Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-11-16
BEE AND DEE.
BY ALICE BROWN.


We were christened Beatrice and Dor
othy, but with what great aunt calls the
horrible assertiveness of American chill
dren," we fastened to rename ourselves
as soon as we could speak. Bee say:
one of us ought tell the story of the
naughtiest time in our lives, or, as she
puts it, being fond of long words, ''its
most critical period" She adds that
my pen is as ready as her tongue, and
that where the one fails, the other shall
dictate. So let US begin
One day, when we were about fourteen
Bee and [ are twins-we had partic-
ularly hilarious time at school.
AS our dear mother had died when we
were babies, and papa was too much
occupied In porting over bugs and butter
flies to know what we were about, we
did dozens of things which other more
fortunate girls would never have dared
attempt.
Just at this time, we were quite wild
with desire to be thought young ladies
60 Bee, who is clever with the needle,
had pieced down our dresses, under tie
overskirts, until they swept the floor
We had ''done" our hair high, and tied
on some old earrings, and when we ap-
peared at school the girls, awed and
admiring, declared we looked "lovely-
and twenty five at least"
The teachers smiled in a way that
made me a tri1e uncomfortable, and at
recess [ heard Miss aston say to Miss
Pray: CT DOR things they certainly do
show the effect of their training-or
rather of the lack of it. Shall you speak
to them about this?'
mo. You have heard the rumors
about their father s"-her voice fell, and
lost the following word emily is
sweet little woman, and a very firm
one. L think they can safely be left to
her."
"Who is Emily?" 1 asked Bee, as we
walked home together, and 1 repeated
the conversation to her.
probably a governess, or new
housekeeper, returned Bee, who, like
Warren Hastings, had a 'mind calm
amid difficulties"
whoever it Is, I shan't mind her. o
Bee, there's great aunt's carriage at the
door How she will scold about our
our dresses Take off your earrings, and
put them in your pocket"
We walked boldly into the parlor,
though our long dresses did twist most
provokingly about our ankles, and to
my dismay, Bee relapsed into giggling
forward, almost into the arms of great
aunt herself There she sat, glasses
in hand, in all her terrible dignity, and
there also sat a strange lady, petite,
flushed with youth and loneliness, and
charmingly dressed.
''Girls," said papa, coming forward
and hesitating, as if he wished the cere-
mony were over, "this lady is your new
mamma l hope you will love her for
my sake.'
The stranger rose and put out hand
to each of us, while, by common i'm
pulse it was always said at school that
the twins brea;hed in concert
stitfened up so that she should not kiss
us. 1 think we all felt little awkward,
but great-aunt created a diversion.
SIN the name of all that's proper
girls" said she, putting her glass on her
nose "what hare you been doing to
your clothes? Henry, is it possible you
out in that fashion?''
Papa in turn held up his glasses before
his dear, near-sighted eyes, and peered
forward to examine US.
"Why, aunt, what's the matter with
their clothes?" he asked. They seem
to be clean - and whole"
No one could help giggling at such
delic Gus innocence of our delinquer ces,
and as Bee and l yielded just for a
moment to Le .tou rire 1 caught an
answering flash upon the face of our step
mother.
For an instant came near liking her,
but the impulse was promptly quenched.
Had we not always vowed we would not
tolerate such an interloper2
"Well, Henry" said great aunt, ''you
are about as fit to bring up children as
that sofa. Pm glad you have some one
to help you now. Children, be obedient
Emily, be firm with them and she
took her majestic leave, while we two
clasped hands in silent compact that
we would not obey, and that the person
who aspired to be firm with US should
repent her ambition.
1t would be a long task to tell all we
did to make that sweet lady's lie a bur
den. To be sure, we were not as heart
less as we seemed, for we could not
estimate then the greatness of the cross
we had put upon her.
We made point of calling her tStep-
mother" except when papa was by. If
she offered to kiss US. we gave q little