Gilpin observer., 1910-01-27
Small Sister S
Reflections

II,
was almost like she used to be before
she engaged herself to poor Mr. John
and got to acting reformed l 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 rat, don't
we?"
Tip pricked up his lovely ears and
shifted. Then he barked three times.
Yes. Tip smelled rat. just as did.
We went around to the front porch,
and l began to pull OF dead leaves
from the honey-suckle vine-just help
full, you know. But what did Fan do
but make 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- Tip
and 1 are very patient, but when once
we are aroused Fan should beware Of
our fangs!
l went into the kitchen then to mix
sweet Tip a salad. l do SO love
white grape salad. But the maid got
me to go away by telling me that
She was going to make a four-layer
angel cake with pink mint filling and
that l 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 long time, but 1t did not seem
to be falling
After hours and hours we had
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 l
whimpered once when She got soap in
our eyes she told me that poor Mr.
Johns mother and three sisters. just
home from Europe, were coming to
call on her and Fan. She said l was
to act like little lady and show the
visitors how nice I could be.
II will, mother" l promised, but
crossed two Of my fingers while was
saying it, and that means mot" under
your breath.
had a miserable afternoon, sitting
prim and uncomfortable on the win
dow seat up in mothers room. That
ty-ant Fan wouldn't let me go out for
fear I'd get messy. But l had an idea
About three o'clock 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 ride. Anyhow, woman in
black silk who was almost as fat as
our laundry stove stepped out. After
her came three skinny girls with more
puffs on their heads than even Fan
wears. The three were as like as
sardines n a box, and toilet water
,whew!
Then for frightfully long time
heard's Fans company voice talking
lot and sweet mothers voice once
in while sounding sort of scared and
timid and poor Mr.. Johns mothers
voice, which sounded like that of our
iceman. and now and then a frozen
chirp from one Of the sardines. Well,
at last when my patience was worn to
a frazzle heard the clinking of
glasses and the rattle of plates.
Our maid had had to put or the lit
tie white cap and black dress and it
was mothers best gold and white
dishes and bohemian glass sherbets
Precious Tip was crazy to go down,
but was putting the finishing touches
to him and wanted to do the Job right
<Nf zsx
there with my hands folded.
l had ferreted out an indelible pen.
ella purple one, love! had pried
up his teeth. They were simply gor
geous the way fixed them, but Tip
didn't seem to like the taste OF that
Next colored all his white spots. His
ears we're simply stunning. When he
was trimmed did my fingernails and
my teeth and touched me up under my
eyes. as I've seen Fan do. was quite
struck with myself. I think looked
like these pictures Of Circassian beau
ties.
Just as I had finished I heard Fans
company voice calling like sweet per-
fume: Dear. don't you and Tip want
a little cake?"
Did we? Tip was down at one
bound. In my sudden fright, put
my hand to my face and happening
to glance In Fans mirror 1t seemed
to me that looked a little weird.
But never say die!
Down l went. swirling my skirts the
way Fan does. and up I marched to
poor Mr.. Johns mother. my hand out
stretched. She grasped It.
"Oh!" she gasped. dropping my
hand and holding up a glass eye on q
stick to hypnotize me. l suppose.
What very Objectionable looking
little girl!"
Mother and Fan hurried Tin and