The Marshall republican., 1909-12-31
Small Sisters
Reflections

was aimost IKE sne used to be before
she engaged herself to poor Mr.. John
and got to acting reformed. I actually
saw her with a broom in her china
hands, sweeping off the front porch.
Tip, darling" said I to my pre-
cious pet dog, I'VE smell a rat, don't
WEI"
Tip pricked up his lovely ears and
shifted. Then he barked three t,mes.
Yes, Tip smelled a rat, Just as I did.
We went around to the front Porch,
and began to pull of dead leaves
from the honey.suckle vine-just help.
ful, you know. But what did Fan do
but make a pounce at my legs with
her broom and shout at me:
Here. child" she said, what are
you making that mess for? Go away
and take that beast with you!"
Then she hit precious Tip with the
broom. That was enough for me. Tin
and | are very patient, but when once
we are aroused Fan should beware OF
our fangs!
went into the kitchen then to mix
sweet Tip a salad. I do so love
white grape salad. But the maid got
me to go away by telling me that
she was going to make n four-layer
angel cake with pink mint filling and
that might have a piece before any
OF the family. So Tip and I went out
to the swing to think.
Fan sweeping and angel mint cake
all on the same day! / looked at the
sky a long time, but It did not seem
to be falling.
After hours and hours we had a
scramble lunch on the kitchen table
and then mother took me and sweet
TIP up to the bath tub for our daily
purifier. Because neither Tip nor I
whimpered once when she go soap in
our eyes she told M that poor Mr..
johns mother and three sisters, Just
home from Europe, we're coming to
call on her and Fan. She said I was
to act like a little lady and show the
visitors how nice I could be.
Il will, mother" ! promised, but I
crossed two Of my fingers while ! was
saying 1t, and that means mot under
your breath. s.
"ou hiiserdpic dlteTnOOn, sitting
prim and uncomfortable on the win.
low seat up In mothers room. That
tyrant Fan wouldn't let me go out for
fear I'd get messy. But I had an idea.
About three o'clock a big auto ma.
chine flew up to our house on wings
OF dust. 1t wasn't poor Mr.. Johns.
though, because that Just has room
for two, Fan always says when I beg
for a ride. Anyhow, a woman In,
oiack Blk who was almost as fat as /.
our laundry stove stepped out. After
her came three skinny girls with more
puts on taeir heads than even Fan
wears. The three were as like as
sardines In a box, and toilet water
whew!
Then for a frightfully long time l
heard's Fans company voice talking
a lot and sweet mothers voice once
IN a while sounding sort of scared and
timid and poor Mr.. Johns mother's
voice, which sounded like that of our
lceman. and now and then a frozen
chirp from one Of the ~sardines. Well.
last when my patience was worn to
frazzle ! heard the clinking of
glasses and the rattle OF plates.
Our maid had had to put on the lit.
lie white cap and black dress and IL
vas mothers best gold and white
iishes and bohemian glass sherbets.
Tip was crazy to 60 down.
tut i was putting the finishing touches
o him and wanted to do the job right.
OF course I'd not been sitting
here with my hands folded.
had ferreGed out an indelible Den.
purple one, a love! I had pried
~ his teeth. They were simply COR
the way ! fixed them, but TIP
seem to like the taste OF that,
'ext colored all his white spots. His
ars were simply stunning. When he
'as trimmed ! did my f~ingernails and
" teeth and touched me up under nv
yes, as I've seen Fan do. l was quite
truck with myself, / think / looked
these pictures of Circassian beau.
les.
Just as ! had finished l heard Fans
ompany voice calling like sweet per.
ime: Dear, don't you and Tip want
little cake7"
Did we? Tip was down al one
ound. In my sudden fright, I put
" hand to my face and happening
} glance in Fans mirror 1t seemed
} me that ] looked a little weird.
ut ! never say diet
Down l went. swirling my skirts the
ay Fan does, and up / marched to
Mr.. Johns mother. my hand out.
retched. She lgrasped It.
OH" she gasped, dropping my
and holding up a glass eye on a
to hypnotize me. / suppose.
What a very Objectionable looking
tile grit"
Mother and Fan hurried Tip and
Q out of the room. Fan was awful,
rude and sweet mother was frown-
9 and angry.
Fan cried all the rest OF the day.