Charlevoix county herald., 1907-12-21

Hlcu iuuSldCHt, anu general nelpGr
on the farm, and a chore boy about
Chips age named Meier, completed
the list
Once included in this somewhat d.
verse group, Chip became an immedi.
ate bone of contention.
Aunt Comfort, of course, opened her
heart to her at once; but Hannah
closed hers, almost from the first day,
and in addition she began to nurse
malice as well. There was some rea-
son for this, mainly due to Chips
startling freshness of speech
Il thought we must be a man wearin'
wimmin's clothes, the first time | see
ye,' she said to Hannah the next day
after her arrival, and without mean
ing offense. 1T was all on account o.
yer little whiskers, l guess. l never
see a woman with 'em afore. Why
don't We shave?"
This was enough; for If there was
any one thing more Notifying than
all else to Hannah, it was her facial
blemish, and mention of it she con-
sidered an intentional Insult
From this moment onward she hated
Chip.
Meier, however, took to her as a
duck to water, and her story, which
he soon heard, became a real dime
novel to him, and not content with one
telling, he insisted on repetition. This
was also unfortunate for-blessed with
vivid imagination and sure to en-
large upon all facts-he soon spread
the story with many blood-curdling
additions.
These stories, with Uncle Joes cor
roboration, resulted in a direful tale
believed by all. Neighbors fiocked in
to see this heroine of many escapades,
villagers halted in front of Aunt Com.
forts to catch sight of this marvel,
and so the wonder spread.
Angie was, of course, to blame
More impressed with the seriousness
of the task she had undertaken than
the need of caution, she had failed to
tell Chip she must not talk about her
self, and so a woefully distorted his
tory became current gossip.
When Sunday came the village
church was packed and Parson Jones
marveled much at the unexpected in
crease of religious interest. He had
heard of this new arrival, but when
the Frisbie family with Chip, in suit
able clothing, entered their pew, the
cynosure of all eyes, this unusual at
tnn6onnn nnnnnnta1
And what a staring-at Chip received!
On the church steps a group of both
young and old men had awaited her
arrival and gazed at her in open-eyed
establishment. All through service she
was watched, and not content with
formed double line outside, awaiting
the Frisbies' exit
Angie also failed to understand the
principal cause of this interest Her
last appearance at this church had
been as a bride. Naturally that fact
the curious and almost rude scrutiny
the family received was less noticed
by her.
But Chips eyes were observant.
Il don't like goin to meetin'," she
said, AN bein' stared at like I was a
wildcat. l seen 'em GRIMM. too,
some on 'em, when we went in, an one
Teller winked to another. What allied
emf"
Her vexations, however, had only
just begun, for Angie had seen and
made arrangements with Miss Phin-
ney, one of the village school teachers,
and the next morning Chip was sent
to school. And now real trouble COM
menced.
Not knowing more than how to read
and spell short words, and unable to
write, she, fairly we'll developed
young lady, presented problem which
was hard for teacher to solve. To
put her in the class where she be-
longed was absurd. She must sit with
older girls, or look ridiculous. If she
recited with the eight-year-old chill
dren, the result would be the same,
and so species Of private tuition
with recitations at noon or after school
became the only possible course and
the one her teacher adopted.
This also carried it's vexations, for
Chip was as tall as Miss Phinney and
a little larger. Not one Of that band
of pupils was over IL. To join in their
games was no sport for Chip, while
they, having heard about her thrilling
experiences, with a hint that she
wasn't quite right in her head, felt
afraid of her.
II feel so sorry for her." Miss Phin-
ney explained to Angie, week later,
"and yet, don't know what to do. She
is so big the children won't play with
her, or she with them. l am the only
one with whom she will talk, and she
seems so humble and SO grateful for
every word. / can't be as stern with
her or govern her as ] should, on ac-
count of her temper and size.
only yesterday l heard screaming