Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-08-14
ErHEL1NDA's RECITAL.
Coached in Advance by Young Man
With Wavy Ears.
From the washington star.

WIN WaVy E1dfS.
From the Washington Star.
It was not the fault of the landlady.
She strove patiently and conscientiously
to make the place homelike and pleasant
There peace might have reianed and joy
expanded had 1t not been for a lady who
thought the andlady 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 monoto-
nous for her fellow boarders by her
daughter a small, seven-year-old girl
with abnormal powers of obedience and
whose most prominent facial character
isties were freckles and look of resig-
nation.
Whenever the two were present the
other people would talk fast, because
*hey knew any lapse in the conversation
woai3 be seized upon to require Ethelin-
da 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, hating now and then till
her mother could prompt her. The lady's
name was Mrs Coogan, but she was al
ways known as "Ethelindas mother"
The pair had only one rival in popular
wavy ears He wore plaid clothes and a
tall collar which never harmonized with
the shirt bosom. There was something
about his calm self-reliance that I'M
pressed the others unfavorably. So prone
are we to misjudge our fellow men. When
he had heard Ethelipda's repertoire once
or twice he began to take great interest
in the performance. He spoke to her
mother 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 ne shouio
thus monopolize her genius
Ane wboarder came to the house-a
member of Congress. man OF Impressive
demeanor, as became his Importance.
There was hush among the people VINO
had assembled in the parlor just prior
to the dinner hour They were all under
some slight restraint-all except Ethe-
linda's mother.
~"Dearie" said she, won't you recite
something for the ladies and gentlemen?'
AS she spoke she placed her hand be-
tween 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, ''recite that piece about Cur
few Shall Not Ring Tonight.
The prodigy hesitated in embarrass-
ment
.Emgland's sun was slowly setting"
prompted the mother.
She looked up at the ceiling, and, ner-
vously rumpling a fold of her frock be-
tween her thumb and forelinger, pro-
ceeded:
"Englands sun was slowly setting,
When the maiden grabbed the bell.
Come, what mean you? cried the sexton,
Oh said she, hate to tell
But tonight 1 go out riding
And I have no bell in sight,
And I fear those bold policemen,
Curfew-m ot-ring-to-night!'
Her mother looked. turned pale and
gasped but the young man, with a bland
smile, suggested:
Lets have that new one"
The prodigy promptly began:
1--WE will all be there when the orchestra
plays;
Wen give her applause and well throw
boquets.
In the ballet she stands in the foremost
row;
She's somebody's grandmother. boys you
know"
The applause was tremendous.
Don't you know any more?" inquired
the member of Congress.
Where she learned that ribald trash
is more than l can tell.' exclaimed her
indignant mother.
How about 'Hostler Joe?' asked the
young man in a nohchalant tone. Ordi
narily such a suggestion would have met
with cheerful expectancy while the little
girl piped out:
"Plump was Annie, plump and pretty,
when she married 'Ostler Joe;
She got divorced and then went out and
travelled with a show.
Her husband thought he'd go and see the
play one winters night;
1t shocked him when he saw her coming
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 ap-
proving demonstrations, under whose
cover her new prompter gave another
hint. The child made the little bow with
which 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,
Be hasty and don't get gay,
For I'm to be Queen of the May, mother
I'm to be Queen of the May"
''Ethelindar said the mother in a cold
hard voice, 81 shall give YOU one moro
chance to redeem yourself You may
come away from that part of the room
q,