The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-08-26
ETHELINDA'S PIECES.

1t was not the fault of the landlady. She.
strove patiently and conscientiously to make
the place homelke and pleasant. There
peace might have reigned and joy expanded
had it not been for a lady who thought the
landlady 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 daughter a small, seven
year-old girl, with abnormal powers of
obedience, and whose most prominent facial
characteristics were freckles and look of
resignation. Whenever the two were pres
ent the other people would talk fast, be-
cause they knew any lapse in the converse
ton would be seized upon to require Ethel
india to come forward and recte. The hard,
mechanical sense of duty indicated by the
child's manner of compliance was more ap-
palling than the selections which she
droned off, hating now and then till her
mother could prompt her. The lady's name
was Mrs. McGoogan, but she was always
known as "Ethelinda's mother" The pair
had only one rival in unpopularity. 1t was
young man with large, wavy ears lie wore
plaid clothes and q tall collar which never
harmonzed with his short bosom. There
was something about his calm self-reliance
that impressed the others unfavorably. So
prone are we to misjudge our fellowman.
When he had heard Ethelindas repertoire
once or twice he began to take great inter-
est 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 he should thus mo-
nopoize her genius.
A new boarder came to the house; men,
Der of congress; man OF impressive de-
meanor, as became his Importance. There
was hush among the people who had as
sembled in the parlor just prior to the din
ner hour. They were all under some slight
restrant-all bat Ethelinda's mother. The
silence of the others gave her her oppor-
tunty.
"Dearie," said she, won't you recite
something for the ladies and gentlemen"
AS she spoke she placed her hand between
the chld's shoulders and gave her q push
out into the middle of the 1eor.
EYES," put in the young man with the
large ears, "recite that piece about 'Curfew
Shall Not Ring Tonight "
The prodigy hesltated in embarrassment.
'England's sun was slowly setting,
prompted the mother.
She looked up at the ceiling, and, nervous
ly rumpling a fold of her frock between her
thumb and forefnger, proceeded:
"'Eng!and's 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 go out riding
And have no bell in sight,
And fear those bold policemen,
Curfew-must--no NOTHING night!"
Her mother looked, turned pale, and
gasped, but the young man. with bland
smile, suggested:
Let's have that new one"
The prodigy promptly began:
1--WE will all be there when the orchestra
plays,
Well give her applause and we'll throw her
bouquets.
In the ballet she stands, in the foremost row,
She's somebody's grandmother. boys, you
know
| The applause given at this was tremen-
| dous
Don't you knew any more?" inquired
the member of congress.
"Wherc she learned that ribald trash is
more than ! can tell" exclaimed her indig-
| nant mother.
How about 'Hostler Joe?" asked the
young man in a nonchalant tone. Ordinarily
such suggestion would have met with chill
| ing frowns. But they all listened with cheer
| ful expectancy while the little girl again
| piped up:
''Plump was Annie plump and pretty. when
size married Ostler Joe;
She got divorced and then went out and
Travelled with show
Her husband thought he'd 60 and see the
play one winters night;
| 1t shocked him when he saw her coming for
ward to recite.
| Bot 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 she
| preceded each selection, and went merrily
| on:
go wash the dishes, mother,
And wash them nice and neat,
While | play on this piano
The two-stcp 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!"
"Ethelnda," said the mother, in cold,
hard voice, Il shall give you one more chance
to redeem yourself You may come away
from that part Of the room and recite Casa
blanca l think possibly you will be able
to do that without any of this rude inter-
ference"
Again the little bow and again the small,
shrill-keyed voice took up the familiar
rhythm, but improved and modernized as
follows:
"The boy stood on the burning deck,
Whence all but him had fed;
They called to him, he wouldn't bulge.
And this is what he said:
Go save yourselves. I'll linger here.
It's hard to have to toast;
But Pm such a chestnut that
l ought to get roast
Her mother was too much overcome to
speak. She diG not even protest when the
young man asked for "The Face on the
Floor" and Ethelinda gave:
at was balmy evening and goodly crowd