OCR Text |
Show GROWING CP. Corinne Marshall was the brightest pirl in the school district Trhe-.-e h-r father's large, stony fanu tvn-i tr.unvd. H-?r mother had read a translation of De Sruel s famous romance, ro-mance, hence her daughter's name, given with many wisbs that the little maiden might grow up to be something out of the-common the-common order. At she studied grammar, and spelled the big boys and girls "dowu" at an old fashioned spelling school; plainly there could bi no question about her brilliancy. bril-liancy. There was a farmer's boy as well as a farmer's girl; there always is, only tbe boy is apt to be, if more solid, uot so ready not o "smart," a3 the New England expression lb. No special star had shone over the- boy'B baptismal font, and he was named plain Job Job Austin. Job's father was in standing and prop-rty prop-rty about on an equality with Co-ri Co-ri tine's, but the little fellow was no match for Corinne. However, the young Job lifted his gray eyes to the "brightest girl," drew her on his sled, "towed" her on the ice, brought her peppermint drops and licorice stick, and carved various toys for her at odd times, such as bedsteads for her dolls, and a set of wooden dishes for their tea table. While Job was still struggling, in his old clothes, with "chores" at home, and unknown un-known quantities at school, his little favorite was sent to live with her aunt in the village, a dozen miles away, for the sake of greater educational privileges. There the smart girl developed rapidly. She soon showed a remarkable re-markable gift of expression, and in the department de-partment of composition easily led her school, became the editor of the school "paper," the president of a literary society, and withal a very careless student. To keep up in her classes required no effort; and she fell into the error of thinking that success would come to her without hard work. In the meantime Job showed a patience equal to that of his widely known namesake. He extracted roots, cube and square, to say nothing of "grubbing" roots on the old farm; and every step he took ho cleared the way of all difficulties. No half way work for Job. He was still awkward, ill dressed, hesitating, and ho blushed furiously just at the times aud on tbe occasions when he most desired to appear cool mid collected. Many a time he had begun alettertoCorinno, sitting at his desk at noon time, or after school, anxiously trying to compose a document docu-ment worthy of so bright a being. But, blc, who is great in mathematics and de-spK.'s de-spK.'s her elder sister's name and pretensions. Lorimi L.ts the letter humbly and puts it in In-;- ;CM-i;et. P,y ami by she goes out into il:- blo-oniiii'.; ori'hard and opens the edi-j edi-j torial i-nvelope, walking up and down under the fragrant Lrws. Tiiero it the iioeui in wnicu so uiii.-h Hope hud been folded, ttnd a long letter in a bold, firm hand. "Miss A. B. C. shows facility. There are hint1 of talent. Will she oblige- the editor by writing an article on some subject of which she has knowledge positive, clear information in-formation P The letter went on with kind, discriminating udvji-e, worth more than gold to a girl hl;e Corimio. "Write about something of which I have knowledge r repeated the girl, stopping to break a branch of apple blossoms. "What do i kuowf" She looked into the tinted cupa as if for an answer, '"1 don't know anything," any-thing," she said presently, throwing herself down upon the turf in sorrowful abandon; "but I can learn." This correlative oarae after a bunt of tears and an hour's reflection. reflec-tion. A few days after this Corinne received by mail a treatise on the keeping of poultry, which she herself had ordered. This she set herself to study, and soou became interested in details of breed, feeding, housing, etc. All the books and newspapers of Importance bearing on the subject Corinne read industriously. indus-triously. Thou came practical work. After six months' experience tho young lady wrote a modest article on "Poultry liaising," and sent it to Tho People. A cordial answer was received with a liberal check Coriune's tlrst compensation for literary work. To tho old orchard trees the girl went in her excitement und joy. They were bare; empty nests hung from their boughs; and the dead grass about them was decked and patched with snow. But in Coriune's heart there was siunmer. Mr. Etoile's note was so kind, bo encouraging; be praised her stylo, he suggested books for her to read; he promised, if she worked and studied, a noble success by and by uot necessarily in joultry articles, though said articles suited The People to a not, and ho wished more of them. Ho naaied various books on industrial subjects bee raising, silk spinning, flower culture, eta and advised a reading up of the subjects and articles on the some. "In the meantime," said he, "keep your eyes ojen. There must bo much in your couutry world worth writing about. In some out of door searching, a real poem may show itself in moss or lichen, the glance of a little wildwood dweller, or the flash of a jeweled brook." It was a year from the time that Corinne questioned tue apple Diossoms in her