The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-09-29
THE HoNoRED GUEST.
A short chapter for Young wives.

week, IL nave the prospect OF a lelSur
afternoon, a somewhat unusual thin
with me-and, all being well, l will d
a-little needful shopping; call and pas
an hour with my old friend, Mrs. Ash
burton, whom on account of the distance
l have neglected of late; and then drol
in to take a friendly cup of tea with m,
niece, Clara Whitford."
Having completed my HOUSEHOLD ar
rangements, I accordingly set out, aftel
an early dinner, and, the shopping done
made my first call. Mrs. Ashburton'
warm welcome, pleasant talk, and cheer
full Preside, would have proved strong
temptations to induce me to accept hel
invitation to remain for the evening, haG
I not felt anxious to see my niece, whose
residence was much nearer my OWL
On arriving at Clara's door, / was a
little surprised to find no light burning
In the front part of the house. al am
afraid they are from home," thought I,
with a regretful mental glance backward,
at the pretty home picture I had just
left. But / Was mistaken. A servant
came in to auswe my ring at the door
bell, and, usheriDg me into the dining
room, lighted the gas, and vent to sum-
mon her mistress. I had ample time to
look about me before Clara made her
appearance, and could not help admiring
the perfect order and good taste which
prevailed, both in the apartment and its
furniture. l was the more pleased to
note this, as my niece, when unmarried,
did not give much promise of becoming
a very notable housewife.
I was beginning to tire of waiting
as, my walk over, 1 felt chilly is the
freless room-when Clara entered, fast
ening a little article of dress, evidently
just assumed. Her greeting was most
cordial; yet there was a shade of regret
In her tone, when, our first salutation
over, she said" why, my dear aunt,
did yon not let me know you were COM
ing, and I should have been better pre-
pared to receive you."
"Surely, Clara" l replied, "no pre-
paration is needed before you can bestow
a cup of tea upon SO near a relative as
l am. Pray do not make my friendly
call into a oeremonious visit; or 1 shall
be tempted to run away again, N place
Of waiting for tea, and begging Mr..
Whitford's escort home"
spray, dear aunt, do not think of
such . thing, 1 will light this fire in a
moment, and the room will be warm and
comfortable"
So saying, Clara was about to apply a
light between the bars of the CRATE,
when I stopped her.
"You must have a FIRE somewhere,
my dear" l said, =" and where you were
when 1 arrived, will, 1 am salts
fed, suit me the best. If I am to dis
turb any of your arrangements, I will
leave you forthwith"
"Then, if SO, aunt, you will have to
excuse my taking you into the nurse
ry."
"Anywhere to a warm Preside, Clara;
but is Mr.. Whitford from home ?"
No, aunt, he is here" replied my
niece, her color rising as she spoke.
I ~laughingly congratulated her on her
husbands liking for the company of her
irst born; but perceiving no evidence
If pleasure on her countenance, I asked
4 the baby was well.
Oh yes, quite p, thank yon, aunt.
70 say the truth, it is my doing that
We are in the nursery tonight, and
frederick is none too well pleased about
{; but it saves so much trouble, and
he other rooms have just been cleaned
nd put in order. But do not say a
she added, as she opened the ,
nursery door. !
Ny nephew advanced, shook me
'armly by the hand, and then, turning
o Clara, he said CT hope my dear
on do not intend to make your aunt a
ursery guest. If you do, 1 shall not
'onder if her visits become still more ,
|
I FASTENED to assure Kim that I had !
cen brought there at my own request, =
nd begged no difference might be made; !
ut quietly ringing the bell, he desired l
servant to light the fire and bring
ord when it was we'll burnt. Clara
it her lip and looked red and uncom-
while I, feeling still more SO,
myself in admiring the baby. r
could, however, distinguish, easily a
two or three little articles which il
,nvincad me that a tea equipage had
lst been removed ; and certainly this
as not what l should have expected to II
70 in -Clara's home, knowing the COM \
and wen afiuent circumstances q
her husband. l felt sorry that my !;
nceremonious visit should have produc. :.
such an alteration In the arrange /
lents for l could tell from the produc k
on of sundry keys, Sc, &C., that many
'ticles not in common use, were to be n
out, and the evening meal de- Z,
FRED on my account. Besides this. I felt :
,ieyed at Mr.. Whitford's i'll concealed
'~xation, not displayed toward me, but d
8 wife.
At length we were summoned to the d
ming room; and truly a wonderful -
ange had been effected there. A Z
light fire Illuminated every corner
elegant tea equipage was on the table; "
short, everything looked-as l had o
ped at first to find tin accordance m
th the position of the owners. More.
er, the pleasant aspect of affairs ban.
ned the cloud from Mr.. Whitford's
,e, and SO ~agreeably did the time pass a,
1t / quite regretted when obliged to II
i Clara good night, i,
&c Good night, dear aunt" said Clara, u
kissing me; "do come b.
ain very soon ; but do let mo know b.
ZEN to expect you" CT
. And them" added Mr.. Whitford, =,
er the door was closed, " the dining "
I'm fire will be lighted before your ar 81
al. Dear aunt, what do you thiuk of A
new notions of domestic ecaGo- al
- When we were first married, she
8 rather ignorant of household mat :.
now We are so exceedingly order -
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