The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-09-28

Wnen mrS. burton received leJter
from her sister, Mrs. Graham, asking
whether Annie Graham could stay with
her aunt and cousins from September
till the following January, she was much
pleased Annie was 19 years old, just
the age of Tom Burton; and as the four
other children were much older, their
ages ranging from 1S to "a, she thought
it would be very pleasant for Tom to
have companion of his own age. The
whole family thought bright little girl
would be an agreeable addition to the
household circle; but when Annie came
they were much disappointed. Her ap-
pearance was pleasing. She had trim
little figure, bright black eyes, pretty
dark curls, and, though her features
were rather irregular, her expression
was both amiable and intelligent; hei
manners, too, were graceful and re-
fined; yet she was painfully shy She
seemed troubled il spoken TO, and even
glance would cause her 10 shrink ~ II
trying to hide from every eye. The
thought of going to school seemed sC
distressing that Mrs. Burton dropped the
subject and allowed her to stay AZ home
Tom was disappointed, and complained
to his mother that he could not set ac
quainted with Annie.
"Never mind, DEAR" said Mrs. Burton
81 think you will get Oh together nicely
when the ice is once broken;" but Tom
feared it would never break.
Tom was q good boy, in the main
though he had very quick temper, ant
he was good looking boy, but-his hail
was red. Now, as some people object t.
red hair, should like to describe Tom
as auburn or golden or tawny; but thu
truth is, that if ever hair was red
genuine, unmistakable, unmitigated
fiery red-that hair was Toms, and Ton
knew it. Poor boy! he colldnt hell
knowing it, for he had been teased abou
it from his earliest recollection. Hi
trials began with his elder brothers a
home, but they eliminated at schoo
when the boys found how it plagued hin
to have any allusion made to his hair
Battle after battle did Tom fight to com
pei silence on the subject, but all in vain
One day, when Annie had been at he
aunts for nearly week, Tom rushe,
home from school and burst into the sit
ting room, where the family were assem-
bled, in such plight that his appearance
was greeted by chorus of reproof an,
| remon5trance.
"Dear me, Tom." said fastidious Mis-
Clara, "you look as though you had bee
rolling in an ash heap"
1.-THE sleeve of your jacket is half tor
out and your collar is hanging. said Mis-
Julia.
Hello, Tom, what's the matter wit
your eyes?" said Will "They don
match; ones blue and the others black.
"Sullivan's nothing to you, Tom, " sal
Bert "Youre regular fighting phe
nomenon."
| Tom, dear, hope you haven't beel
lighting again." said Mrs. Burton.
eyes, I have, mother" said Tom
"The fellows won't let me alone, and
won't stand being called Carrot-top b
any one."
'Nonsense!' said Miss Julia. "Wha
harm does the name do your"
"a rose by any other name,r quote
literary Bert.
"Ths boys are only in fun" said Mis-
Clara.
"And your hair is red, Tom," sal
Will, eying the said hair critically, wit
the air Of having his attention called {
it for the first time.
"You should try not to give way I
anger about such trifle, dear" sal
Mrs. Burton. "You should cultivate
forgiving spirit"
This fighting must stop, SIR" sal
Mr.. Burton, sternly. Don't let me he6
any more OF 1t"
Then, to the utter astonishment {
every one, another voice WAS heard, an
Annie Graham spoke, voluntarily, fc
the first time since she had entered I'll
house. She spoke in a clear, rathe
high pitched, slightly plaintive voic
that gave distinctness TO every word.
81 know just how you feel about yo,
hair, Tom, for 1t is just the way l hay
felt great many times"
Every one was amazed; even Mr.. Blu
ton laid down his paper when Ann
spoke, and every eye was fixed upc
her. Tom was as surprised as the other
but he said:
"How can you know anything aboi
it, Annie2' with an appreciative CLAN,
at Annie's dark curls. "Your hair isn
red"
"No," said Annie, solemnly, sits II
nose"
"Why, that isn't red, either" sa
Will, laughing.
''No," said Annie, in the same clea
plaintive voice, "but it's so large. 1t
! dreadful to have such nose; it seer
!, to cast shadow over my whole exis
; ence." Will opened his mouth, seeing
chance for another joke, but, at a sig
from his mother, he shut it again. al
Annie continued:
~ think a large nose is even mo
= trying than red hair, for you can d.
your hair, or cut it off and wear wi