Our Boys and Girls.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1013, 31 July 1891, Page 6

Our Boys and Girls.

THE WICKED AUNTIE. A Humorous Story. (BY VERNON HILL.) Part 111. —Concluded. Mrs Browne took her leave, and went straight to call on hor sister in her small houso in Glasgow. On her arrival slio complained languidly of having to climb so many stairs, and otherwise pretended to be tho great lady, just as Mrs Smythe used to do before her husband’s failure. After she had re. covered from her fatigue, she proceeded to talk of her visit to Curlershaugh, although she knew this was a subject which pained her sister beyond measure. ‘ The old place is looking very well,’ said Mrs Browne, carelessly. ‘ But she’s an exceedingly vulgar person, Mrs Jones. Just fancy ! She made a boast to me her husband was never a bankrupt anyway —I think sho might have had a little more respect for the feelings of a sister.’ Mrs Smythe put her handkerchief up to her eyes, aud Nora gazed at her aunt beseechingly, but this soother of tho deeply wounded feelings continued languidly : * ‘ That son of hers, Tom, is such a wild fellow, too —I really don’t know whether to allow Ann to encourage him or not. Oh, dear me, Bella ! you ought to be thankful you have no position now to keep up, for I can assure you it is a great care to people.’ Mrs Browne was proceeding to say a great many more cutting things to show her sister she was no longer respected as the great lady, when Nora interfered and asked her aunt to oblige them by not calling again until her mamma had quite recovered from her nervousness. Aunt Jane told Nora for her pains she was an impertinent hussy, and left forthwith with her languid manner considerably ruffled.

Nora next became very unwell thinking from what her aunt said that Tom Jones was making love to Ann Browne, and she was confined to bed for several weeks, during which time her mamma had not only to attend to herself, but to do what she had never done in her life bofore in the way of cooking, washing the dishes and floors, dusting the carpetß, brushing the boots, and baying provisions from small shops. The want of money makes a great difference to people in tho world, and it made Mrs Smythe very miserable, although Nora, when she met Tom in the street one day after her recovery, told him that they were far happier in their small houso than ever they had been in the great mansion at Curlershaugh. Tom was very glad to hear it, said he would have called sooner but he thought her mamma might be angry, and now begged to be allowed to see her home, but this Nora would not allow, because she said, with a merry twinkle in her eve. her mamma might be angry. Tom begged a thousand pardons, and offered ten thousand excuses, nevertheless Nora would not allow him to see her home. When sho told her mamma what she had done that evening, that good woman was very angry indeed. * Are you crazy, Nora ?* she asked warmly. ‘ Mamma, I thought you never liked Tom Jones 1’

‘ Don’t drive me out of my wits, child,’ said her mamma, petulantly. ‘ I think it very unfeeling of you, Nora. You know I think a great deal of Tom Jones.’ Tom found out where they lived, and came to visit them regularly. Mrs Smythe received him with great kindness, and at the end of the first week got the length of inquiring very ’ timidly after his ‘ dear mammabut Nora very nearly drove him crazy with her sauciness, and when he brought her a present on her birthday, she told him to give it to Ann Browne. Tom swore he never cared a fig for Ann Browne. Nora said that her mamma told them he was almost as good as engaged to her. Tom pranced up and down the room in great fury, and swore it was an awful fib; then he went dowii on his knees, and told Nora he had loved her all his life, aud that he had never loved any other half so much, and Nora went down on her Knees too, and asked his forgiveness for having teased him. After this, Tom told his mother that Mrs Smythe was a much nicer lady since her husband had lost all his money, and the two old ladies became quite reconciled to each other. They blamed all their differences on poor Mrs Browne, whom the lovers ever afterwards called • the wicked auntie,’ and when her daughter Anne made a run-away marriage with her father’s clerk, they considered it a punishment brought upon her for her sins. Before next Christmas, Tom and Nora were married, and lived happy ever after in a cottage in the country. (The End.)

QUEER SAYINGS. Laura (aged five, wiping drops of perspiration off her forehead)—What makes my face ery so ? ... An Explanation—Tommy was having his first experiences with a cat, which manifested his pleasure by loud purring. ‘ Say, mamma,’ said Tommy, * this animal’s got a little bird in his insides. I hear him flying around.’ Tommy (pulling a blade of grass)—You don’t know wliat this is going to be when it grows up. Willie —Yes, Ido too. It s going to be a lawn. Tommy —No, it isn t. It s going to be a hay. Teacher —Who was the most concerned when Absoloui got hung by the hair ? Tommy—Abslom. Little Mary, aged four, had a new hat given her, of which she was very proud. The following Sunday she woro the hat to churcli, but was dreadfullly disappointed at not being noticed by the lad whom her childish affections had singled out. Next day the little miss saw the little fellow pass, driving a cow, when she immediately climbed upon the fence and cried : ‘ Oh, Ed, that was me to church yesterday with the new hat on V Teacher —How was it that the lions did not eat Daniel when he was put in the den ? Dennis O'Brien —ItwaaFroiday,oi’m thinkin.’