The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-11-15
A Lesson From
Brother Tom.
BY Agnes Louise Provost.
By Agnes Loui.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
ut CANNOT understand what has
changed Nellie 500

ut CANNOT understand what has
changed Nellie so.''
Mrs. Howard spoke in troubled
tones, her eyes on her daughters
empty place at the table. Her hus-
band shook his mead. He was getting
trifle impatient with Nellie. Tom
finished his second plate of griddle-
cakes and intimated that he could
dispose of third. Then he an
nounced his views on the subject:
"Now, mother, there's nothing the
matter with Nell but pure airs. She
has been away to school these two
years, and last vacation she travelled
with Aunt Nell and was waited on I'M
til she was completely spoiled. Now
she feels a little too large for the
house. This morning she's late for
breakfast again, and when she does
come trailing in she'll have on that
dressing-jacket thing that looks like
a bath-robe cut in half. It gives me
the blues to look at it. 1 hate those
foppy things! suppose she doesn't
think it's worth while to dress up and
be entertaining at home"
"Now, Tom, dear!" admonished his
mother gently. "You must not be IN
charitable with Nellie. Remember
that she has studied hard this year.
We will give her chance to rest and
I think she will soon come back to
her old SELF
Tom shook his head unconvinced.
He was a lively young gentleman
just returned from his sophomore
year at college, and his patience with
his sisters new attitude was limited.
cts a good thing to vary brain
work with physical exercise he sug-
gested wisely. "She crawls down late
mornings, and if there is anything
she might do round the house, she
half does it and forgets the rest, or
else she gets a headache and can't
do anything. But she can spend hours
writing fat letters to those girl
friends of hers. When the Ellis boys
come you'll see her down stairs early,
and not wearing that loose rag,
either
TON, be CAREFUL
Mrs. Howard's word of warning
came just in time. The dining-room
door opened and Nellie entered, look
ing trifle sleepy about the eyes.
Her hair was combed somewhat less
carefully than for more public occa-
sions, and she Wore the short, vol
luminous dressing-sack which was
TOMS pet abomination.
Good morning!" she said, smiling,
but stopping to cover bit of yawn
hoy, 1o+
Nellie had been sorry a good many
mornings since her return, but her re-
greet had not carried her to the point
of prompt attendance. She was a
plump, pretty girl, with a face usual
" sparkling with animation; but
just now she looked rather listless,
perhaps trifle bored. Formerly she
had found it a pleasure to exert her
self TO entertain her own family. Mrs
Howard, with mothers charity, had
been attributing her lack of ANNA
ton to delicate health, but had been
slowly forced to admit that when
strangers were with them, her young
daughter was as bright and charming
lis ever. Doubtless Nellie herself had
little idea of how far she had let her.
self drift into this Indifference.
There was letter at Nellie's place
and as she opened and read it she
gave an exclamation of pleasure.
'Oh, how lovely! 1t is from Jear
Fairfax, mamma, and she says she
can come. Saturday afternoon-that's
tomorrow. Why, that is when your
college friends come, isn't it Tom:
oh, / am SO glad she can come! She
is such u dear!"
Nellie sat up straighter and evinceG
considerably more interest in life, but
Tom, gravely finishing his coffee, ap
parently forgot to answer her ques
lion. His critical eyes roved severe
ly over the wide-spreading little dress
ing-sack, which ended few brie1
inches below his sisters naturally
trim waist, and Mr.. Howard, watch
ing him, smiled significantly across
the table at his wife.
After breakfast Tom hunted up hi
mother as she was busy about hel
household duties.
"Now," he said, "if you have lo1
to do, make Neil work. hear her a.
the piano tbs minute. On, yes,
know she doesn't mean anything, but
it's high time she did mean something
She'll all right, really, only she's care
less and spoiled, and you always die
let us impose on you"
Mrs. Howard shook her head and
smiled, but she loved the affection.
ately scolding tone which her big
son occasionally adopted toward her
Tom had not finished yet.