The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-04-04
A REWARD OF MERIT.

How Trying Not to Win Prize Actually
and Rightfully Secured 1t.
Abby, Aunt Abby's namosake. came
home and told the news to the others.
There were four of them in all, four
sisters, the Oldest fifteen, the youngest
eleven. They were named, respective
iy, commencing with the oldest, Abby,
Allie, Liz2y and Polly. Abby called
them together, and told them: Girls, "
said she, sitting down on the music
stool in the parlor, and twisting her
self about airily so as to face them,
holding hor dainty little figure very
erect ''you can't imagine what l have
to tell you. Polly, don't 1idget so!''
DO hurry and tell, Abby, and don't
stop to fret.' cried Lizzy.
Abby was disposed to be rather dicta-
torial with her younger sisters, and they
resented it at times.
"Oh, | VIII keep still, Abby" cried
Polly, meekly. She was Il nervous little
girl, and she had been twisting about
with impotence.
'Weli," said Abby. Importantly.
''you know Aunt Abby's pink china
tea-cups, how pretty we've always
though5 they were, and how we've
teascd her to let us drink tea out of
themP"
Eyes, yesH' they cried, what about
them, Abby?"
''Aunt Abby says-she will gre those
beautiful pink china tea-cups to the one
of us who-denies herself the most for
the sake of the others, in a month"
Abby said it soemnly, Just the way
her aunt had. Her checks flushed a
little consciously. The other girls
laughed. and looked a trihe shame
faced. They knew perfectly well their
aunt's opinion that they were inclined to
be selfish with each other and that this
was intended as areformatory measure.
''We'ye got to begin tomorrow"
said Abby, land mother is going to
keep acc0unt. "
Allie laughed. She was a bright
looking girl, taller than Abby, though
she was younger. at won't do for
you to make any fuss about lending me
your Latin Grammar, now," said she.
That's so" said Lizzie; land you
mustn't say anything when | borrow
your red necktie, Allie"
Polly did not say a word but she
laughed with the rest, and looked
thoughtful and sober the minute after
ward
The next evening, they did begin the
contest for Aunt Abby's pink cups, but
it was not altogether the loving and
goOd-natTed contest she had meant il
to be. Complications had arisen which
she had not foreseen when she had pro-
pounded her laudable project.
Two or three days after the trial be-
gan, Mrs Agnew, the girls mother,
went over to her sisters. and made a
laughing complaint. lyon don't k1soC
what you have done, Abby" said she.
Where you meant TO establish
harmony and peace. you have intro
duced discord. 1t is dreadful what Il
state OF things you are responsible for
in my family"
why, what do you mean, SarahP"
'The girls used to complain because
they had TO do things for each other,
now they complain because they don't.
Why, I'll toll you this, for instance:
Abby, this morning, it was Abby's turn
to wash the dishes; but Allie offered to
do them for her, and Lizzy, too. They
fairly insisted on it. Finally, Abby
came to me, in a pet and said she
thought she might wash her own dishes.
She did not want to give her sisters
credit marks, You see. And that is the
way is goes. They insist on lending
ribbons TO each other, and then they
are vcXed if they are not accepted"
Il am sorry the girls are so selfish
with each other" said Aunt Abby
thoughtfuilY. Il see | have not mendcd
matters any. 1t is too bad to make YOU
% much trouble