Year: 1879


Were a romantic maiden to be pictured
| to my reader mind, modesty would never
allow me to assert that the modern Cind-
erella and were one and the same. But
this is not the story of the charming and
abused Cinderella whom we all knew in
childhood This is an entirely new and
original one, a commonplace Cinderella
with no step-relatives, no ashes to live in,
and, what is worse than all else, this nine
teenth century reproduction wore num-
ber four boot Instead Of being in the
kitchen, where she should have been. to
deserve her name, she was boarding. Ke'
member this is no herione Of ye oiden
TYNE, but of the Centennial year 1876,
and boarding, too, in the most forlOrn in-
tie town that ever lured visitor by dis
honest advertisement in city newspaper
of charming summer board.


My uncle John had spent the last four
years of his life dragging Julia and me
through Europe. After he had urged US
up every elevation and down every shaft
and hole in the Eastern hemisphere. and
had personally examined every pebble in
Switzerland, | fondly hoped he would
have settled down. He didn't, though:
he took to politics, and my sister Julia
was keeping the Senator's house in WASH
inton, and was in Munson. Had the
hotel in Munson such luxuries as piazza
or hammock. Mrs. Ray and l certainly
would have taken advantage of it that
warm June afternoon. There was lilac
bush, and under its meagre shade we sat
reading. 1t was well our party was so
small, for that lilac gave the only shade
about the premises. and, as it was, an um-
brella was found necessary to piece out
the shadow.


What a capital preparation this quiet
is for Philadelphia! We shall be as fresh
as possible for the sight-seeingn Mrs.
Ray always spoke cheerfully, and had we
been strained in Spitzebergan instead Of
Munson, she would have found something
to be thankful for.


"You certainly take cheerful view.
But after two weeks of the table d. hote
here, and its damp under crust. snould
doubt my ability to do any hard work.


"Only keep the vital spark alive until
tomorrow, and then l feel sure we can
bid long farewell to Munson. Still, my
dear Ruth, you are not emaciated as yet,
even after two week of rhubarb PIES"


"Don't-don't' please. allude to my
weight To think of my coming so near
starvation and not to lose a pound. l
don't believe, though Libby Prison would
have told on me. But l believe it's an ex.
ploded idea now that Mr.. Libby set rather
a mean table" Then followed a long
sermon from Mrs. Ray on the sinfulness Of
wishing ones self little thinner than one
was, and she ended as usual by assuring
me that, for a sensible girl, l was very
silly on one point. Mr.. Ray had written
us to meet him the ext day in New York,
and no instruction had l received from
Washington telling me where my family
wond join me in Philadelphia.


There must be some word from Julia
and I'll begin my hard work by walk to
the post-oflice. She certainly will write
me to 90 with You or stay here, or unfold
some lucky plan of hers for shelter in the
good Quaker City," and picking myself
up, shook myself free of countless ami
mate and inanimate things that had crawled
and fallen on me while l sat reading.


two mile walk in the dust and sun for
one postal card, And that an old one
Dated the 2Oth, and more than week
old


why haven't you delivered this to me
before? l have been here every day for
letters"


When for answer the little old man
laughed, l saw the reason OF his being be.
hind the iron grating-to protect himself
from injury from angry individuals who
had been served as had been.


"lou wouldn't mean to tell me that
card was addressed to you; | only hand
ed it out to git you to read it. It's puz-
zled lots of folks. Some thought it was
for some of the Myers. and they've ben in
WISCONSIN since ~. Lemme look:
Mss Ruth Wyrndn. Wa'al never should
have mistrusted."


For fear that even at this late day the
postmaster of Munson should be investi-
gated by the postal authorities for this ir-
regularity. L must be candid and confess.
though criminate one OF my own family.
my sister Julias writing IS stylish. Legi-
bleP No. never. But 1t Is am,uHy sfyl-
ish, the girls at school USED 70 teii me- Dy
way of consolation, when could not read
one word IN zen IN her letters. ;'.. vigor,
orous correspondence OF winter enabled
me to improve on that proPortloh' ana !
without