Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-12-08

some other cause-nearly all who had been
invited made their appearance
1t was found utterly impossible to crowd
ninety persons into two moderate-sized
rooms When these were filled to their
utmost capacity, it was found necessary
to throw open the dining room for the rest
of the company
OF course, iD the crowded state of the
rooms, 1t was found impossible to do any
thing but sit and converse There was
no space for dancing-none for whist par
ties ! for the tables, much to Mrs Smiths
modification, who wished to display them.
had been removed in The early part of the
evening. to max room for visitors
! A venturesome young lady was at length
found. who, though suffering from cold
as matter of course, was prevailed upon
to seat herself at the piano, and sing a
popular air.
Under cover of this, the company began
to converse.
How perfectly absurd in Mrs. Smith,
remarked Miss Pinfeather, the old maid
for whom that lady had such particular
regard, to her next neighbor, how perfect
ly absurd in Mrs. Smith to invite such a
crowd, Anybody might know that she
had never given party before-I beg
parden, solree, for SO she chooses to call it
L don't believe the woman knows what the
word means
just SO; but suppose Celeste put it
into her head She feels mighty smart,
now she's been to boarding school one
term
L wouldn't give snap said Miss Pin
feather, emphatlcaliy, for all she ever
learnt there. You see those daubs up
there, pointing to the landscapes which
looked down from the wall; well. she did
those with the help of the teacher If
were III her mothers place, ID throw EN-
In the fire sooner than exhibit them in
that way. [ suppose those animals in the
one on the left hand are meant for sheep !:
pefh4ps they look like them; at any rate.
| should feel sheepash enough if [ had
done them
Miss Pinfeather laughed grimly at her
: own wit, and her companion followed her
example.
4 Declare said Mrs Gray, who, with
her three ungainly daughters, was jammed
up in corner, from which she was quite
unable to extricate herself, if tbs is a
sotfee, hope never to 90 to another
might as well go to Quaker meeting, for
all the pleasure | shall get from it
And have you noticed, mother said
Sophia Gray, how absurdly Celeste Smith
} is dressed If [ had no more taste than
she, [ never would do anything without
! consulting somebody
At this point, the young lady who had
been exerting herself at the pi mo for the
edifieatlon of the company modestly with
drew, and no one could be found to take
} her place
What is to be done now q was the
thought which arose in the minds of all.
1t was too soon to bring the refreshments
on, or these would have sufficiently occu-
pied the attention of the company
At length some quiet play was thought
of, IN which all might engage without in
volVlng the necessity of moving about
much. In this way the time was got rid
of till it was thought expedient, as one or
two were in haste to depart, to bring in
the refreshments.
One of the attendants whom Mrs
Smith had engaged, having been unable
to appear, Julia, the Irish maid of all
work, was pressed into the service
Mind said Mrs. Smith, and do as |
tell you. You will carry round the tea !;
you must go and fill the sugar bowl with
the sifted white sugar, and wait till every
one has had time to help themselves to
sugar and cream
Sure, ma'am, and [ will,' said Julia,
confidently.
She was accordingly despatched on her
errand
1t SO happened that she came first to
Miss PInfeatber, who, though an old maid.
having sweet tooth, supplied herself
abundantly from the sugar bowl
She began to sip her tea, but at the first
sip she laid down her spoon, and looked
completely mystifed.
w hat in the world is the matter with
the tea 2 she asked of her next neighbor
Il think SAID she, that it tastes very
much like salt
so it does that stupid Irish girl has
substituted salt for sugar. Well, this is
queer sort of a party
She was interrupted by scream from
the opposite side OF the room. Julia, who
had found it difficult to make her way
| through the crowd, had safely disposed OF
all her tea but one cup, and this she was
about to offer to Mr. Fuller the young
| lawyer, when she tripped over some object
4.
in whose lap the contents of the cream
pitcher and last cup of tea were landed
'Howly Virgin CALCULATED the discom-
fitted young lady a., she rose from her not
| very graceful position on the floor sure,
| hope you amt hurt, and I'll get you
some more tea directly, | will 7
Thank you,' said the lawyer, rather
drily, L shant have occasion for any
more, a remark which excited general
laugh, during which the speaker, who did
not feel altogether comfortable, withdrew
| Mrs Smith, who had received cup
of tea from Julia, but had not tasted it,
noticing the significant looks of those la
dies who had, proceeded to imbibe it, when
she found, to her modification, that salt
had been substituted for sugar She was
| about to apologize, and have the mistake
remedied, when her steps were arrested