Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-05-03

ounce preserves and passed the hot
biscuit and Alice poured the tea. The
table, too, had Christmas touch, for
around the mat where the lamp stood
was a green wreath frightened with
clusters Of red berries. 1t was all a
charming picture, and not the least of
it was the fair girl who so graciously
played the hostess. When the meal
was over she said:
"Now you two gentlemen must 60
into the parlor and smoke, and I'll join
you later. l command you to smoke"
she added imperiously, "for want the
house to smell as If there was a man
around"
When she came in later, wearing her
new house dress, she drew her chair
close to her brothers and, resting her
elbows Oh his knee and her chin in her
open palms, she looked up and said
with witching smile:
"Now, Bertie, I've done all I could for
your comfort, so now please tell me
what is in that long, fiat box you
brought"
"You are a bewitching coaxer, sis,"
he answered, "but / am hard hearted.
I'll make a trade with you, though.
First tell US all about your school
teaching and sing us all the songs I
ask for. and then I'll open the box"
"You are very modest in your wants"
she replied archly. but, like all men,
you must be humored to keep you good
natured. presume"
II wish you would tell us about your
school. Miss Page" put in Frank. "You
are not a bit like the schoolma'am Of
my boyhood. and would like to know
how you manage children"
"Well. it was little hard at first"
she answered, "for boys and girls Of
ten and twelve have surprisingly keen
intuitions. and it seemed to me they
made study of my face from the first
and concluded | was soft hearted.
had one little boy that was born mis-
chief maker, but he had such winsome
ways l had to love him in spite Of it.
But he had to be punished Some way,
and so one day kept him after school
and then told him l must whip him
hard, but not at that time. l explained
to him what was going to punish him
for, but l said, 4 shall not do it to-
night. may do it tomorrow or the
day after. but will not tell you when
the whipping is to come until l am
ready to do it, My little plan was a
success, for the next night he waited
till all the rest had gone and then came
to me with tears in his eyes and begged
me to whip him then. didn't, though,
and told llim | wouldn't until he dis
obeyed again. He has been the most
obedient boy in the school ever since.
There is one little girl who has won
my heart, though. In the oldest way
you can imagine. The day l received
your letter. Bert, was so happy that
the school ran riot. and | never knew
it. They must have seen it in my face,
l think. Well, when school was out
this girl. shy little body of ten. sidled
up to my desk and said, 'Pleath may /
kith you. teacher. fore 80 homer 1t
was such an odd and pretty bit of feel
ing it nearly brought tears to my eyes,"
Il should like to give that little girl
q box Of candy. Miss Page" observed
Frank, "and then ask her for kiss
myself"
For an hour Alice kept both the
young men interested in her anecdotes
Of school teaching, and then her broth
er said:
"Come, sis, you must sing some, or NO
box tonight!'
"Well," she replied, smiling, what
shall it be-a few gems from Moody
and Sankey or from Laurel LeavesT"
And then, turning to Frank, she added,
"My brother just dotes on church mu-
sic."
"Alice," said her brother, with mock
sternness. "if you fb like that you
know the penalty"
do you play or sing, Mr.. Nason?"
she inquired, not needing her brother.
81 do not know one note from an.
other" he answered.
"Well, that is fortunate for me-" she
said. 81 only sing old fashioned bal
lads and help out at church"
Then. without further apology, she
went to the piano. Come Bertie," she
said, "you must help me, and we will
60 through the college songs" And
go through them they did, beginning
with "Clementine" and ending with
1.-The Quilting Party"
Nov. SIS" said her brother, 81 want
Old Folks at Home Annie Laurie.
'Rock-a-bye' and Ben Bolt and then
I'll open the box"
1t was simple. old fashioned home
parlor entertainment, and no doubt
most musical artists would have sneer-
ed at the programme, but Alice had a
wonderfully sweet and sympathetic
soprano voice. and as Frank sat watch.
ing the titful flames play hide and seek
in the open fire and listened to those
time worn ballads it seemed to him he
had never heard singing quite so sweet.
Much depends upon the time and place.
and perhaps the romance of the open
fire sparkling beneath the bank of
evergreen and making the roses come
| into the fair singers cheeks aud warm
ing the golden sheen Of her hair had
much to do with it. When she came to
"Ben Bolt" that old ditty that has all
the pathos of our lost youth in it, there
was a tiny quiver in her voice, and
when she finished had he been near
he would have seen the CLINT Of two