Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1855-06-13
For the Grand River Times.
Fashionable Calls What an Old Lady


thinks of them.
When an old lady, like myself, gets fixed
up with clean cap on, and sits down in the
old arm chair, with her knitting, think she
is very respectable looking piece Of furn-
ture. ! suppose the young ladies don't think
her very ornamental; but young folks,
nowadays, need something in their parlors
to remind them that somebody lived before
they did. So sit in Johns parlor, knitting,
day after day; living type of the good old
en- time.
Old ladies are not expected to say much,
so have time to think great deal. | can
remember when it used to be fashionable to
90 a Visiting, to take the children and stay
all the afternoon. have often wondered how
there can be so much mischief made; and
why sensible ladies should say so many fool
ish things, when they 90 calling-as fashion
able call does not exceed fifteen or twenty
minutes but | am convinced tits because
the calls are so short; they know if they
begin to talk on any subject they won't have
time to do it justice; so they seldom, if ever,
make the attempt.
Last evening Johns wife sat by the win
dow eagerly devouring the contents of nov
el she had been perusing all day Ito the neg
lect Of herself and children), when she look
ed up and suddenly exclaimed:
"Goodness gracious There comes Mrs.
A. B. and c.. | hope they are not going
to call here"
She glanced hastily around the room, and
gave her hair brush in time to receive the
ladies with sweet, sistcrly smile, assuring
them that she was "very happy to see them !
She feared" she said, "they had forgotten
their old friend, and was never going to call
on her again.
Now Johns wife had no intention Of say
ing anything wrong. She did not for one
moment consider that she was telling false
hood She knew she was expected to say
something, and that was the first thing she
thought OF, so she said it; carelessly hope.
The ladies were very intelligent looking,
and / indulged the hope that we were going
to have some conversation. Inquiries were
made respecting each others health; the last
new novel and fashion plate were discussed f;
few commonplace remarks were made; a
little merry-making at the expense of one of
their dear, confding friends, and they
all relapsed into silence. | began to think
they had nothing more to say, and would
soon take their leave, when Mrs. b., address
ing Mrs. A., said:
"Have you called on Miss J. yetY'
"No! nor do not intend TO-" was the re-
ply.
"Why?" said Mrs. c., ado you know any
thing against her?"
"No, | do not know anything against her
but if all have heard be true, | am conf
dent she is not the person you, or | want to
associate with"
"What have you heard?" inquired Johns
wife.
"lt is against my principles to say any.
thing to injure any body" replied Mrs. A.
"and more especially a girl that is alone ii
the world; no good can come by re-
peating the stories; l hope they may not
be true;' and that very conscientious lady
sighed heavily as if her heart were relieved
Of great burden.
The ladies withdrew after striving in vair
to get Mrs. A. to reveal her secret. | be-
lieve she always kept it; but she had drop
ped spark of fire, and knew it would ge
breath enough to kindle it into a grea
flame.
They had not been absent but few min
utes when Mrs. d. and E. came in. Afte
a while Johns wife interrupted their GOSSIP
by asking them " if they had called on Mis-
J.w 4d3
"No," said Mrs. D., 81 was intending Il
call on her this evening; won't you so witt
usw
an. and / would not advise you to-"
! "Why notp said Mrs E., 81 called ol
her last evening and think her very amiabl
and interesting girl" .i'e
at is very easy thing to appear amia
ble," said Johns wife, "but Mrs. A. say
dreadful stories are told about her at her form
er place of residence" ..-., ~ 4
Indeed" said Mrs. E., ." never though