Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-09-09
THE !4ONORED GUEST.


A SHORT CHAPTER FOR WIVES
"W ell" said /, one fine morning las
week, 81 have the prospect of leisure
atternoon-a somewhat unusual thins
with me-apd, all being well, l will dc
little needful shopping; call and pas.
an hour with my old friend Mrs. Ash
burton, whom on account of the distance
have neglected Of late, and then drol
IN and take friendly cup of tea will
my niece, Clara Whitford."
Having completed my household ar
engagements, l accordingly set out, afteI
an early dinner, and, shopping done
made my first call. Mrs. Ashburton'.
warm welcome, pleasant talk, and cheer
full fireside, would have proved strong
temptations to induce me to accept hei
invitations to remain for the evening
had | not felt anxious to see my niece
whose residence was much nearer to my
own.
On arriving at Clara's door, was g
little surprised to see no ght in the
front part of the house. 81 am afraid
they are from home," thought I, with a
regretful mental glance backward at the
pretty home picture | had just left.
But L was mistaken. A servant came,
in answer to my ring at the door-bel
and, ushering me into the dining-room.
lighted the gas, and went to summon
her mistress. Ihad ample time to looI;
about me before Clara made her appear
ance, and could not help admiring the
perfect order and good taste which pre-.
vailed IN both the apartment and its fur.
nture. L was the more pleased to note
this, as my niece, when unmarried, did
promise to become very notable as a
housewife. [ was beginning to tire OF
waiting-as my brisk walk over, l felt
chilly III the tireless room-when Clara
entered, fastening q little article ofdress
evidently just assumed. Her greeting
was most cordial: and yet there was a
shade OF regret in her tone, when, our
first salutations over, she said:-"Why
my dear aunt, did you not let me know
you were coming, and | should have
been better prepared to receive you"
''Surely Clara" | replied, "no prepa.
rations are needed before you can be-
stow cup Of tea on so near a relative
as | am. Pray do not make my friend
! ly visit into a ceremonious visit, or !
shall be tempted to run away again, in
place Of waiting until after tea, and beg
ging Mr.. Whitford's escort home"
Pray, dear aunt, do not think of such
a thing, [ will light this fire in a moment
and the room will soon be warm and
comfortable"
So saying, Clara was about to apply a
light between the bars of the crate.
when | stopped her.
"I on must have a fire somewhere, nv
deaT and where you were sitting be-
fore | arrived, will, | am sure, suit me
the best. If am to disturb any of your
arrangements, | will leave you forth
with"
Then, if so, aunt, you will have to ex-
cuse my taking you into the nursery 81
"Anywhere to warm fircside, Clara.
but is Mr.. Whitiord from homer
"No, he is here" replied my niece,
her color rising as she spoke.
| laughingly congratulated her on her
husbands liking for the company of his
first born; but perceiving no evidence OF
pleasure on her countenance, asked
her if the baby was well.
'Y es, quite so, thank you, aunt"
ooh, the truth is, it is my doing that
we are IN the nursery tonight, and Fred
erlck is not too well pleased about it:
but 1t saves us so much trouble, and the
other rooms have Just been cleaned and
put in order. But do not say Il word .
she added, as she opened the nursery
door.
My nephew advanced, shook me
warmly by the hand, and then, turning
to Clara, said:-'I hope my dear, you
do not intend to make your aunt a nur.
sery guest. If you do, | shall not won.
der If her visits become still more rare. >
L fastened to assure him that | had
been brought there at my own request
and begged no difference might be
made; but quietly ringing the bell, he
desired a servant to light the dining
room fire, and bring word when it was
burnt. Clara bit her lip, and looked
red and uncomfortable, whilst l feeling
still more so, occupied myself in admi.
ring the baby. I could, however, dis.
tinguish easily enough two or three lit.
tie articles which convinced me that a
tea equippage had just been removed;
and certainly this was not what should
have expected to see in Clara's home.
knowing the comfortable and even af.
fluent income of her husband. I felt
sorry my unceremonious visit should
have produced such an alteration in the
arrangements: for could tell, from the
production of sundry keys, &c, that ma,
ny articles not in common use were to
be brought out, and the evening meal
deferred on my account. Besides this
felt grieved at Mr.. Whitfeld's ill-eon.
cealed vexation, not displayed toward
me, but his wife.
AT length we were summoned to the
dlmng-room; and truly a wonderful
change had been effected there. A
bright fire Illuminated every corner: an
elegant tea equipage was on the table
in short, everything looked-as 7 had
hoped at first to find tin accordance
with he position of the owners Mora.
over, the pleasant aspect of affairs han.