Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-12-09
WHITE L1Es-kRrcH-EM IF you CAN!

WHITE LIEs-KRTcH-EM IF YOU CAN S
The close of the bracelet dinner did not !
end the troubles of the Ketchens after
they adjourned to the parlor they were sub
jected to fresh annoyances. They were /
catechised upon subjects the most foreign !
to their feelings and wishes; and in order )
to keep up appearances, they We're COM
PEELED, by the mandates Of the Goddess at )
whose shrine they bowed, to more than
once eyade.qn ti2rs iiess.sk utter positive
falsehood, though recognized IN sceftafn
codes as allowable, or rather hes that are
Dhite. !,
LA! la z! Mrs. Ketchem," exclaimed
one of the guests, ''you must show US your
fine bracelet-you needn't pretend you
havn't got a new one, and you needn't
blush so about it either; you thought you
would keep it secret and come out with
its jewels flashing to the astonishment Of
everybody, but we were fast enough for
YOU we heard you had made the purchase
almost before you got home from the jew
eler's. Please let us see it"
''The bracelet--a-hem-th bracelet"
stammered Mrs. Ketchem, ''the bracelet
was found upon close inspection to have an
imperfection, very. slight though, hardly
perceptible in fact, and it was this very
morning returned to the jeweler in order
to have it repaired"
"Oh [ am so very sorry we did not
come sooner" said Mrs. Williamson, "but
we can 90 by the jewelers. and see it. |
Il OH oI +a II Iyn # If |
fancy the pattern and am sure [ shall"
ooh never mind" exclaimed Mrs.
Ketchem, beginning to writhe under the
torture of her inquisitors, "never mind |
shall send for it tomorrow and you can
call over and see it-you know it is a te
dious walk down as far as Third Street"
Mrs. Ketchem would not that her guests
should have called at the jewelers. to in
spect that bracelet for all such ornaments
in the city; and little did the Williamsons
think that they had just enjoyed a sumpt-
uous dinner bought with that identical
bracelet, but Eaton knew and he growled
at Rhoda because there was so little of the
good things left for him.
81 am so glad the opera season is so
near," exclaimed the youngest of the Misses
Williamsons, 'it will be such brilliant
affair-such taste displaye much beau
ty colected-such rivalry among the elite.
Oh long for the excitement Oh dear
never thought of the shawls you bought
day before yesterday until SllfiS-lnesncrt /
know am not in love that makes me for
yetful or absent-do let us see them-we
will not describe the style to a living SOUL
The sisters Ketchems looked wistfully
at each other moment vainly striving tc
know what to say from each others coun
tenances. 1t required some tact to justify
the shawl question: Clara was an adep
and in her answer she was successful. Sait
she,
"After we had made the purchase, Nh
Lassiter sent US a note, saying that he ha'
Just received advices from his exportin
agent, and in few days he would have
t lot on hand, far superior to those we st
y lected, and superior in fact to anything ths
: had ever been seen in this market, and b
Il prevailed upon us to await their arriva
: which he consented to do upon the cond
i ton that he give us information immed
It diately in order that we might have tt
first choice"
/ A smile lighted up the face Of Nh
n Ketchem, which seemed to say, "well dol
S, my daughter!"
Ii Dear Mrs. Ketchem," said Mrs. w
d hanson, II am sorry to trouble you, but
= am so much pleased with the desert "
rs set before us to-day, and it was somethil
n so entirely new that l must beg Of you
1f give me the recipe"
Ot "No trouble at ALL" said Mrs. Ketche
er glad to get moments relief from her CO.
n pany; Il will 90 now to Rhoda and pl
h. cure it."
w She went to the kitchen and accost
nd the cook -" Rhoda, Mrs. Williams
re wants the receipt for the desert to-day
es do you know how to give it 2"
ev ''The rcsate is it We are in want! Nc
ke Mrs. Ketchem, an how do We serpose t
,w likes o me should be afther KNOWN al
ne thin about Mister Drittenbrook's resa
M at all, at all Go along wild ye and !
nw be afther punishin' the faIeins of p
nd woman the likes O meself, by askin'
To- such costly resates, the likes o which
nd not in all Ireland at all"
Did That was enough. Mrs. Ketchem
the turned to her guests, and remarked,
,rd "Mv cook is in rather bad humor
no day, and at present she obstinately refr
St: to give the recipe. She seemed to tn
rn- it was presuming on my part to ask he
impart information which cost her so m
r.. to obtain All! the poor Irish! NJ
s Is mind, Mrs. Williamson, when Rhoda
O, = comes more docile will obtain the rec
bor for you"
The The inconvenience-the sin of pride
hev Lying, hypocrisy, deception all follow {
o Of it as consequences, the most natural 2
en- held the sceptre in the Ketchem Mans
She and many were the outright falsehoo
che extorted from them. Pride was their
,aIls ter, and they bowed like servie slave
one its beck and nod. Pride demanded
in hood from their lips to cloak the shan
non poverty that was fast coming upon Il
On = And Pride commanded them to kee]
ink their former appearance of wealth ane
ood- biIity at the expense of truth and mors
What But why snoulu we stoP 10 colnnen
irm- The reader is already far in advance {
The Williamsons arose to depart
and Ketchems could not express half the h
alE the Joy and the pleasure they had res
h;ob from the visit paid them, no indeed, n
the implored to call again at an early da,