The Monitor., 1888-11-09
MYRTLG'S SACRIFICE.

crocheting. where the cool breezes came di-
rectly from the river, only few blocks
away. They were bright-eyed, intelligent
girls, and were chatting away as merrily
as the sauey sparrows chipping in the love
ly irginia-crecper elamberjng over the
porch.
Il never was 50 glad to have vacation
come before. Why, it seems like the sum-
mer is going to be crowded full of fun and
frolie. First came the Fourth Of July;
actually do You know, Emma, I always
just fill up with patriotism till can't keep
still when the Fourth comes. I envy the
little boys who parade through the streets
with flags flying, and flies and drums play
ing, and when Dan and Tom commenced
shooting fre-crackers and toy-eannons in
the back yard, went out and helped them.
l didn't care if it was Tom-boYisll-I inst
had to make a noise or explode" said
Myrtle Matthews, her black eyes swapping
and sparkling with enthusiasm.
''Pm SO dreadfully afraid of such things
that 1 don't enjoy the Fourth very much,
but oh! what like best is the fair. Such
crowds ana crowds of people, and bands
playing, and such lovely flowers and en-
broideries and pictures and things ON exhi-
bition! l don't believe I'd get tired of
them in month, = and Emma Menagers
fair face flushed up softly in joyous antic-
ipation.
81 don't see how girl Of your good
sense can be afraid of fre-crackers and
torpedoes, Emma. Il makes me ashamed
of you. Well, suppose we can't all be
alike, " with little air of superiority.
'fYou are so fond of flowers and pictures,
I 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 tie same
this year-fye dollars
"oh my don't wish I could do some
thing to earn that much money? But I'm
such a stupid, can't paint nor crochet fit
for anything, nor embroder, and l never
did have any luck with flowers" said
Myrtle with a Sigh.
There's no luck about it--you've just
got to take care of them like you would of
children, almost, never forgetting them for
a day even. The trouble is, you first soak
them in water till they are almost dead,
aud then forget them for week at time,
till they are dried up and withered," said
Emma decidedly.
81 know it! never did have any pa
tienco with poky old plants that have to be
ooaxed 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! Ijust hate to cook. I'd
like to know how to make nice frosted
cakes, or yelyety. white bread, or clear,
garnetc colored jelly, but as for anything
else, please excuse me-
"Well, already know how to make
first-rate bread and cake, and as to jelly,
why, mamma says l can make it better
than she can" said Myrtle with a proud
consciousness.
why don't you try 10 get the premium
on jelly, then, Myrtle?" inquired Emma.
"Why, never even thought Of it be-
fore. believe l will. Wait minute till
| get the catalogue and see the list pre-
miums on jellies;" and away Myrtle ran
into the sitting room, quickly returning
with the book,
'Let me see. k-cakes-preseryes
-jellies-here it is. Best wine jelly made
by girl under fourteen years of age--fiye
dollars. My! isn't that splendid? You
just ought to taste some of my wine jelly,
Em-it's perfectly delicious. Cousin Har-
~ says he never tasted anything SO fine,
and you just ought to. see how he does eat
it? And-why, didn't your brother Char
lie 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 En-
ma quietly. Il guess he knew mamma
wouldn't like it.
"Wonldn't like my wine jelly?" said
Myrtle indignantly. q 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, y Emma replied.
"Well, so are we, but where's the dan
ger in putting little wiLe in jelly, I'd like
to know9 We never use enough to make
anyone drunk; just enough to favor it
only, said Myrtle quickly.
"Yes, 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 unfinished.
''To get drunk on the Fourth, l suppose
you mean9 Well, can tell you right now
that / know it wasn't anything of the
kind. Mamma says he drank before he
came here"
eyes, bat you said he was trying to
quit, and that was the reason he wanted to
stay out of the city so long. Now, how
40 von know that the favor of wine in