The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-05-18
A HARD PUNISHMENT.
How IA Little Girl Lost Her Pretty Curls
by Disobeying.

How "a Little Girl Lost Her Pretty Curls
by Disobeying
Meddlesome Minnie they sometimes
called her, and she was well named. as
nothing was safe from her prying
fingers. She did not really mean to be
overcome by this fault, and often
formed resolutions to be always good,
but her great weakness was to pry into
everything. If Minnie was missing
from the family circle for an half hour,
mamma knew there was mischief
abroad. She never could see a closed
box without examining its contents.
She ransaclled the bureau drawers, and
never left things as she found them.
Mamma talked often and lovingly her
little girl, but it needed a severe lesson
to cure Meddlesome Minnie of her great
fault.
Now, Minnie, dear" said mamma,
one morning, 81 am going out for an
hour, and | want You to practice while
| am gone. have pleasant surprise
in store for you, and this afternoon
when you dress for the church festival
YOU shall know what it is"
Mamma went, and Minnie practiced
for half an hour. This lesson is per-
feet" she said "and now I'll finish read
ing my library book" The book was
on the table in mammals room, and Min
nie seated herself with the open book III
her hand. but her mind was too full of
the surprise which mamma had in store
for her to become interested in its con-
tents. Throwing aside the book, she
opened the top bureau drawer, and
there, neatly folded, was beautiful
pink sash with embroidered ends.
Mammals surprise" she cried, in de-
light, clapping her hands together.
She took the sash from the drawer, and
proceeded to try it on, standing on tip
toe in front of the mirror. After sew
eral vain efforts she succeeded in fixing
it to her satisfaction. just then bot
tie on the toilet table attracted her no.
tice. ''I'll have Whit of that per-
fume," she said. The perfume proved
to be ammonia, and Minnie, who had
placed the bottle close to her nose, let it
fall to the floor, drenching the new
sash with its contents. She took it
hastily off and placed it in the sun to
dry, but alas! the embroidered ends had
lost their beauty.
whats this?" thought Minnie, as she
examined another bottle on the toilet
table. She did not place it to her nose,
past experience teaching her that such
course was not wise.
Hair oil, she cried, in delight "now
can fix my curls for the festival" 1t
did not have the glossy effect which she
desired, so she put on more until she
had about used the contents OF the bot
tie.
There's mamma she cried, and ran
to her own room, where she remained
until she was called by the servant to
dinner.
Daughter" cried mother.
What have we here?" said father.
Gracious" laughed brother viii.
Minnie burst into tears and but little
wonder, for her beautiful curls hung as
| stiff as sticks about her head.
what is the matter, dear" ques-
| toned her mother.
1T is hair-oil," sobbed Minnie.
But there is no hair oil in the house."
1t proved to be bottle of prepared
glue, and father took the shears after
dinner, and cut Minnie's pretty curls
close to her head. The child was re-
minded of her fault, whenever she
looked in the glass, and the laughter
which the mishap caused filled her with
shame, so that she persevered until she
was cured of an odious fault-Sallie V.
Dubois, in United Presbyterian.