The National tribune., 1901-10-03
"THE Two PARTNERS ENGAGED II
A LIVELY SCRAP"


They say you're making a very good sol
dier. but | never expected it. You're too
<c:tttCr-brained and tOrmenting TO be good
for anything. Recollect how the teacher
used to whale you for being up to every
thing but getting your lessons? But
never told OH you, did [?
I'm writing to you just because all
the big girls are writing to boys-'men'
they call them-in the army. and looking
very big and important about it. They
say they do it Just to cheer and encourage
The men. Big girls are awful liars. amt
they! They do it because they want to,
and it's something to put on airs over US
smaller girls about. Do you suppose I'll
be such Il fbher when ! get so | wear
skirts down to my shoes and put my hair
up? Very likely. | couldn't think of any
body else, so l write to you. Don't you
tell anybody I'll put on Just as many
airs now as they do.
Tin now through with McGufey's
Fifth Reader, and we begin Vaudeville s
Rhetoric after New Years I'm away
over in Interest and Discount. in the
arithmetic. and I'll take the first prize in
geography.
Il send you my picture, that you can
see how much | have grown since you
went away.
Il want you to write me letter, about
anything, just SOS l can have the enve-
lope, with the army postmark, to fash
before them hateful. Stuck-up big girls.
If you can't write better than you used
to, get some good writer to direct it. Spell
my name Nellie-all the big girls are
writing their names with an lie now
Have you learned to spell ocean yet -?
You never could.
''Hurrah for the Union
Nellie Mcbride"
well. declare" said Sandy. But
that reminds me. | got letter, too Let
me see: where is it?''
Sandy opened the letter, and read down
the page to the signature, and then said
with n whistle of surprise:
'W-h-e-w, if it amt from Mat IRWIN
That tow-headed, pasty-faced terror"
exclaimed Pete.
Pete" admonished Sandy, as he stud
led the letter and melaineotype inclosed,
that's no way to speak of a young lady
who writes to me-"
Young ladyr' shifted Pete. "She was
the worst tom-boy in the school. She
could run and throw down any boy of
her age and liked to do it. She loved to
torment us older ones. Recollect how she
slipped briar into my seat just as l was
setting DOWN."
30, she was blamed for lots of things
that she never thought of doing" said
Sandy. ''That little Mcbride hussy"-
You're speaking OF Miss Nellie Nc
Bride, please remember" Pete warned
him.
She's grown to be very fine-looking
young lady, said Sandy, studying the tin
type.
Pete took the picture from his hand,
and remarked,
Same old mop of light hair Looks
like a bunch o tow after gale O. wind"
Pete Skidmore," said Sandy, severely,
be more careful with your filings at la
dies
lie me see her letter." demanded Pete.
Il don't know as it is the correct thing
for n gentleman to show letter written
to him by a young lady," demurred Sandy
with dignity
80, ratsI' exclaimed Pete. Indignantly.
you made me show Miss Nellie Nc
Brides letter; now you show
80, that didn't amount to nothing
That was only scrawi from that little,
brick-tOpped Irish''-
Look here, Alexander Baker," said
Pete, doubling his fists, "I'll bust your
ear, sure's I'm foot high, If you don't
take back every word of that. Nellie
Mcbride was better girl every day In
the week than that tow-headed tom
boy
Sandy jumped at him.
Co. Q looked with amazement and then
gagged in n lively scrap. 1t was the first
shadow of dissension that had ever mani
tested itself between the two loyal little
chums. They all took sides. some shout
ing for Pete and some for Sandy. ST
heard the laughter and yelling, and rush
ing out of the brush where he had been
reading AnnabePs letters, pulled them
apart, cuffed them both and set them
down on the ground with more emphasis
than grace, threatening to do unmention-
able things to them il they did not sub
side at once. He returned to tho persual
of his letters, and Sandy and Pete, CURLY
ordering their curious comrades to go
away and mind their own business, looked
at one another shamefacedly.
"Pete, I was a fool" said Sandy; "Miss
Nellie Mcbride Is a very fine young lady"
II always liked Miss Matte Irwih."
Pete cordially admitted.
"Here's her letter. You can read It
and welcome" said Sandy, picking up the
missive. which had fallen to the ground
and been trampled on in the hurIy-burly.