THE OLD GIRL AND THE NEW:

Otago Witness, Issue 2545, 24 December 1902, Page 73

THE OLD GIRL AND THE NEW:

A COMPARISON. _ . ♦ ■ " By Observer. "So you won't come in to-night, Mr Thomson?" "Not to-night, thanks. I have promised to meet some of the fellows at 7, and there would hardly be time." Both speakers were young. The man, a fine, broad-shouldered specimen of our young colonial, whose merry eyes were expressive of good-humour, while his high forehead and Dim mouth gave indications of a fine intellect and great will-pow_er. > The girl, his companion, was one of that class of which our high schools and universities turn out a dozen or so , every year. Her eyes were fine, but were wholly lacking in the winsome girlish mischief, so attractive to one-and-twenity'.' Her face would have been handsome had the mouth been less determined and the wrinkles between the eyebrows smoothed out. She was rather thin, and her dress was characterised by that disregard to personal appearance which would have shocked our great-grandmothers. "Very well," she said indifferently, when the young man had made his excuse, "1 must go. Please give me my books." But Jack Thomson did not seem to have heard her. His eyes were fixed upon the figure of another girl, who was approaching them with quick, light steps. Miss Mason smiled as she watched him. "Did you not know that -Nell had -re- - turned?" she-a«ked. _ _ " , "No ; I thought she was to be away for • a month." " "That was her' original intention ; but, dear me, the home just went to pieces without, her. Father had no one To read to him ; mother was nearly killed with - the house work ; Ned could find no one to play , his accompaniments ; Maiy used to ciy at | night because she- could not have her lessons heard ; and I don't know what all. So we had to send for her home again." Nell had now come up to them, and while Jack is shaking hands — which; by the way, he takes an unusually long time 1 to do — I want you to look at her, this dear little girl of mine, for girls like her are , nob met as often as they once were. ! She was not very tall, but quite tall enough ; and her soft blue dress clung to her as though it loved her. Her nair was j a soft, golden colour, and curled naturally J all over her bead. Her eyes were large 1 and soft and blue. She Jras not intellec- ! tual — you could see that by her face. The greatest power she possessed was ' that' of making people love her. Indeed to look • at her was to love her. Little children j would go from their mothers' arms to hers. ' All the young men woi*shipped her, and their mothers didn't mind in the least. Of course her sister's friends saw nothing in her, and jould not see "what men saw in her" ; but, then, the modern girl never will be able to appreciate the charm of her old-fashioned sister. "I'm awfully glad to see you back, Miss Nelly ; but it's a pity your holiday was ' cut- short-:" "Oh, well, yon see, they wanted me at home,"" said the girl;" "and', of course, I wanted to get back," she added quickly.' They stood talking a little longer, and jV-n jack took his departure somewhat

