Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-02-07

her house, not only occupied the "front
room," but actually fastened the door lead
ing from said room to the kitchen. II was
sundries Tor the refreshments for the visitors
He was, therefore, obliged to 60 round to
the front door. On his way there, bearing
a large waiter heavily laden with crockery,
glass, cake and sweetm-ats, he walked into
an external celar-way, making descent of
about six feet in single step. There was
a crash OF crockery, and loud uterance OF
some very unharmonous expletives, and
still louder peal of laughter from old Mr..
Ogden, who sat in the kitchen chimney
corner. The old gentleman was no friend
TO genteel limo, atoms.
Miss Ellen Ogden's example was there
fore, conclusive agains, having the young
folks in the kitchen. They must occupy
the front room, and il must, therefore, BE-
prepared and, as the evening would doubt
less br cool, it was necessary to have fire
lighted there.
The fire was ligtpd about the middle of
the afternoon but the smoke manifested
very nnaccommodatine, and, in fact, quite
the chimney, ii pursued an opposite course.
1t most irre,ereutly took possession Of all
parts of the room, and rolled itself up in
folds near the ceiling, as if to get out OF
Kesiah's reach.
Some very combusible materials were
then procured, and blaze again produced,
in the hope that it would prove more tract
able. Alas! it caught the spirit and fol-
lowed the example of the smoke, and with
increased energy and insolence. lis first
act was to fly into Kssiah's face, as she was
kneeing on the hearth, kindly tanning it
into existence. 1t then reached its iorky
tongue almost to the middle OF the room,
and then curled it over the mantel-piece,
to the great peril Of a curiously wrought
paper basket, the visible proof Of kesah's
attendance at select school. 1t then
seemed smitten with sudden impulse TO
examine the chimney; whereupon the
chimney took fire, to the infinite terror OF
Mrs. Jones, who was sure the house would
be burnt, with all things animate and
inanimate thtreunto appertaining. To
make sure OF saving something, she seized
heavy iron kettle filled with water, and
carried it so far from the house that it would
not he likely TO be SET on fire by the falling
sparks.
As soon as the chimney was fairly on
fire, both the flames aud the smoke seemed
to think all the fun lay in that dir-Ction.-
They accordingly went up the chimney as
steadily as if they had never gone any
where else. The smoke in the room, re-
cei,ng no enforcement, stole quietly out
of the open door, and dissapptar AIRED as quick
ly as possible.
The room was then put in order; table
was placed in the centre, and all the chairs
in the house, except one for Mr.. Jones,
were ranged close to each others around the
walls of the room.
By "early candlo-light" about twenty
girls were assembled. They were as talka-
tive as it may BE- supposed twenty girls, in
a room without their mothers or men,
would be-. "Why don't the gentlemen
come :" was asked mentally by more than
one. At length footsteps were heard APP
preaching. The girls who happened TO be
standing took their seats. All the chairs
on the side of the room opposite the door
were, in a moment, filled with maidens as
demure, for the time bring, as the most
precise could desire. Suddenly there was
loud Stamping on the doorstep, very
energetic mode OF divesting ones boots Of
snow or dust, preparatory to an entrance.
The stamping, and the faint knock which
succerded, were followed within by a most
profound silence, which was broken only
by the suspirations of one whose ideal
beauty OF form was manifestly either the
hour-glass or the wasp. Kesiah opened
the door, and the young gentlemen found
themselves in full view OF an unbroken
line of silent beauty, in thu face OF which
they were expected TO advance. They
faltered-each pressed his neighhor to go
forward. No little confusion was apparent.
Among other truths then and thrrp ilustra-
ted, was the important onr that geometry
cannot claim a monopoly of angles. After
some delay, an entrance was effected. The
chairs opposite the girls We're secured. The
door was left open. No one seemed dis
posed TO risk the loss of his post by rising
10 close it. Some of the ladies wore short
sleeves, that is, had bare arms-the mont,-
m, nta alabastrr smo0thness of which was
seriously affected by The ngrpss of the cold
evening air. A daring fellow at length
arose and clos d The door.
Along the line thus formed there was a
silence as deep and almost as expressive as
that which sometimes precedes battle
After while, there were some whisper
ings on the part OF the girls, and suppress
sed giggle; hot the young men preserved
a profound silence aud most praseworihy
gra, ty. The seats seemed somewhat hard
er than those to which they bad been ac-
customed and il was pretty plain that
most of them wished they had left their
hands at home.
A rap, as with walking-s,ick, was heafd
at the door. "That is Mr.. Foster" whis-
pered one. Miss Becky blushed at the
sound either at the knock or the name
Kesah opened the door, and Mr.. Benjamin
J +. Gulic stood before her, dressed in his
best. He walked in with as much dignity
as if he had come from California instead OF
the chamber over the kitchen. He sat
down, and, for moment, initiated the gra-
. IL q A Al. Al.