The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-07-28
vAGIAC CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN THURSDAY JULY 2S 1852

not met for several years before, and
who was doing prosperous down
town business.
1t had been casual encounter on
Broadway, such as oftentimes happens.
They had walked along together, con-
versing cordially, until at length the
corner was reached where their
paths diverged. But their say was
not half said, and in warmth of his
heart, Wilfordinvited his friend "home
to tea" with him. Mr.. Maynard ac-
cepted the Offer Six o'clock was his
own fashionable dinner hour; but he
did not say SO; neither did he mention
that has ac:fe was at "a naatine and prob
badly wouldn't be home at present.
And the cordial manner of his friend
made him sigh and think of the old
times, when he had been want to sit
down to dinner just as the creeping
sunshine reached the "noon mark " on
the old kitchen floor, and when "sup-
per" wasn't an association of gas lights
champagne. sugartemples, and spicy
game, but quiet meal, taken just when
sunset Redeemed the crest of the tall
poplar trees on the hill All the good
old ii nes
1t was long since he had been in
snch tiny, unpretending room as that
where he now sat, accepting the cup of
fragrant tea from Amy Wilford's dex-
trous little hand. Yet everything was
SO bright, 50 neat, SO exquisitely taste
ful-the fire glowed so redly, and the
rose-buds in the vases gave. such re-
fined grace to the little blue tea-service
and the common-painted waiter, that
he felt at once that he was in the at
mospllere of home!
He never missed the silver urn, or
the goldbanded china of his own state
ly table never noticed that his feet
did not rest among the velvety crimson
shades of his own Wilton carpet; nor
preceived the wide differences between
Amy's linen collar aud shilling delaine,
and Honitons and brocade that his fash
ionable helpmatc wore; but he knew
there was some charm here which was
lacking at his own hearth-stone.
1t was genuine old fashioned "tea'
hot biscuits, amber preserves, deli
cate pink shadings of dried beef, and
cake that would make even dyspep-
tic smack his lips. Maynard could not
help complimenting the edibles. He
didn't get any such at the restaurant
where he lunched, and his wife's Irish
kitchen corps had an altogether differ.
ent idea of things.
"Oh!" said Amy, laughing, 81 made
them myself"
"Did you?" He looked at her hall
amused. 81 did not know ladies ever
employed themselves nowadays"
1 am capital cook" said Amy
We are obliged to study economy
somewhat, and so l am my own house
maid."
"Then you don't belong to the rose
leaf sort of ladies, who think it horri
ole to touch their white fingers to &
cooking utensil %
"No, indeed :" she said opening hel
blue eyes in astonishment. cit keep.
me healthy and happy; and as Charle,
has to work hard in the store all day
it is only fair that should do my part.
"Many are foolish enough to think
such things below them," he said, with
almost sigh.
81 DON'T" she said, smiling. "]
think nothing below me that helps to
make my husband happier; or to bright
en- my home"
! 1t was simple little saying, bu
Maynard pondered on it long. Wa
it the secret of household bliss !?
He looked at her little etdrge of wei
selected books-the guitar and pile o
masic in the corner-the exquisite
drawings hanging on the wall, which
MILFORD proudly told him were ANY,
own-the pine cone temples and mos
baskets, and little womanly trifles sh'
had amused herself with-thc bits o
embroidery-the stands of geranium
and heliotrope-even the piled al
work -basket-and thought within him
self how true woman graces ano
glorifies every thing on which her hand
may rest!
Finally, she came in from a kitchel
beyond, the white apron exclaimed fo
a timer one of black silk, and sal