New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-16
OUT OF STEP.
IN MASSACHUSETTS AGAIN.

nef Dag OF scnOOl DOCKS on 10 the emu Oh inc
kitchen table with thump.
"Pll bet q dollar you can't guess what | know y
she exclaimed.
Her mother was kneading bread dough at the
other end of the table She paused in tina. opera
tion to look admringly at her daughter who was
sixteen, and a bright light in the High School
in the village two miles away. This daughter
was not, however, in spite of her advancement in
the teens, much burdencd with dignity, for she
leaned half her length the table that she might
reach dish of dried apples which Mrs. Scudder
had just been picking over The girl put her
white young teeth into thick piece of the fruit
then she threw the bit across the room into the
sink.
Il do believe she cried, "t that dried apple is
the chewingest thing on Tie face of the earth.
You needn't waste them apples, if they be
tough, said her mother. with more admiration
than reproof in her manner.
"Oh, guess we shant fail if i've do lose Il
few responded the girl, sitting down and rest
ing her arms on the table She glanced toward
the dining room where the table st Il do
hope you've got something good for supper, AMI
u lot of it. I'm a. hungry a thousand bears.
Were goin' to have thiekcned toast N rliu-
barb pie" her mother answered.
"Oh, gooay. Sat | want boiled eag with
my toast. l tell you what mother. IA gnl can't
20 to High School and cram, and then walk two
miles home without something TO build up tle
tissues. She can't do it..
Corneia, commonly c,llcd Nelly gave her
little schoolgirl laugh she finished this speech
Her mother smiled more admirnsly than ever.
"What 1c tissucs?' she asked.
"Oh, something we have insie of us, and that
have to be built up all tie time, replied the girl.
is that 50? We didn't have no tissues inside
of US wien | went to school" said Mrs. Scul ier.
"Of course not They We're not invented then.
But, say, mother you can't guess what know,
returning TO her first remark
"You're gtiin' 10 know so many things, Nelly.
that don't see low | can even give a guess
said the mother with proud humility.
"Oh 'tsn't anything l learned at school" dis
claimed Nely but who do you s'posc is going
to be our first assistant? Miss Riddles got -
go away Now who DO you thinks going to
take her place.
Mrs. Scuddcr paused in her painstaking work
ing Of the dough.
Somebody ] know" she asked.
She was deeply interested, as she would have
been in the most trihing thing her daughter could
have mentioned, and she was grateful for any SUD-
1ect upon which she could talk as are most women
who live in the country. where small topic ia
q godscnd She now wisl Il t, handle tins affair
leisurely and cH,r,ct even thing from it.
eyes indeed was the answer. You kno"
her Just as we'll as Won know TO pray.
"Ney!" exclaimed her mother reprovingly.
But Nelly had Just read in school about how the
Sultan went to Ispahan, and had been charmed
with tho verses: she now charmed to quote
item and to shock her mother at the same time
II guess it's Mr. Storers daughter now said
Mrs. Scudder
ut isn't You're miles away replied Nely'
getting up and taking drink from the cocoanut
dipper in the water pail.
BE you acquainted with the new assistant Z
inquired her mother.
u should say was. And I've always been IN
love with her. But may be she's changed
Changed"
ayes She's been away more than a year There
Now Pve done it, and you know who it is, AMI
meant 10 make you guess a long time. I've
great mind to eat seed cahe, I'm so hungry.
II wouldn't: you'll spoil your supper iou
don't mean S'lome Gerry" heSitatingly.
"Yes; do"
sMercy sakcs. But she's in Flordy."
She's got home
But shes cOnsumptive."
"You wouldn't say so if you saw her now. Snc
doesn't look real tough hut she doesn't look sick
lyon don't mean TO say you've seen her, Nelly
7 declare I'm tests interested 5 en- be- l know
but I never thought she'd come home alive. ia
no idea she would. She had rcs'lar hackin'
cough lest like what Iatty Shields had, N she
went I'm quick consumption You amt seen her,
have you?"
Eyes. have saw her in the recitation
room right after school. She came with one OF
The committee, and she saw the principal, ana
she's coming in next Monday, and I'm awfuliy
glad. Mother. I do believe will eat seed cake"
sIt'n spoil your supper If you do supper IL
Ia ready in half an hour | wish you'd git the
Sakin' pans n grease 'um for this bread / for
got it fore / got my hands in the dough"
Cornelia returned from the buttcry with the
long, shallow pans and the bowl OF fat. She
proceeded with great deliberation to apply THIS
fat to the pans. Her mother presently took out
handfuls of dough and pressed them into the OAK
ing dishes. OIL. ~ .,o .o,o.,oa
"Yes. n said Nelly, and I like the looks of her
hetter than | ever did. She has more in her
face somehow." SAID this wise person of sixteen
Did she speak to you?'
eve. she did kind of hung round, you
know. Almost all the girls had gone, but when
7 saw her with Mr.. East i thought wouEiht
hurry. So was accidentally on the steps when
she came out of tie door. we looked al each
other. l declare, mother, do ike her lace ohe
,vas ooinr right along. then she hesitated, and
then she put out her hand
why, it's Nelly Scudder" she said Then she
b;saed me- and wanted 10 hug her. Tut Gidnt;
! lust stood there, and finally l had wit enough
n tell her l was glad she had come home and
was she betterp She told me che was well now.
and was going to be first assistant in place OF
,,ss fiddle When she said that I wanted to
hug her again, for Miss Riddle is stiff Old thing
you know
~Nely!"
Il don't care she is stiff old thing; she must
he thirty II she's day, and I'm so tired OF havlhg
her look at me and say Miss Scudder, less frivoli-
~ n Won please' l dcnt really believe il would