Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-02-25
Whole No. S7L
8eletteo Gales.
'FRONT.' the Western Continent.
SPOlLING A GOOD DINNER.
ny 7. .. ARTHUR

Come md dine with me on Thuss-
day. said my old friend Clayton. Il am
10 have the company Of three or four
friends, and wish you to be one of ths
number
accepted the invitation with ples.
sure, for liked Clayton: We had been
scqnain'ances from boyhood, and mature
years had only tended TO strengthen the
uuac hmcn's of youth. 1 also liked his
wife. She, too, had been one Of my
early friends Many an agreeable even
ing had ] spent with them since their
marriage and ifthe story am about
to tell does not give them offence, 1
hope TO spend many more in their plea
SAINT society. As to the telling Of tho
story, this is part Of my vocation but
in matters Of this kind, ] generally man
age to establish a little here aud there,
and IN change names and vary ineidsnts
in such way that the parties. who have
been made 10 sit for their pictures, sIs
hardly ever willing 10 see therein sGy
likeness OF themselves. Aud this being
the case in the present instance, I hard
ly think ! shall give any offence; ahho'
| am not unwilling that my friends wife
should at least have a remote idea that
she might have been the original Of my
sketch. ......r ....,
Like oil women, and men, too, Mrs.
Clayton had her faults; and one Of these
| had frequently had occasion To- notice.
The fault was this a habit Of making
the worst instead Of the best, OF q thing.
she took q dress TO be made, she al
ways knew il wouldn't fit. II she laid
out TO start on a journey at a certain
time, or TO pay a visit, she knew il would
rain. IL one Of her children were at
tackled with fever and sore ihros'--
not very uncommon thing, by the way,
she knew il was scarletina.
One evening I went home whh her
husband, per invitation TO take tea
Mrs. Clayton expected me. and was
received with the warm welcome that al
ways greeted my appearance. During
pause in the conversation that followed,
| heard her say to her husband, in nm
under tone
I've made up some nice cakes Tor tea,
but am almost sure they won1 rise, just
because I want them to-
Nonsense y he said, half aloud,
smiling You are an old croakern
That's too bad = she replied, speak
ing aloud and then turning towards
me-'My husband cali. me n croaker +;
hut j, is no such thing. am no more Of
a croakcr than he is
'Oh yes. Kate, you are a notorious
croaker. You always look O., the dark
instead Of the bright parts in a picture
while ] always expect the sunshine,
though too often, must confess, J find
the sky overspresd with clouds. Still,
imaginary sunshine is mach better than
imaginary clouds s-don't you think soF
] could not bur assent 10 this.
Il am not sure Of this,' replied the
wife. For my part, I wooId much rather
expcc, clouds and get sunshine, than es.
pect sunshine and get clouds. But |
will leave you, gentlemen, TO discuss
this matter between yourselves, while }
20 and see that our tes is no, spoiled
In about an hour, during which time
We had seen but little Of Mrs. Clayton,
the tea-bell was rung, and We retired
from the parlor into the dining-room.-
We found her awaiting Us ut the tea
table, looking the very image Of good
humor.
The cakes are light, ] said to my
self, scarcely able TO reprcss smile
I bad overheard her remark that she
was almost sure they wouldn't rise good.
Aher we we've helped round, my
friend said, with a smile
AN right, ! SEQ, Kote, not wit
Come, no, one word, Mr.. Clayton
quickly spoke up his vile, ipterrupting
him. II is too bad she added ,sdSres.-
ing mo, for my husband 10 DO so.
ssid I didn't believe the cakes would
rise, and ! had good reason for saying
81. But il seems ! wss mistaken, for
which am very ihonkful, and thinh no
ought 10 be the same
And so ! am, returned the husband,
n