Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-11-21
INDEPENDENT MYRA.
She Didn't Disgrace the Family
After All.

OF all bonds that of sisterly affection
ought to be nearest and tenderest, ac-
cording TO all the dictates OF nature.
Yet, nevertheless. when Myra Dol
lard came home to live her five sisters
eyed her as obviously as five guinea
fowls might eye speckled partridge
who had fluttered unexpectedly into
their poultry-yard.
Fifteen years ago, when Aunt Dor
cas- came from the State of Rhode ISL
and to visit her brother in New York,
she had taken the middle daughter
home with her to bring up.
''Six girls are too many for any
! household said she; ''and the old
house at home is empty and silent.
I'll take one back with me-
(Which one?n said Mrs Dollard,
with rather an alarmed look at her
| flock.
"Oh. we'll draw lots for that said
Aunt Dollard.
The lot fell on Myra- Consequently
Myra, a dimpled dumping of four
years, returned to Rhode Island with
Aunt Dorcas, ana the home circle
knew her no more. Now the old lady
was dead, and Myra had come back to
her fathers house.
Hasn't she grown tallP" said Eu-
genia, who was herself inclined to be
short and stoclSy.
"Isn't she prettypn said JEANNE
(who had been christened Jane).
Not exactly pretty" pronounced
fastidious Marian. ''but stylish--yes,
quite stylish. "
'But she doesn't know any thing
about the piano. whispered Nell.
'And she thinks our Kensington-
stitched lambrequins are hideous-
and she was going to help Bridget with
the dishes, only mamma stopped her
! just in time"
"And her gowns are all last seasons
cut!' said Adelaide, turning up her
Greek nose.
Myra, on her side, had ideas also.
why" said she. ''you girls don't
do any thing!"
YES, we do" said JEANNE. "Lots
Of things
1--WE practice, said Neil. land we
smbroider."
"And we go into society," added
Marian, land we read all the newest
literature.
"Ohr' said Myra. Father is very
rich, | suppose?n
mo, he isn't" sighed Eugenia.
How funny you do talk, Myra- His
income is horribly small; and it's
growing smaller every year since
there's so much competition in the
manufacture of wallpaper We're all
as poor as church mice"
Then said Myra. ''why don't you
do something's 10 help him, mean"
The girls looked blankly at each
other
1T wouldn't do" said Nell. 1--WE
should lose our position in society"
'Oh, bother society,"" said Myra.
Truly this newcomer was more part.
ridge-like than ever in the family OF
guinea-fowls!
Mother" said Myra, ''l'll make the
desserts; it costs too much to order
them from the confectioner's. You
don't know what nice pies and custards
can make!"
but. my dear, what will Bridget
Think"
"What does it matter what she
thinks?" said independent Myra. ''And
look here. mother, the Chinese laun-
dry bill was three dollars last week
and five dollars the week before. After
this / am going to do up my own
frilled things, and yours. too, and I'll
show the girls how to do theirs"
'Oh, my dear, you can'tr' said Mrs.
Dollard.
why can't ~" said Myra Il used
to DO Aunt Dorcas' fine things. She
wouldn't trust any one else"
But Parsley farm wasn't New
York"
THAT makes no difference said
Myra. THE expenses here are some
thing awful, and father looks so tired
and worried No wonder, with six
great, idle daughters to provide for!
There isn't a girl in Parsley Point,
mother but what does something for
living. / should think Eugenia and
JEANNE and Nell and Marian and Addy
would be ashamed of themselves.
What do you think is going to become
OF them?"
''My dear, what becomes of all the
girls?" reasoned Mrs. Dollard.
They'll marry, of course.
us it of course?'n said Myra,
thoughtfully.
"Mr. Roper is very attentive to
JEANNE. and Captain Stafford calls
here quite regularly-we think it is to
see Marian-and the Falk!ey girls. with
the handsome brother. are always
sending for Adelaide TO spend the day
with them You see. it is essential,
In such circle as this, to keep up
.heir social positiOa.'
and left, aud within ten feet OF my door
he began work on fifty sacks of corn
corded up in q row. lie picked up the
sacks, one after another and flung
them about. and he grew more angry
with each effort He wasn't through
with the sacks when the smaller ele-
| plants broke loose and then | knew
what must prepare for. The watch
man outside had caught the alarm, and
| he came to the nearest window and
shouted to me. | dared not answer
him, as the elephant was now close by.
and | was fearful that the sound OF
my voice would cause him to attack
my frail shelter.
Having tossed the last sack high in
air, the big fellow made a rush down
the warehouse for the smaller ones.
who were trumpeting at each other
other and preparing for row. He
| knocked one of them over with his
rush. and then pursued the other as he
fed among the piles of freight We
had been pretty well cleaned out by
the last ship. but we had considerable
machinery. two hundred barrels Of
salt, three hundred bags Of sugar. five
hundred barrels OF -four. about
a thousand American smoked
hams, with. perhaps, fifty boxes,
large and small, containing
dry goods. groceries. boots and shoes,
and other stuff. When the small ele.