Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-01-24

She had opened a dancing school.
NOW there seems to be something
very bold and unfeminine about
teaching a dancing school. One al
ways thinks woman ought to sup
port herself by teaching music or
embroidery painting plaques. 70
be sure Gerarda did not know how to
play or paint, never having had
much time for accomplishments,
fancy.
lcouldn't understand it at all, for
the Abbeys had always got along so
far, and twas particularly odd when
Morton, the eldest hoy, had been
given a place in a commission house
in Cincinnati by anunele or cousin or
something OF the sort. | began to
think she must have done it cut OF
sheer light headedness and frivolity.
| wrote to Tom, hoping he might
demonstrate with her. | am always
moderate in the expression OF my
opinion, so | simply said:
''Gerarda is looking very badly.
All this dancing and raeketing
around is notgood for her. But the
young people of the present day
have no discretion. Modesty seems
TO have gone out of date along with
veneration for their elders.
That was all said.
But it seemed to have no effect, for
Gerarda still went on teaching. She
began to look worse and worse. All
the color left her face; even her lips
were pale. and her mouth got a
pinched look. Then she got hack.
ing cough, and | used TO hear her
going coughing along the street from
her dancing school. She had not
been to see me tor the longest time
treating me with marked disrespect.
But at last | could not bear to hear
her, so l Just ran out to the gate
and gave her box OF lozengas.
She thanked me; then she gave me
q wistful sort OF look and hesitated,
as if she wanted to say something;
but she evidently changed her mind,
for she passed on.
One day was walking along the
beach. Winter was beginning to
break up, and there were brightpatch-
es oil green to be seen here and there.
The sky was blue and white, with
flying LIQUIDS, and the water around
the piers was shining in the sun.
Everything looked so peaceful and
happy that | couldn't help wonder.
ing why people can't be peaceful aud
happy too and follow the golden
rule.
had had a very trying morning.
In the first place | had
been to see Mrs. Jones. When
/ went into the sitting-room
there was fire cracking on the
hearth, and | could see through the
door that there was one burning in
her room also. Now, as Mrs. Jones
is poor, and as had supplied her
with food for the greater part of tht
winter, | thought ] had right t.
say:
Dear me, Mrs. Jones, / shouldn't
think you could afford to have tive
fires burning at once-and such q
mild day too"
She turned as red as n beet and
pressed her lips tight together, but
she didn't say anything. | fear Mrs
Jones is far from being sweet-temper
ed.
Then went on to Sister Harrlet's
Her daughter Ella had just met witt
quite severe accident, having beer
thrown from a buggy, while out
driving, and her arm broken. To b,
sure it was painful, and the shoct
had made her i'll, but then she should
not have been SO foolish as to hay,
gone ont behind Ned Pennywick'
young horse. | reminded her OF this
"You ought to be very thankful,
| began.
Thankful for having been nearly
killed?' she cried. REALLY, Aunt
Maria, my gratitude is not so easily
aroused"
/ sat down on the bed beside her
Perhaps | may have drawn this covel
rather tightly over her feet, biz SHE
need not have given such a fiounce.
My dear child, it might have beer
! your back or your neck" ! said.
I We'll. it wasn't"
1 but 1T might have been.
Maria" said my sister at thi,
! point, ''too much conversation il
! not good for Ella. The doctor says
( it makes her feverish."
So | left there and went to Mrs
Crittendon's. She was in great
trouble, She and her husband had
not been married long, but they hat
had heavy money losses, and hi
had been Obliged to leave her will
her mother while he went out west t.
seek employment.
had brought her some wine Jelly
and after had given it to her said
! "Cheer up, my dear. 1t might be SC
much worse. Suppose he was dead?'
! "Oh, don'tP' she cried.
! "Well, butt might have happened
In the midst of life we are in death
and think how dreadful it would have
been to see him lying in his coffin in
stead of his being just out west
where you can hear from him twice
q week. Does he write twice "a week?'
"Only once" she said.
~. u.