despair. It was noised about that Editor Etoile was visiting in the neighborhood. Corinne's intimate inti-mate friends, tho "heartless brother" and tho enfant terrible included, began to anticipate a triumph for their friend and sister. She was a correspondent of Lew Ecoile's a favorite contributor to the The Peoplo. No one else with so much right could aspire to tho great man's favor. In the course of timo Corinne was invited to a garden party to meet the star. Tho hour came, and tueeditor was introduced. Corinne Btepped forward eagerly, all smiles. The gentleman bowed politely, exactly as to twenty others to whom ho had been presented. present-ed. The whole company, looking on, understood under-stood Coriune's humiliation. She soon slipped away, and on reaching home went wandering under thebloomingorcunrd trees. "How handsome ho isl How distinguished his style! Nobody at tho party could compare com-pare with him. Only a little older than I, and he has almost u national reputation !" So Corimio mused, as she walked up and down tho fragrant, wind blown alleys. By and by she seated herself, and, taking pencil and paper from her pocket, began to scribble, us the best way of forgetting her disappointment. Gradually a sense of the ineffable beauties of her little corner of the earth stole over her. Soft, fragrant air, azure sky, white banks of vapor, rosy shapes of bud and bloom, tho humming of happy insects, in-sects, tho trill of homo going birds, the lovely greenery of notched and scalloped and blade shaped leaves all met and mingled in her sonl, producing a sort of ecstasy. Her thoughts begun to tuke rhythmical form, and a genuine poem grew under her almost unconscious un-conscious hand. As she sat loaning against a gnarled old trunk, pink petals nestling in tho crimps of her black hair and in tho folds o her palo blue gauzy dress, she made a charming pic turo. At least so thought tho distinguished "Mr, Etoile," coming gently along tho orchard or-chard path, his footfalls hushed by the matted turf. "Corinne:" "Mr. Eloilel" Tho girl rose, her cheeks hot with blushea "Forgive mo for treating you so badly just now. Let us walk under tho trees and talk about old times. Do you remember tho day I pulled you out of tho cranberry bog when you broke through the ico and thuught you were drowning?" Corimio looked up in amazement. It was yes, it was Job Austin; light locks, freckles, and all. "Do you forgive mo?" he persisted. "I think wo are quits," she said, now able to look up roguishly through her blushes. "Strange I didn't recognize you when you wero introduced to mo today." "Don't speak of that," said Job, "What Is this?" and-ho took possession, as by editorial edito-rial right, of tho paper thitterlng in her hand. His faco grow radiant as ho read. cnougn as patient us tue original Job, ne never succeeded in finishing a letter that be thought good enough. At last a turn came in the tide of Job's life. A literary gentleman in Bagdad, the village whore Corinne was living at her aunt's, offered to "board and school" him in return for such help as the boy could easily give morning and evening. He was to enter tho graded school, and on examination was found ready for the intermediate department Corinne was in a private school for girls. It was not long before the two old friends met in tbe street. Corinne was with half a dozen J gny school girls. "Who is that fellow with hayseed in his hair?" asked one of them, as Job camo toward to-ward them smiling and blushing. Corinno bowed coolly, proteuding uot to see the outstretched out-stretched hand, and burricd on. "A mistake," she said. "1 look like dozenB of other people, it seems." Corinne justified this story to her .conscience on the ground that Job bad really made a mistake in supposing sup-posing she was going to keep up the old friendship. Job thought, generous fellow, tbat it was a veritable mistake. A little near sighted, he often made mistakes of identity; and he promised himself to look more carefully next time he mot a group of young ladies, blushing blush-ing the deepest peony red in thinking of hia boldness. Corinne now entered upon a new period of her inspired career. She wroteapoeml Sitting j in her room after study hours, with her unit : down aud her hands pressed to her temples, she slowly evolved the wondrous thing. How j astonished sho was to find tbat she, Corinne Marshall, could actually weave rhymes and sentiments and flowers of speech like the real poets whom she worshiped afar offl She 1 showed the celestial manufacture to her own j special girl friend, Cecilia Hopkins. It was one of those twilight hours of loving communion com-munion over tho fire, when, with arms around each other's waists, school girls tell the dearest friends everything, that the poem was brought out and rend. Cecilia was iu raptures. She always knew her darling Corinne was a genius. And where would sho send it? "Send itf" "Yes; to what magazine or newspaper? Surely the world should not bo deprived of such a gem 1" Now, unknown to Corinne, the gentleman with whom Job was living was the editor of Tho Bagdad Carrier Dove, a sheet devoted to news and elegant culture. "I'll send