Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-07-13
G8e Stol.p GelIer
FOUR KINDS OF CAKE"
OR MRS. SoMES' TEA-PARTY.

Somes, matter-offact, plain spoken sort Of
man, to his better half There you have got
no less than four kinds Of cake; three kinds
of pies, two kinds of preserves, to say nothing
of knick-knacks and gim-cracks.
The fact was that Mrs. Somes was having
the minister and his wife, and TWO grown up
daughters to take tea with her. She had
been engaged for three days in the prepara-
tions, and such display of nice things was
calculated TO astonish the minister and his
family-to give them a twofold surprise, first
at the variety and extent of her folly in at
tempting to make display far beyond her
means.
The Somes were in comfortable circum-
stances. Mr.. Somes was farmer, and prob
ably his income might have amounted to four
hundred dollars per annum.
Mrs. Somes was a prudent, careful house
wife, who wasted no more of her culinary
skill upon her own family than was absolutely
necessary. But she delighted in making a
grand appearance when she had COMPANY
Mr.. Somes and the boys were sometimes so
ill-natured as to growl at her careful canter-
ing, when the house contained no company :;
and it cut them to the bone to see such ex-
traordinary preparations for the neighbors
1t was kiss the cook, when'4hey were alone,
but the board groaned with plenty when there
were guests present.
Mr. hoA A.
sitting-room where the table, with all its
tempting array of vIands was spread He did
not like it bit, and after passing the time of
day with the parson and his family, he pro-
ceeded TO the kitchen where his wife was Just
taking the hot biscuit out of the oven.
What do you mean by folly, should like
TO knowp replied Mrs. lothian Somes, some
what tartly.
She was second wife, and having been re-
deemed from one of the advanced stages Of
maidenhood, her temper had grown little
sour before she became wife.
The folly of setting table as YOU have
yours, replied her husband. i should think
you were going 10 have the President and the
Royal family to take tea with you
am going to have The Rev. Mr.. Meeklie
and his family
But can't afford such extravaganza as
this. You will ruin me-
will take care of my business, if you
VIII take care Of yours returned the lady.
slamming the oven door.
Perhaps this is not my business
No! I'm sure it is not
Who pays for all them gew-gaws and
ginl-cracks q
You do, of course
But it is none OF my business =
mo- | never thought you were so con-
founded mean = said the lady, her face red
dening with anger.
Mean I'm not mean! But when you
get victuals for your own family, you think
almost anything is good enough for them
We never see any pies and cakes and knick-
knacks.'
Do you think Pm going to make pies and
cake for the men folks to eat every day z re-
torted the indignant housekeeper.
Then don't do it for company. What is
good enough for me, is as good as / can afford
to give my visitors
really believe if you had your way, you
would have me as mean with company, as the
Smiths
The Smiths are as good folks and as liber-
al as any in town; and III warrant Parson
Meeklie thinks heap more of them than he
does of you, with all your four kinds of cake =
You're fool, Mr.. Somes !!
am fool enough to know that folks are
not judged by the quantity of sweet cake they
put upon the table when they have company.
repeat it there are no better folks in town
than the Smiths
s'pOse not; but they had nothing but
cold biscuit and molasses gingerbread when
we took tea there
That's as good as they can afford but it
is no better than they have every day, and |
admire their independence
They're contemplate, mean folks, there =
why! Because they don't attempt to
make folks believe they live better than they
do! For my part, don't think it is any bet
ter than hypocrisy to make such a parade OF
Victuals as you do, especially when it is hard
work for me and the boys to get a decent
meal of victuals
Did anybody ever hear the like q groaned
the lady, who had by this time arrived at the
pitch of excitement, when tears are more eff
fective than words.
Perhaps they never did but if ever see
anything of this sort again, they will be pretty
likely to hear of it, replied Mr. Somes,
throwing off his blue frock, and commencing
his preparation for taking tea with the minis
ter.
The plate of hot biscuit was placed in the
midst Of the profusion Of fancy eatables with
which the table was crowded. The minister
and his family were duly seated, and the GER
emony proceeded decently and in order.
Mrs. SOmes had not wholly recovered from
the excitement of the interview in the kitchen,
and her hand trembled slightly as she handed
Mrs. Meeklie her tea. Mr.. Somes had
donned his best blue coat with brass buttons,
which had done duty as Sunday garment
for the past fifteen years.
L .l~-k. 81 Il