, 1889-09-10

L dreaded even % come TO see you, and
go to school here. on account of my
nose"
Annie paused, and Tom, whose own
trials had taught him something in re-
gard to personal sensitiyeness, said:
81 don't think your nose is bad look
ing at all, Annie; and, even If it were a
great deal larger than it is, it couldn't be
so bad as my red hair, for it doesn't give
chance for 80 many jokes. After any
one has said it is large they can't say any
more"
"Oh, you do not know" said Annie,
''the number of jokes that can be made
on a large nose. I believe they would
fill a volume"
'Those on my hair would fill a whole
set of volumes" said Tom
Suppose you put the matter to the
test" said Will. Each Of you take a
blank book and write In it all the psr-
sonal remarks and jokes you can recall.
and see which has tho most"
agreed" said Tom. "Tll bet I'll get
the most"
"And 1 feel sure that l will" said An
ME; ''but we will try"
By the time evening came Tom and
Annie had each a blank book in readi-
ness Miss Clara helped to make them,
and they were very pretty. The overs
were of stiff, cream colored paper. On
Toms was painted a boys head, crowned
by a carrot Of brilliant orange, while
around the edge ran a fantastic border
of peoples, torches, famingoes, comets
and other objects of sanguinary hue.
On the cover of Armies book was a
swordfsh, and the border was made up
of elephants trunks, cranes bills, heads
Of Mr.. Punch and other suggestive OBJ
jects.
Tom and Annie were In the highest
spirits as they sat side by side, writing
and numbering the remarks and jokes
missiles" as they agreed to call them.
Armies shyness was quite 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 nc 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 it would swell
lH6 uuIuDtT TtCOTutu III neT Dlduk DOOkt
and she was becoming very anxious to
excel Ton 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
vas his very a 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. 81 wish you'd get your hair
cut. If you don't I'll nave to get a pair
of green goggles to wear if you are go
ing to sit in front of me-"
sect them, then" said Tom, saying to
himself, with a feeling of satisfaction,
THAT makes 107." Sam was surprised
at Toms GOODNESS, and kept on with
speeches intended to be provoking,
which Tom quietly recorded in his book,
bringing his number up to 112. Tom
and Ami had agreed that a joke re-
peated should count the same as a new
one, Annie sagely r~emarking that old
jokes were the most provoking of all.
After a time, SO many such questions
arose that at Wills suggestion they drew
up a set of rules, and formed themselves
into a secret society of two members,
a wearing a badge, on which was In
scribed the mystic letters P. r. A. ]. s.,
signifying Personal Remarks and Jokes
Society,"" They each carried a little note
book, in which they made notes in a 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;
but Tom and Annie could not be per-
suaded to divulge their meaning till, one
day, Annie said:
Tom, 1 feel very sorry for Cornie
Scott. She is a deal girl, but she is
rather stout, and some of the girls make
/ found her crying today, because Ida
Loring called her a ~porpoise. Suppose
we invite her to join our society,""
agreed" said Tom, 'if you will let
me invite Ned Warren. He's a good fell
low, but 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
addressed by a name that had been origi-
nally bestowed In derision. Annie was
Swordfish; Tom, Woodpecker, Ned
was known IS Bat, while Cornie cheer
fully responded to the title of Por-
poise. Each had a book, modelled after
those originally made by Tom and
Annie, and diligently collected "mis-
siles," though it was soon evident Cor
MES would exceed all the others, her list
growing at a wonderful rate. The 30
ciety grew more and more to be q social
club, and was SOC Joined by Charley
Gibson, a freckled boy, enrolled 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 Armies stay, and 1t
proved more useful than many societies
more pretentious.
When it came time for Annie to re-
turn home there was general regret at
her departure.
1--WE shall miss you very much, my
dear ~ said Mrs Burton aYou have