less willingry than he had been about t£ do before Nell joined them. When the two girls entered their home, Neli hastily took off her hat and gloves in the hall, . and then hurried a-^aj .to tfee kitchen to make the teacakes. Whilst ,thus engaged, her little sister Mary entered the room. "Why, chickabiddy, what is the matter?" said Nell, as she noticed tea^s on the child's face. "Margaret won't have me in the dining room," sobbed the lit { <- girl. ' "She says she's busy, and tha* . nak'e a noise." "What were yoi. AO;ng?"- ' "Only writing my exercise. I'll get the strap to-morrow if it. isnt^done." "Well, see here, I'll clear /: ihis 'end of the table for you. Will that'ao?" "Oh, yes," said Mary, beginning to smile "again. "You are" nice, Nelly.' I likV you ever so much better than Margaret." "Oh, you must- not say that.*. silly. , Margaret has • such important 'things to think of. rhat'sSyhat. makes". her"' seem cross." ■** -■ '»-< . _-„,v:. ;. «<'2 "Well, anyhow, 1/ don't ;&e" what .use all that stuff she 4eafns/ is.'" ri!Hie"2has never time to help -Anybody. Everybody likes you Best.'^ Jack never came - 'here otK»"\ while ' you were -"away," aadfi-j-^?""- : '.- ■' "Mary, doiyoii wantf'a "dog-drawn on' your exercise book?", interrupted - Nell, 'as she stooped >to take the calces ., from thk ,oyen. -, . " s. % ' V "YouVve got' to find time to practise 'that* song with .me, Nelly,",. interrupted her* brother's voice ■ from the • doorway ; '* "and. oh, 1^ say, the dad will* want a lot ofreading for that blessed shorthand of his. He hasn't had any "since you went ,away. He got Meg on to it one , night, and it, was the fun of the world. She "would do it her way* and he would have it his, and there was a fine old row." .."Well, -well, Ned, I'm more used tothe--reading than Margaret. "'"Stop talking, ~jbhereV''a "dear 'old-fellow, -and- 'carry- this tray into, the dining room. for- me." -. ' , \ It was a busy evening for Nelly. Herfather's reading took two hours, . NedV practising another one. Mary^ took it into~ ' her head r to have the -dog on her ' exercise ' book-coloured .with water-paints, and only" first- class-w ork satisfied' this critical young lady. - .' At half-past 9 Margaret came, home from a meeting of the Psychological Society, ,to which she belonged. As she passed the; door of the room 'belonging to her.gisters,v she heard the murmur of voices, a^rid paused, a moment to listen. .. _* Nell was putting Many to bed. ' '• • "Good-night, darlings' Nell was saying. "Good-night, Nelly .dear... Say me a wee" prayer before you go." , \ "Dear Lord, bless my dear. little Mary,'!, began Nelly's soft, sweet voice, when" Mary interrupted with; "Nelljr,.ask . to let me be a' teacher ami have, a.sirap:--*'-' ..Nelly 'added- thia* somewhat unusual re*;. quest'; and then_thesmaU. vcace, again, jnade;; itself heard : "And.ask that! may. strap &US' the' 'dirty' ones and kiss v allfth& clean, ones;?'/' • "Oh, we w.bn't say that; Mary.\ .rGbb'd*'.night, darling.". „ 'i ' ' "GoodVnight, t dear, ( dear^ Nelly. i ,ih'<" you better than anyone else irf'the v wortd'.f- '" The girl standing Jn the doorway turned, slowly away, feeling vaguely, lonely, andthat Nelly, simple little Nelly, had found vsomething which she, the cleverer of the"' two, had missed. ; • v - " » v. • • ,_, .The next evening Nell was busy in. Cue ,- garden, which was her own special domain.^ No one ever looked after it except her, and' during the last fortnight weeds innumer- , able had made their appearance amongst - the flowers. Presently Jack Thomson came along the r street. If he had had any intentions of , passing the gate they were certainly put to flight by the sight of Nelly amongst her flowers. "Good-evening, Miss Nelly." "Oh, good-evening, Mr Thomson," said Nelly, her voicajower than usual. " Won't - you come in?" she added, as the young man hesitated at the ga^s "No, I only wanted to speak to tou for a moment," answered Jack, and .'then he was silent again. He neve.: found it difficult to talk to other girls. r . For them jie ; • had always, plenty of gay. chaff on the, tip I>l .his tongue. But it was impossible t.Ochaff Nelly. Pojs one thing,* she boulei 'n/ot - have answered it. . //.- ■--■'' - ""- . - " I've had: some goodvluckOtquday,, -Missr Nelly;" he said at last "Yon kn6w,,B{ji~ son, our chief clerk, left the other day-;, and Messrs Jones have given me- his place..""Oh, I am glad," said Nelly, heX, soft eyes shining with pleasure. " That' will .be^ I an important rise for you, won't it?'.' f "Yes. my salary will be £5200 a year now." I' begin to feel an awful old miser ■with no one but myself to spend it op.' Nell laughed. ' r - \ ■ " You will find plenty of people who will 1 only be too glad to .spend it for. you," she.

a momen