Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-02-21
Misfelta nj
FLA M II BROw w MS sE
S q r PR ISE PART VI!
By MRS. S. P. DOUGHTY.

Prise party, MISS TOlly! asked Farme1
Brown, as he sat by the kitchen fire
quietly smoking his pipe, and listening
to an animated account which his daugh
ter Mary was giving of a surprise party
tshe attended the previous evening.
/ Mary drew up her light form some.
what resentfully, and with the least pos
sible toss of her pretty head she replied
/ IF you would only remember not to
1call me Miss Polly, father. You know
how much I dislike it.
"You were named for your grand
mother returned the farmer, 'and she
was never called anything but Polly to
the day of her death. However, we will
change it to Molly, if that suits you any
better. So answer my questions about
the surprise party, Molly"
"Why father, I thought every one
knew what they were. They are allthe
1 fashion, I assure you. A party ofyoung
and old, as the case may be, unite to-
gether in providing music, a supper, and
everything necessary for an evenings en-.
tertainment, and agree to meet at GER
tain time at the house of some mutual
acquaintance, who is kept in Ignorance
/ of their intentions. They take possess
ion of the house-dance, frolic and en-
Joy their music and refreshments, just
as if they were invited guests. The
family finding there is no help for it.
take it all in good part, and join in the
amusements of the evening. Last night
the party was at Mr.. Lawton's. / wish
you could have seen their looks Of con-
sternation, as one guest after another ap-
peared until their small rooms were
quite crowded. Jane and Margaret
made their escape as soon as possible, and
dressed themselves for the occasion"
tsMore fools, they said the farmer.
l"Better have gone to bed. A pretty
pass things have got to, if mans house
is no longer to be his castle. That has
been the rule ever since I can remem-
ber.''
"But there is no harm in those par
ties, father" urged Mary. "Everything
is provided, SO that the family thus Wis
tied are at no trouble or expense
/ "That may be, daughter, and yet
there may be thousand reasons why
they would prefer not having the com
pany. 1t is in my opinion, unwarrant-
able intrusion, and should not be eoun-
tenaneed by sensible people"
tBnt would you treat them eiviily, if
they should ever come, father?"
Mary made this inquiry in rather an
anxious tone, for more than once. she
had heard it limited that Farmer
Browns old kitchen would be just the
place for dance" ss
"Civilly, to be sure" replied the
farmer "Did you ever know me to be
uncivil to any one? I should tell them
my mind pretty plainly, am thinking
So saying, the good farmer rose from
his chair, knocked the ashes from his
pipe, and carefully, replaced it in its
usual nook, and then walked briskly
away to the performance of some of his
outdoor duties
"Never mind Mary said Mrs. Brown
consolingly, as she observed the look Of
uneasiness on her daughters counte-
nance. ri dare say your father will not
object to your having party, if you
wish T.
"But I do not want to give party,
mother. l want to let them come, II
they like, and find that they cannot take
me by surprise. !" =
aWell, let them come, then, returned
the accommodating mother. "I'll war
rant father will be civil. Ifhe does not
Hike the fun, he can go to bed And
with this comforting suggestion, the
busy old lady again turned to her spin
ming wheel, the buzzing ofwhieh put an
end to all further conversation.
I Several weeks passed away, and the
cool breezes of autumn had given place
to the more piercing and decided blasts
of early winter. Once more the farmer
sat in his customary place at the freside
It was near the hour when he usually re-
tired; but as kind of prepars on for his
mighty slumbers, he was indulging in a
light dose, or perhaps deep reverie, in
(which visions of his we'll filled barns
and granaries, and all the recent har-
vest, foated before him in blissful sue
cession. -; s.
An attentive observer might have no
Iticed that the fire blazed with uncom.
monty cheerful light, considering thai
the old clock had already struck the
hour of eight, and that. the farmer
lrigidly adhered to the maxim, Early te
bed and early to rise. y - : :. -
There was an uncommonly careful ar.
rangement of every article in the spa
Ecious apartment, and also an unwontec
attention to her own toilet, which, added
to certain restlessness in Miss Mary
Idemeanor, showed, that with her, a
least, scoming events cast, their shad
ows before AT length came loud
and, it must be confessed, somewha
anxiously expected rap at the door.
HWho is here at this time Of night!'
lexclaimed the farmer, as he started from
his chair, rubbed his eyes and looked a
the clock.
"Some traveller, suppose, who want
nights lodging. Let him in, Mary.
But Mary had anticipated the com
mand, and now ushered into the room
worthy farmer and his family, all il
their best attire, and apparently intend
ing to make an evening call.
| a'Glad to see you, neighbor jenkins
Met with any accident on the road?
was the blunt but kindly salutation 0
farmer Brown.
"None at all, neighbor Brown. W
have just dropped in for chat this fin
winters evening"
r'Glad to see you," repeated th
farmer. ssBut I thought it rather late
that's all. But no matter for that; sti
up the fire, Molly, and help the girls o.
with their things"
But now another laundering rap a
the door, and the arrival of a new part
of guests, excited still more wonder i
the mind of the perplexed farmer; Will