Evening star., 1898-06-18

perfectly willing that he should thus mo-
nopolize her genius.
A new boarder came to the house:
member OF Congress; a man Of impressive
demeanor, became his importance.
There was a hush among the people who
had assembled in the parlor just prior to
the dinner hour. They were all under some
slight restraint: all except Ethelinda's
mother.
''Dearie," said she. won't you recite
something for the ladies and gentlemen?"
As she spoke she placed her hand between
the c-.ild's shoulders and gave her push
out into the middle of the floor.
Yes put in the young man with large
Not Ring Tonight
The prodigy hesitated in embarrassment.
England's sun was slowly setting 3"
prompted her mother
She looked Up at the ceiling. and. ner-
vously rumpling fold OF her frock be-
tween her thumb and foreinger. proceeded:
"England's sun was slowly setting.
When the maiden grabbed the bell.
Come. what mean your cried the sexton
Oh said she, i hate to tell.
But tonight / go out riding
And l have no bell in sight,
And / fear those bold policemen.
Curfew-must-not-rin -ring-tonight"
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,
I'VE will all be there when the orchestra
plays.
Well give her applause and well throw
bouquets.
Ir the ballet she stands in the foremost
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 / can tell" exclaimed her in
dignant mother.
How about 'Hostler Joe?" asked the
young man in nonchalant tone. Ordinar-
lily such a suggestion would have met with
chilling frowns. But they all listened with
cheerful expectancy while the little gil
piped up
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 demor strations, under whose cover
her Lew prompter gave another hint. The
child made the little bow with which she
preceded each selection and went on:
Go ash the dishes mother.
And wash them nice and neat
While L play on this piano
The two-step march sweet:
And brush up my old clothes, mother
BE hasty and don't get gay,
For I'm to be Queen of the May, motherl
I'm to be Queen Of the May!'
"Etheinda," said the mother, in a cold,
hard voice Il shall give you one more
Chance TO redeem yourself You may come
away from that part of the room and re
cite Casabianca. L think possibly you Will
be able to do that without any Of this rude
interference.
Again the little bow and again the small.
shrill-keyed voice took up the familiar
rhythm:
The boy stood on the burning deck
Whence all but him had fled.
They called to him; he wouldn't bulge
And this is what he said
Go, save yourselves. I'll lirger here;
It's hard TO have to toast.
But am such a chestnut that
/ ought to get a roast"
Her mother was too much overcome to
speak. She did not even protest when the
young man asked for THE Face on the
Floor and Ethelinda gave
1t was balmy evening and a goodly crowd
was there,
A man stepped up before the bar; he had
no cash TO spare.
He turned away. He vainly tried to hurry
through the door,
And then the big bartender pushed his face
upon the floor.
"Of course you know Paul Revere's
Ride?" said the young man innocently.
Yes, answered Ethelinda, whose ex-
preston had gradually assumed a radiance
and satisfaction quite foreign to IT. She
had never before bean appreciated. With
alacrity she plunged into the lines
Listen, my children, and you shall hear
OF the midnight ride of Paul Revere.
1t was on an electric railway train,
He would go away and come back again,
He took up fares and he pulled the string
Which caused a machine 10 remark Ding,
ding
Her mother dashed into the middle of the
room and carried the child away
Ethelinda is never permitted TO recite now
when her mother is present and the young
man with large ears is the most popular
person on the block.