down. What
do you think Of the planP"
The children were doubtful as to what
they thought, but Aunt Eunice was as
good as her word. She showed them
the notebook with Ted" "Tom,"
Fanny and "Di'' written at the top
of four different pages And though
nothing was said on the subject, the
children were conscious every now and
then, as they sat chattering about her,
aunty produced her pencil and made an
entry in the book. They could not tell
against which name the entry was made,
and the uncertainty rendered them more
careful.
"Aunty only caught one of us to-
night, " Fanny said to Di once after they
had gone upstairs to bed.
Eyes, and that was you," replied OBJ
servant little Di; ~ saw her take out
her pencil when you said 'hifalutin' that
time"
"Oh, bother! did 1 say thatP didn't
mean to-"
Gradually the four got into the habit
Of discussing words beforehand, to make
sure If they were not slang, and liable
to be counted against them. And they
were somewhat surprised to find how
many phrases which they were in the
habit of using came under this objection
able head.
'lt's perfectly mizziable," declared
Tom. "We're getting so pertikilar and
pernickitly that l feel like deacon in
a pew. haven't said boss for three
days"
"No, but you did say bully yester-
day; you said it twice and aunty wrote
it down." retorted Fanny.
"Oh, botheration twice over! This is
a vale Of tears and Pm sick Of it" Tom
was just eleven.
However his pride was reused and
he much desired to be master of Bay
berry Lodge. So he struggled on, and
did his best discovering, as all of us do
sooner or later, how much harder it is
TO break off a foolish habit than toform
good one.
At last the end of the month came.
It was beautiful, brilliant day in mid
July. Aunt Eunice had spent the
morning at Bayberry Lodge, mysteri-
ously busy, and the children had been
requested to play elsewhere till after
dinner
About four she appeared and called
them, and when they reached the rock
house, they found It beautiied beyond
their hopes. A little crane with tea
kettle hung above the fireplace, Chi
nese lanterns hung from the roof, four
rustic seats had been added to the fur
niture; and on the platform, before the
entrance, appeared two long. narrow
boxes, planted with geraniums and gay
nasiurtiums which had a very orna.
mental and pleasing effect
''It's ten times prettier than it ever
was BEFORE" declared Fanny.
Aunt Eunice sat down on a rock, and
took out her notebook. The children
seated themselves on the new seats, and
waited in breathless expectation for
what she had to say.
Thomas Whittemore," began Aunt
Eunice, solemnly, "between June 16
and July 16 used slang words, or ex-
pressions not belonging to the English
Language, two hundred and thirteen
times.
"Aunty" said Tom, in a Mortified
tone.
"Francis Mary Whittemore," went
on his aunt 'in the same time used the |
same sort Of expressions one hundred |
and ninety-eight times"
"Aunty" exclaimed Fanny, in the
same horror-struck tone as Tom.
Theodore James Whittemore, In the |
same time, two hundred and four
times" N
you're more than am, anyhow"
cried Fanny. That's jollyr'
"Inow add one to Francis Mary
count" remarked Aunt
Eunice, immovably, (which makes II
one hundred and ninety-nine"
Fanny looked doubtful whether to
Iaugh or cry, but she deemed it wise to
say nothing.
"Diana Rockwell Whittemore," pur-
Iued Miss Eunice, during the same
lime, and under the same circumstances,
las used slang expressions one hun
ired and forty-six times. Di, therefore,
s the mistress Of Bayberry Lodge"
This decision was, on the whole,
'asier to bear than any other could
lave been. The older ones would have
ound IL hard to yield the precedence TO
me another, but little Di was the gem
'ral pet She made a sweet little mis-
ress Of the Lodge, and ruled her sub
ects wisely and well till the end Of the
Aunt Eunice gave them tea,
PARTIES and all sorts Of treats in the