The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-10-11
A Lesson From
Brother Tom.
81 CANNOT understand what has
cbonnal Na1I...
BY Agnes Louise Provost.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,

NANNOA understand what ha
| changed Nellie So"
Mrs. Howard spoke in trouble,
tones, her eyes on her daughter
empty place at the table. Her hus
band shook his head. lie was gettin,
trihe impatient with Nellie. Ton
finished his second plate of griddle
cakes and intimated that he coult
dispose of a third. Then he an
nounced his views on the subject:
Now, mother, there's nothing tn,
matter with Nell but pure airs. Sh,
has been away to school these tw,
years. and last vacation she Travelled
with Aunt Nell and was waited on un
iii she was completely spoiled. Now
she feels little too large for The
house. This morning she's late fol
breakfast again, and when she does
come trailing in she'll have on tina,
dressing jacket thing that looks like
n bath-robe cut in half. 1t gives me
the blues to look at it. / hate those
foppy things! l suppose she doesn't
think it's worth while t. dress up and
be entertaining at home"
Now, Tom, dear." admonshed his
mother gently. You must net be un-
charitable with Nellie. Remember
that she has studied hard this year.
We will give her a chance TO rest and
l 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.
Its good thing to vary brain
work with physical exercise" he sug-
gestcd wisely. "She crawls down late
mornings, and il there is anything
she might do round the house, she
half does il and forgets the rest, or
else she gets 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 Towards word of warning
came just in time. The dining-ro
door opened and Nellie entered, look
ing trifie 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 a bit of yawn
with her hand. I'm sorry I'm so late"
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 face usual
iy sparkling with animation; but
Just now she looked rather listless,
perhaps n trifle bored Formerly she
had found IL a pleasure to exert her
self TO entertain her own family. Mrs.
Howard, with mothers charity, had
been attributing her lack of ANNA.
ton 10 delicate health. but had been
slowly forced to admit that when
strangers were with them, her young
daughter was as bright and charming
as ever. Doubtless Nellie herself had
little idea of how far she had let her
self drift into this Indifference.
There was letter at Nellic's place,
and as she opened and read it she
gave an exclamation of pleasure.
oh, how lovely! 1t is from Jean
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 a dcar!"
Nellie sat up straight-r and cvinced
considerably more interest in life, but
ION. gravcly finishing his coffee. ap-
parently forgot to answer ncr ques-
'ion. His critical eyes roved severe
~ over the widc-sprcnding little Dress
,ng-sack, which ended few brief
inches below his sisters naturally
rim waist, and Mr.. Howard, watch
ing him. smiled significantly across
me table at his wife.
After breakfast Tom hunted IN his
mother as she was busy about her
household duties.
Now he said. III you have a lot
20 40 make Nell work. I hear her st
,nc piano this minute. Oh, YES. I
snow she doesn't mean anything, but
VS. high time she did mean something.