Middletown transcript., 1893-11-11

d history and literature, and Heaven
knows what. She had Greek book
under her arm, and pretended it was
interesting-the little humbug. l just
groaned, and then burst into frantic
expostulation. Don't, Sue, begged;
don't. You'll be like all the rest. /
shan't have friend left in the world"
"And then," said Mrs. Bradford,
.'sbe laughed, and called you ridi-
culous boy, and, / hope. asked you to
join the circle next fall.''
"Oh, yesl that was about it, ]
grant,
.'And you said you didn't want to be
bothered with any literary nonsense,
and hadn't time to go to school if you
did,"
Eyes, what else did we say2"
s'Oh, nothing care to repeat; though
of course, might, if I chose, give a
Uerttdtins report. But iii tell you what
each of you thought afterward."
| pray, do"
/ "You thought you never saw Sue
look prettier, nor seem more charming
even if she was turning blue-slocking.
And she thought, Poor Dick; what a
pity he will stay out in the coldl l
like him better than I do Professor
Dana, with his long hair. Dick might
know everything, if he only had mind
to. What ails the boys. any way, to
let about half their faculties die of
apathy?' The truth is, she thought
about you, Dick all the way to the Circle
and off and on through the whole eve
| ming, althouh Professor Dana had a
wonderfully good paper. I~know. for
I heard it myself. You needn't
fancy I'm goingto spy on her maiden |
meditations any more, however, ; not |
even for your benefit, sir"
Dick was tugging at his mustache
harder than ever. "Thank you. Aunt
Eunice,n y he said. s.I've not the least
doubt of the accuracy of your know
ledge; but it is little hard on Sue to
be so exposed" He resumed: II tell
you, Aunt Eunice, l like old fashioned
girls, girls that just sew and cook
and frolic. and the prettier the better"
"Ohl you dop" inquired Mrs. Brad
ford. "You like girls that in dozen
years or SO grow into such women as
Mrs. Sears, for instance.
s'Faughl' he answered. t'That
stupid old dowager."
s'Well, Mrs. Horton, then. She isn't
heavy nor dull, I'm sure.n
1.-THE vixenl" calculated the young
man.
Mrs. .Driscoll, possibly?"
Dick held up both hands in protest.
I Like a woman who IS good and
gentle and digniied, and who keeps
ler charm when she has gray hair. |
like you, Aunt Eunice, . be said, quite
simply and frankly.
.'Ah, you roguel-do you think I'll
let you off now?" she asked, reaching
for his hand. ssBut you know I fairly
revel in books always have and always
shall.''
"Well, you know how to make
everybody have good time," he per-
sisted.
"Thank you Dick. I'm afraid you
won't quite enjoy what I'm going to
say; but listen now. Your tastes are
all right. Every man likes bright,
pleasant, wideawake woman, who has
a foundation of good common sense,
and whose spirit grows more beautiful
as her rosehues fade. Many men, be- !
fore they are twenty-five, however ,
yes, and a good many after that ad-
yanced age, are deceived by mere sur :
face prettiness. They mistake bright
eyes for intelligence, giggles for cheer !
fulness, high color for brilliancy. My !
memory goes back to the time when
each of the ladies whom have just
instanced was considered remarkably !
pretty and pleasing girl. / tell yous
Dick, a young fellow needs to look
ahead little. He ought to ask great :
deal ofteher than he does, What shall |
be at fifty2 What will she be at fifty?' ],
Now, you do not want to be just a !
machine for making figures, like poor
old Mr.. Remington. Neither do you .
wish your wife to be dull mass of !
flesh and blood, like that famous cook, i
Mrs. Sears; nor nervous, exasperat- !
ing scold, like that laborious house. !
wife, Mrs. Horton; nor silly old piece
Of affection, like Mrs. Driscoll. trow
not. But, as you very well know,
mature men and women are the results
Of their youth. Habits are like the old !.
man Of the sea on poor Sindbad's back. !;
Start right in now, my boy, to keep all
your powers in play. Have variety s
Of interests. Don't fancy because you
were not bookish boy that you can
never like books. Most of us don't :
mature very young. You are ten times !
as capable as you were at sixteen in a
dozen differing lines. Now, join Sues :
Circle. You will be interested in all
these studies before you know it; but :
make fight for it, if need be. 1t is
tremendously worth while. You need
a knowledge of books to make you feel
at home in the best society, as you've
just acknowledged. You need it to
make your own intelligence many-sided
and symmetrical. You need it for your
own self-respect. Qou need it to win
the respect of those for whom you care.
You can never sSet on. as you say,
without it.
Now. here sa course of reading
all mapped out for you. Here are the /,