Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-04-02

consisted of Aunt Comfort.
and warm-hearted: Hannah
Pettibone, a weli-alopg spinster of an
gular form and temper, thin to an al
most painful degree, with a well-de-
fined mustache; and a general helper
the farm, and a ehore boy about
Chips age named Meier, completed
the list.
Once included in this somewhat d.
verse group, Chip became an immedF
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.
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. ut was all on account O
yer little whiskers, | guess. l never
see a woman with 'em afore. Why
don't ye shaver"
This was enough; for If there was
any n thing more notifying tina
all else to Hannah, it was her facial
blemish, and a 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 n
telling, he insisted on repetition. This
was also unfortunate for-blessed with
a vivid imagination and sure to en-
large upon all facts-he soon spread
the story with many blood-curdling
additions.
These stories, with Uncle Joe's cor-
roboration, resulted in a direful tale
believed by all. Neighbors focked in
to see this heroine of many escapades,
| villagers halted in front of Aunt Com
forts to catch a 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
tendance was accounted for.
And what a staring-at Chip received!
On the church steps a group Of both
young and old men had awaited hel
arrival and gazed at her in open-eyet
establishment. All through service she
was watched, and not content with
this, a dozen or so, men and women
formed a-double line outside, awaiting
the Frisbies' exit.
Angie also failed to understand the
principal cause of this interest. He
last appearance at this church hat
been as a bride. Naturally that fac
would produce some staring, and 81
the curious and almost rude %scrutin.
the family received was less notice'
by her.
But Chips eyes were o~bservant.
u don't like goin' to meetin'," sh'
said, Fan bein' stared at like | was
wildcat. l seer EN- GRIMM, toe
some on 'em, when we went in, an on
Teller winked to another. What aile'
emf"
Her vexations, however, had onl,
Just begun, for Angie had seen an
made arrangements with Miss Phir
ney, one of the village school teachers
and the next morning Chip was sen
to school. And now real trouble con
menced.
Not knowing more than how to rea
and spell short words, and unable
write, she, a fairly well develope
young lady, presented a problem whic
was hard for a teacher to solve. 7
put her in the class where she b.
longed was absurd. She must sit wit
older girls, or look ridiculous. If sh
recited with the ei~ght-year-old chi
dren, the result would be the sam
and SO a species of private tuitio
with recitations at noo or after scho
became the only possible course an
the one her teacher adopted.
This also carried its vexations, Il
Chip was as tall as Miss Phinney an
a little larger. Not one OF that bar
Of pupils was over IL. To join in the
games was no sport for Chip, viii
they, having heard about her thrillir
experiences, with a hint that ST
wasn't quite right in her head, fe
afraid of her.
IT feel SO sorry for her." Miss Phi
ney explained to Angie, a week late
"and yet, | don't know what to do. 81
is so big the children won't play vi
her, or she with them. | am the on
one with whom she will talk, ard 81
seems so humble and so grateful I
every word. l can't be as stern wi
n her or govern her as l should, OF q
count of her temper and size.
ID "Only yesterday I heard screamil
Is at recess, and going out, J found tn
1t Chip had one of the girls by the ha
and was cutting her, 1t transpir'
that this girl had called her an Indii
W and asked il she had ever scalped an
le body. I can't punish such a pupil, al