The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-09-29
MYRTLE'S SACRIFICE.
LAURA J. RITTENHOUSE.

porch croCheting, where the cool breezes
came directly from the river, only few
blocks away. They were bright-eyed,
intelligent girls, and were chattering
away as merrily as the saucy sparrows
chirping in the lovely Virginia creeper
clambering over the porch.
" never was SO glad to have vaca-
ton come before. Why, it seems like
the summer is going to be crowded full
of fun and frolic. First came the
Fourth of July actually, do you know,
Emma, always just fill up with patriot
ism, till | can't keep still when the
Fourth comes. | envy the little boys
who parade through the streets with
flags fylng, and flies and drums play
ing, and when Dan and Tom com
menced shooting re-crackers and toy
cannons in the back yard, l went out
and helped them. | didn't care if it
was Tom-boyish-I just had to make a
noise or explode" SAID Myrtle Mat
thews, her black eyes swapping and
sparkling with enthusiasm.
"Tm so dreadfully afraid of such
things that l don't enjoy the Fourth
very much, but oh what | like best is
the fair. such crowds and crowds of
! people, and bands playing, and such
lovely flowers embroiderles and pictures
and things on exhibition l don't be-
ieve I'd get tired of them in month"
and Emma Menager's face tair flushed
up softly in joyous anticipation.
=" l don't see how girl of your good
sense can be afraid OF fire crackers and
torpedoes, Emma. 1t makes me
ashamed of you. Well l suppose we
can't all be alike" with little air OF
superiority. "You are SO fond of flow
ers and pictures, don't wonder you
like the fair. You took the first prize
for the finest collection of geraniums
last year-will you try again this year,
and how much do they offer anyhow"
eyes, indeed I'm going to try. My
collection is much finer now, and |
don't suppose there is any doubt about
getting the premium. They offer just
the same this year-hve dollars"
"Oh my don't wish l could do
something to earn that much money?
But Pm such stupid, can't paint nor
crochet fit for anything, nor embroider,
and never did have any luck with
flowers" said Mrytle with sigh.
"There's no luck about lt-you've
just got to take care of them like you
would children, almost, never forgetting
them for day even. The trouble is,
you soak them in water till they are
almost dead, and then forget them for
week at time, till they are dried up
and withered," said Emma decidedly.
81 know it | never did have any
patience with poky old plants that have
to be coaxed and petted and waited
upon for months, just for the sake of
few blossoms after awhile. I'd rather
wash dishes or scrub or cook, any day."
How funny just hate to cook
I'd like to know how to make nice
frosted cakes, or velvety, white bread,
or clear, garnet colored jelly, but as for
anything else, please excuse me.
"Wel, | already know how to make
tirstrate bread, and as to jelly, why,
mamma says can make it better than
than she can," said Myrtle with proud
consciousness.
"Why don't you try to get the prem
ium on jelly, then, Myrtle?" inquired
Emma.
"Why, l never even thought of it
before. | believe | will. Wait minute
till | get the catalogue and see the list
premiums on jellies )" and away Myrtle
ran into the sitting-room, quickly re-
turning with the book.
Let me see Bread-cakes-p
serves jellies-here it is. Best wine
jelly made by girl under fourteen
years OF age-fye dollars My isn't
that splendid? You just ought to taste
some of my wine jelly, Em-it's per-
fectly delicious. Cousin Harry says he
never tasted anything SO fine, and you
just ought to see how he does eat it.
didn't your brother Charlie
tell you how much he liked it? You |
know he took dinner with US on the |
Fourth" SAID Myrtle little piqued.
"No, he never mentioned it," said
Emma quietly. 81 guess he knew
mamma wouldn't like it."
"Would like my wine jelly?" said
Myrtle Indignantly. az don't believe
she could help it,"
"She doesn't believe in wine jellies
nor wine in any shape. You know we
are total abstainers," Emma teplied.
"Well, SO are we, but where's the
danger in putting little wine in jelly,
I'd like to krow? We never use enough
to make any one drunk just enough to
flavor it only" said Mrytle quickly.
eyes, l know, but the flavor is what
does the mischief; it creates desire
for more. Perhaps that was what
caused Harry to -" Emma stopped
abruptly, leaving her sentence unfn-
ished.
"To get drunk on the Fourth, sup
pose you mean? Well, l can tell you
right now that | know that it wasn't
anything of the kind. Mamma saws he
drank before he came here"
eyes, hut you said he was trying to
quit, and that was the reason he wanted
to stay out of the city SO long. Now
how do you know that the favor of
wine in your jelly didn't get him started