Arizona republican., 1898-07-08
ETHELINDA's EXCAVATIONS.
Her Instruction by a young man With
 Large, Wavy Ears

It was not the fault Of the landlady. She strove patiently and conscienti- ously to make the place homelike and pleasant. There peace might have reigned and joy expanded had it not been for lady who thought the land lady ought to have help. That she meant well none would be so cynical as to deny. She was assisted in her attempts to make life less monotonous for her fellow boarders by her daugh- ter, small, 7-year-old girl, with ab- normal powers of obedience, and whose most prominent facial characteristics were freckles and look of resigna- ton. Whenever the two were present the other people would talk fast, be- cause they knew any lapse in the con- versation would be seized upon to re- uuire Ethelinda to come forward and recite The hard, mechanical sense of duty indicated by the child's manner of compliance was more appalling than the selections which she droned off, halting now and then till her mother could prompt her. The lady's name was Mrs. McGoogan, but she was al- ways known as "Ethelinda's mother" The pair had only one rival in popular ity. It was a young man with large. wavy ears. He wore plaid clothes and tall collar which never harmonized with his shirt bosom. There was something about his calm self reliance that impressed the others unfavorabiy. So prone are we to misJudge our fel- low men, When he had heard Ethe- finda's repertoire once or twice he be- gan to take a great interest in the performance. He spoke to her moth CT of the infants wonderful talents, and he was often seen with the little girl apart from the others, keeping time with one hand while she recited. The others were perfectly willing that he should thus monopolize her genius.
 A new boarder came to the house; member of congress; a man of i'm pressive deZneanor, as became his inn portance I1ere was a hush among the people who had assembled in the parlor just prior to the dinner hour. They were all under some slight re- strairt-all except Ethelinda's mother.
 "Dearie," said she, wont you re- cite something for the ladies and gen. tlemen?"
 As she spoke she placed her hand between the child's shoulders and gave her a push out into the middle of the floor
 "Yes," put in the young man with the large ears, "recfte that piece about 'Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight
 The prodigy hesitated in embarrass- ment.
 'England's sun was slowly set ting" prompted the mother.
 She looked up at the ceiling, and, nervously rumbling a fold of her frock between her thumb and forefnger, pro ceeded:
 "England's sun was slowly setting,
 When the maiden grabbed the bell. Come, what mean you" cried the sex
 ton.
 O. said she I hate to tell,
 But tonight I so out riding And I have no bell in sight,
 And 1 fear these bold policemen, Curfew must not ring tonight!'" Her mother looked, turned pale, and gasped, but the young man, with a bland smile suggested: Let's have that new one" The prodigy promptly began: We will all be there when the orches- tra plays.
 We'll give her applause and we'll throw her bouquets. In the ballet she stands in the fore most row,
 She's somebody grandmother, boys, you know"
 The applause was tremendous. Don't know any more,'' enQuired the member of congress. Where she learned that ribald trash is more than can tell" exclaimed her indignant mother. How about "Ostler Joe'?" asked the young man in nOnchalant tone. Ordinarily such a suggestion met with chilling frowns. But they all listened with cheerful expectancy while the lit tie girl piped up:
 Plump was Annie, plump and pretty, when she married 'Ostler Joe; She got divorced and then went. ouJ
 and travelled with show. Her husband thought he'd go and see
 the play one winters night; It shocked him when he saw her com ing forward to recite. But for her the blow was fatal. She soon found out, alas,
 He was all the audience present, and, he came in on a pass.''
 My child, leave the room this'- But the reproof was drowned by the approving demonstrations, under whose cover her new prompter gave another hint. The child made the little bow with which she preceded each selection and went on:
 "GO wash the dishes, mother, And wash them nice and neat, While I play on this piano The twO-step march so sweet;
 And brush up my old clothes, mother,