The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-10-03

.e' OF volumes" said Tom.
"Suppose you put the matter to ia
tast,' said VIII. Each Of You take
nlank book and write in H. all the per-
sonal remarks and jokes you can recall
and see which has the most
agreed" said Tom. I'm bet III ge'
the most "
land fee! sure that will" said An
ME; nut we will try"
BY the time evening came Tom and
Annie had each blank book in readiness
Miss Clara helped to make them, and they
we're very pretty. The covers were OF
stiff cream colored paper. 90 Tom ;
was painted a boys head, crowned by a
carrot of brilliant orange, while around
the edge ran a fantastic border Of pop
pies. torches, fimingoes, comets and
other objects of sanguinary hue. On the
cover of Annic's book was swordtish,
aud the border was made up pf elephants
trunks, cranes bills, heads If Mr. Punch
and other suggestive objects.
Tim and Annie were in the highest
spirits as they sat side by side. wrfiug
and numbering the remark aud jokes
"missiles,,' AZ they agreed to call them
Annie's shyncss was qnite forgotten, her
black eyes shone, and she was full OF ami
nation. Bedtime came before the stock
of missiles was exhausted.
The next day Mrs. Burton again sug-
gested Annie's going to school, and she
made no objection. Annie was very much
liked by teachers and pupils, and she was
much less shy than usual: for, If she did
not succeed in forgetting her unfortunate
nose, she was cheered by the Thought that
any remarks made upon 1t would swell
| "a. til h. IA NIB l,f,,
and she was becoming very anxious to
excel Tom in this regard. Annie thought
that her being a stranger gave Tom an
unfair advantage; but Tom said that was
balanced by the fact that "the fellows
knew he would thrash any one that spoke
of his hair" Tom did not know that it
was his very rage at such illusions that
tempted the boys to make them. Before
long his old enemy, Sam Whitney, re-
turned to the charge.
"Hello, Woodpecker," he called out to
Tom. II wish you'd get your hair cut.
If you don't III have to get pair OF
green goggles to wear If you are going to
sit in front of me-.
Get them, then said Tom, saying to
himself with feeling of satisfaction,
THAT makes l07.' Sam was surprised
at Toms GOODNESS, and kept on with
speeches intended to be provoking, which
Tom quietly recorded in his book. bring
ing his number up to ll2. Tom and An
uie had agreed that Il joke repeated
should count the same as new one,
Annie sagely remarking that old jokes
We're the most provoking of ALL
| After time, so many such questions
arose that at Wills suggestion they drew
uD set of rules and formed themselves
into secret society of two members,
each wearing badge, on which was in
scribed the mystic letters p. r. A. j, S.,
signifying personal Remarks and Jokes
Society,"" They each carried a little note
book, in which they made notes in kind
of short hand of their own invention, to
be afterward copied into the larger book.
OF course, these badges and note books
excited the curiosity of the other pupils ;
out Tom and Annie could not be persua-
ded to divulge their meaning till, one day,
Annie said:
Tom. | feel very sorry for Cornie
Scott. She is dear girl, hut she IS rath.
er stout, and some of the girls make fun
| of her Cornle never gets angry Sat
found her crying to-day, because Ida
Loring called her porpoise. Suppose
we invite her to join our society,"
agreed" said Tom, "if you will let
me invite Ned Warren. He's good fell
low, hut some of the boys laugh at him,
because he's cross eyed
The society, thus enlarged to include
four members. began to hold regular
meetings, at which each member was adj
dressed by name that had been oriSi-
nally bestowed in decision. Annie las
Swordnsh Tom, Woodpecker, Ned was
known as Bat, while Cornie cheerfully
responded to the title of Porpoise. Each
had book, modelled after those original
lv made by Tom and Annie, and diligently
collected "missiles," though 1t was soon
evident Cornie's would exceed all the
others. her list growing at a wonderful
rate. The society grew more and more
to be a social club, and was soon joined
by Charley Gibson, freckled boy, en-
rolled as Leopard, and Emma Davis, a
tall thin miss, who meekly bore the title
of Giraffe.
The p. r. A. j. society was kept up
during the whole of Anuie's stay, and it
proved more useful than many societies
more pretentious.
When it came time for Annie to return
home there was general regret at her
departure.
| I'VE shall miss you very nuch' my
dear" sad Mrs. Burton. "You have
been like little sunbeam in the house
hardly thought that would be so when
Won first came to us little maiden all
forlorn."
1--WE had only to wait till the ice was
broken" said Miss Clara.
And | think" said Anne, laughing
''it was my big nose that broke the ice.
| t.nr NV rcd hair ~ said Tom
Your hair may have melted it,, said
Will.
| And Tom never WINGED, but only
thought; "Anothrr jike! That makes
253!"-E1eanor Harlow in The Mdcpend