it to The Dovo," said Corinne, after her friend had loft her to the literary leisure sho longod for. "Yes, to The Dove, on whoso white wings it shall bo wafted for away to meet kindred hearts." Carefully was the poem copied and re-copied, re-copied, till, in appearance, at least, it was worthy of the classic name signed boldly at the close. In tho chill dusk of a winter evening even-ing a young girl might have been seen walking walk-ing up and down the street, casting longing glances at a lamp post; for the author's heart faded her at the last moment. But the appearance of a teacher brought matters to a crisis, and tho envelope weighted with destiny was dropped through the iron slit. Tho boy in the office of Tho Dovo, by this timo highly prized by tho editor, recognized the old timo quirks and qu iris, tho tails of tho g's and y's and q's, and tho heavy shading shad-ing of tho upward strokes. Ho helped tho crude little "poem" into a corner of The Carrier, Car-rier, his heart beating with manly pleasure at doing a 6ervice for his little love. Corinne was made a poet by acclamation in tho school room; for of course the ntithor-shipof ntithor-shipof "Life's Disappointments" was an open secret. Fifty copies of Tho Carrier were ordered, aud the office boy was sent with them to Mrs. Deportment s school. Ho arrived ar-rived at tho recreation hour, whew, the young 1 ladies, a gay, fluttering, bright ered crowd, wero "taking exercise.'' Somo were promo- 1 nading, souio dancing, somo chatting, some swinging dumbbells, some tossing a shuttle- 1 cock. "Thd copies of Tho Carrier Dovo you sent "Dcnr old comrade," ho Bnid, "I liavo not been disappointed iu you. Tbia Is genuine, 1 and it is bcautifull It is a growth, not a bit of manufacture." When "the planet nnd his Fatollite," as Corinne's saucy sister called them, left tho orchard, there was a bappy light in both their faces. Thereafter literary affairs called them often together. As to sentiment, the gossips of the neighborhood are about equally divided; a part asserting vcbomeutly tlmt it is a heart otfaip, thu others denying tho same with equal earnestness. Airs. M. F. Butts in Demorest'a Monthly. Foods for the Nervous. Many brain workers and others of highly nervous temperaments are troubled trou-bled with insomnia, nervous twi tellings and Btarting from sleepandsenBationsof falling. These symptoms indicate weak nerves. The victim can very often indeed cure himself by dietetic means alone. Tho best diet is milk, and for a time it would be wise for him to limit himself to that. Tho quantity required by an adult to support him well is one pint at a meal, and four meals should bo taken daily. The milk used should be up to tho standard; if it is not, cream should ; bo added to it. People with weak nerves, as a rule, drink but very little water, whereas they usually require a larger quantity than tlioso whoso nerves are strong and not easily shaken. Boston Herald. for," mid Job, addressing tho girls on masse. All occupations woro deserted, and the girls, cling from a common impulse of fun, ca:;io forw.irU to interview the "devil," as thej v.-eru ( leased to call Job. Tbey made Lim bike a cii.-.ir on tbo platform, tbey asked him nil kinds of questions concerning editorial edi-torial and newspaper interiors; finally tbey introduced, with mock ceremony, tho distinguished distin-guished auUmress, Corimio. Job's face lighted up. Hero was relief from his tormentors. tor-mentors. Not a sign did Corinne give that sho recognized recog-nized hot oh friend; indeed, she joined in ILie fun at his expense. Poor Job had greater" need than ever of tho quality associated with his name, and only on tho ringing of tbo boll calling Lbo girls to lessons va.s bo released. At tbe end of five years. Tbe young ladios of Mme, Dpportment'i sobool aro scattcrwl far nid wide; somo aro married, some aro teachers, some aro busy with the wearisonin noLhings of gny society. As for Corinne, she is nt homo on the old stony farm. Her mother is dnd. and she ib her father's bousekeejor. Slio has Uiken a nom de plume, for reeated experiences of "declined with thanks" tinve nnide her desire to hide her identity. Nevertheless, certain MUOtva&ses have kept her m heart and bono; and as she Is yet scarcely twenty, she still looks forward to a distinguished literary career. In the meantime a mw light has arisen. Far and widi t:.c let'r. 'tone; and riinttfie articles of IT7"" Ktoile are known and admired. ad-mired. Jt is niii'i-tii.! '-. i!:it liu is to estab-: estab-: hsh a journal. r-i,;;,-d Ti.e I'.-iplo. in a : town not a th'-u-sauj n.iies lioin ttio Mariholl 1 farm. I Corinne, on the lookout for new worlds to i conquer, says; ' There is a chance for me." ! She prepares a pic-p of ore. elaborate, ro-I ro-I man tic, and not without merit. She senria it, with a note inclrwod signed bv her own name, to thecreat Mr. Etoiia. Then through ! week of suspense she waits. "It's come back, shunts her heartless little j brother, swinging a letter over his bead, and 1 quite regardless of tbe presenc of a neighbor neigh-bor bcxxl gossip. i' "What makes you keep a-sendin' stuff to the editor F' sayi her Bl&:r, an eufaat terp- |