Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-21

to live. Mother says he was always goods an
angel, with another sigh. AT this point
her healthy appetite suggested a diversion.
Opposite the driveway at DIR. .Gordon's.
Electra fumbled in her pocket for the torn
margin of the Weekly Chronicle. and held
it up for inspection. 1t bore this announce
ment, written in Uniformed. childish
hand: THE sowin serkels goin' to bee at
over house necks Wensday ranershine
without fale."
''Elviry Gordons hard o hearin'" she ex-
planned. as she refolded it, IAN she'd ruther
read things than try to listen to EN-. 1
went to picnic with her once'-she had
delivered the important message to Miss
Gordon and rejOined her companion-'an't
took me all the way to Hacketts Crossin'
to make her understand that William Telrd
got his paws all BACKED up with medder
mud that mornin. That was the day she
told me she was as deef's haddock; an
when got home | said to mother. If ever
went to the village with a haddock l
wouldn't tell him a word about medder
mud, If | had to keep still an not speak at
all / didn't know then that haddocks was
fishes l thought they was folks An
don't see yet why the poor things have to
be def. any moren shad mack'ril.
William Tell wasn't William Tell at all
then. The echo of an unforgotten regret
was in her voice. He come from Dam ris-
Gotta, an so l called him Dam riscotta till
mother put her foot down't she wouldn't
feed him by any such a name. She said she
shouldn't cared anything about it, one way
or another, if he hadn't always sneaked
off n hid. just's he was wanted: but it made
her feel foolish to have folks See her dodg-
in Jpn down the road an yellin' Dam
riscotta.' with no dog anywheres in sight to
answer her.
Il told mother once when 1 was tryin'
to do my sums that l just wished Elviry
Gordon was my teacher, an mother said
her laughter gurgled forth unrestrained-
that she should hate to say such thing
that before Tropickercancer even-let alone
a human being. But Tropickercancer was
out on the haymow watchin' for mice when
/ said 1t, an of course twas all right to
tell it to mother. 1 should hate long divi-
sion dreadf'ly, though, Miss Dorothy IL
'twasn't for singin' tan even that don't
bring the answer. But when you can sing
Thirteen will go in sixty-five to old Hum
dred you don't seem to care SO much how
many times twill go-tiN the teacher
STAINS ye up in the corner to do it over"
Mrs. Barker had asked them to call at
; the Widow Chesley's and return a sleeve
pattern After much hospitable entreaty
Miss Wagner consented to remain there for
half hour and partake of what her
hostess termed "a sociable little snack"
Electra, with warm doughnut in either
hand, wandered out into the yard. They
! saw her soon after under the elm tree be-
| side the shed. turning the heavy grind
| stone with timid rapture. A little later
| Miss Wagner caught a fleeing glimpse of
pink calico at the farthest corner of the
| barn. Then It fitted down the hill, in and
, out through the tall grass and disappeared
for a time altogether.
| "Electry's a curious child, amt she?''
| commented Mrs. Chesley. slipping a little
| tea for courtesy. you couldn't hardly be-
lieve. f you didn't know her. the funny
| things she'll say when she gets to goin'.
| Miss Wagner wisely held her peace.
! My daughter Eunice keeps the school
| here. an she tells me more or less about it,
| 'Twasn't any time ago hardly that Electry
got all wrought up because Eunice told her
| she lived in North America.
| ~ don't, says Electry. I live In
| Maine An she KEEP on sayin' so, spite
| of anything Eunice could do.
I'VE all live in Maine.' says Eunice
| finally, but we live in North America, too.
An that young one was madder'n fury.
| - The state O. Names just-the state O.
Maine says She OF course there's lots
| o. places in 1t amt never seen, an mebbe
| yer North Americas one of EN-. But
guess it's somewheres way down in Sag
| adahoc or Andr'scoggin. II it's An ther
she burst out laughin' as peasants ever
| Her temper's always over in no time"
| She glanced out Of the window from timt
tone.
The funniest thing ever heard of hel
sayin' was one day In Sabbath school las
| winter. There was somethin' or other II
| the lesson that made the minister ask 'en
who was the strongest man that eve
lived; an Electry piped right up. befor'
anybody else could speak. n called out
Tom Reed! 1t come so unexpected /
pretty near upset the minister. an ever!
boy In the room begun to giggle. I'm sur,
he Is, went on Electry. just as calm's
| clock. for the Chronicle says't he's beel
hoidn' Congress In the holler of his han,
for the last eight days. an there amt an
other man Twin that could do it. Mr. Den
nett passed over IT as wells he could an
took up the next onesttOp; but Soma q