Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-11-19
WHEN NAN
REFORMED


grandmother. but as time went on
hey called her Man In apology for
its grimness. However. the name
must have got into her blood after
some fashion, for although she grew
ap looking Man" for all she was
worth with her curly hair and general
pTettiness, her state OF mind was de.
oidedly formal.
Always she was positive as to her
likes, dislikes, wishes and preferences.
When other little girls stood on one
cot with finger agonizedly in mouth,
Isn knew what she wanted and got II
lefore their minds were made up.
Vnen she grew up she took the trait
dong with her. Indeed, she elaborat-
I'd on It; for. besides being sure OF
Ter own mind, she was sure Of what
ither peoples minds were or should
)e. So she enthusiastically prodded
hem into hasty decisions, to their
great indignation and subsequent en-
iarrassment when they finally diseov-
red what their preferences really
we're.
You mark my words" said Aunt
lane, who had money and hence the
assurance to speak her mind freely.
You mark my wordsl That girl is
'etting out to make some good man
Mighty miserable. And he'll be sur
rised, for she certainly is good to
ook at. You wouldn't think she was
10 set. She won't let him call his
ioul his ownl"
Nan certainly had the habit of be-
ing certain about things. IF that
vas my child" she would say, sweet
y, yet firmly, to some worried moth.
ar. 81 shouldn't let it rule me that
Say You will spoil its whole future
life by encouraging it to be overbear-
ng!"
Or else, sitting upright in pink in
lignation, she would exclaim: Good
iessl Don't tell me Mary's husband
alked that way to herl Why, II he
we're my husband shouldn't stand it,
[ should assert myself! These girls
iont seem to have a bit Of independ.
1nce. Why, Harry Brown scatters
igar ashes all over the house and
Tom Phelps actually does wood carv-
ng in the living-room and their wives
neekly endure it,"
Nan would say to her married sis.
er: IF she we're my maid I'd very
Don stop her staying out 30 late even.
ngs! 1t isn't good management and
d speak to her about it,"
To her cousin she would say: "If
we're living in that house wouldn't
)e so afraid Of the landlord I'd have
hings fixed the way wanted them!'
Mans motto, IL she had been re
Iuired to carry It painted on a ban
Ter. would have been. ''If were IN
your place I'd do the correct thing.
Jnwitting persons sometimes found
{ hard TO get used to this peculiarly
# Mans. However, her friends hero
'cally loved her in spite of 1t. There
vas great excitement and speculation
When she finally got married. ant
itarted housekeeping. Everybody
settled back perfectly ready to So
,er triumphs and wonder at them.
1t was about year and a half aftei
1er wedding that Aunt Jane went t
pay Nan a visit When she had beer
there a week she could play a politt
part no longer.
My goodness, Mani" she expostu
lated, seizing the infant ON the floor
How can you bear to see him dent
'ng up your silver hand mirror In tina
way? Give him something else"
"Oh, he likes that best" said he
iieee, and he'll cry like fun If / TAX,
it away. There, he's beguni DuEun
want it, precious-there, there-shal
nave mirror IL he wants it,"
rWell. like thatls snapped Aun
Jane. Aren't you ever going t
make him mind youf Did you know
that Herbert had burned two holes Il
this lace dolly putting his lighte,
cigar down on it?'
"Oh, has he?" inquired Nan. Don
you think he has the finest profil
You ever saw, Aunt Jansg'
II found your cook feeding three Q
her friends when l went into tn
Kitchen after dinner last night" Wen
on Mans relative, grimIy. "You'
end in the pOorhouse if''-ii
81 don't dare complain" murmurs
Nan. Shed leave. And goodpes
knows where I'd get another. they'P
so scarce nowadaysl" tf
"Pm amazed that you should pic
out such an ugly wall paper" sal
her aunt. surveying the living ROOF
wall hostilely.
II didn't" said Nan. with a frow
on her level brows. Isn't 1t awful
It was on when we took the hous
and the landlord wouldn't change Il!
Aunt Jane sat down and took a Ion
look at her niece. There was placi
content in Mans face that was ne
o it.
"Wen!" calculated her relative, g
ou haven't turned out Just like tn
General run Of women after all, Han
lahl And you may thank your star
hat you haYel"
Foe a oraanai Tar.