The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-04-11

lltCc yOuIS ldu ~ WSHt III yOuT pdTlOT,
in the evening, and saw you all seated
about the centre table playing cards.
She said they were hastily put in the
drawer. Since that time people have
watched little and have seen you all
doing the same thing repeatedly"
"Have watched me ?" asked Mr..
Morris, "how?"
"Why, through the windows, when
the curtains were drawn aside"
A fash of indignation shot across
Mr.. Morris face: but he was minister,
and down went the burning thoughts |;
they must not pass his lips, although
such impudenee deserved reproof.
Mrs. Morris hitherto distressed face
broke into smile, almost sarcastic, as
she walked to the drawer of the shining
centre table, and took from thence a
bundle of cards, each Que bearing set
of questions and answers.
"Here they are" said she giving
them to the ladies; " our children call
them the Geography Cards, and we do
often ask and answer the questions, in
order that We may amnse and instruct
them at the same time"
Mrs. Crump gave two or three short
coughs and rose to say good morning.
Mrs. Drake, looking as if she were
the most prosecuted of human beings,
also arose and said she felt it her duty
to pay some visits in Silver street be-
fore dinner.
The pastor went with worn look to
his sermon, to take up the thread of
thought which had been so rudely bro
ken; and the wife went with a long
sigh to the baby she had neglected for
the morning call. She had scarcely
soothed it into slumber before she
was summoned in the parlor to meet
Miss Dutton.
The lady looked at Mrs. Morris with
her little faded ont blue eyes, and said,
holding up at the same time large
green bag dropsical with large amount
of knitting work and balls.
"Well, Mrs. Morris, | have come to
spend part of the day with you, quite
in the family way; now don't put your
self out at ALL"
Then taking off her shawl and bon
net, she settled herself into the best
chair, dragged the knitting from the
green bag, and began to knit and rock
--unwinding at the same time with her
sharp tongue all the news she had gath
cred since her last visit. She informed
Mrs. Morris that she dined at DIR. Halls
and that she had nothing on the table
she could eat; she never could bear a
boiled dinner; she did like something
that could be relished.
Poor Mrs. Morris began to think of
the resources of her larder, and fled to
the kitchen, to consult with her maid
of all works as to the dinner prospect.
Bridget, you may get both the
steak and salmon for dinner"
"But you'll be wanting the fish to-
morrow, ma'am," said bridget, startled
at this unusual prodigality.
know it, but we must do without
it; Miss Dutton is here to-day, and as
she is particular about such things, we
will try to please her."
The dinner, which was also relished
by an "agent for the amelioration OF
the Jews" being over, Miss Dutton
began to think of some neighbors she
might gossip with over dish of tea,
and soon took her leave, with the
green bag, much to Mrs. Morris com.
fort. ~
One hour OF quiet the tired mother
found in her nursery. AT the expira
tion of that time a very 10. looking
woman, with butterfly daughter on
her arm, hustled into the parlor, and
Mrs. Morris left her children with a
sigh, to have a session with Mrs. Hor.
ton and her daughter Mary.
Mrs. Horton breathed very hard, and
wiped her face as if the weather was
exceedingly hot.
"Mrs. Norris" cried she with a
shrill piping voice, "a few of us ladies
have for some time been thinking that
we would make you a present. mean
those ladies what's friendly to you.
My daughter Mary and myself started
the thing at one of the deacon's meet.
ings. We heard that you were going
to get new silk. spent the whole
of two days in going about with the
subscription paper, and have at last got
abuot money enough to buy pretty
good one; my daughter and myself
headed the subscription with one dol.
lar"
Mrs. Morris began to murmur her
thanks for the intended kindness, and
said she had needed such dress foI
some time.
"But" said Mrs. Horton, "we have
heard that you intended cutting up
your old one for Susan, and we don't
think it would be the most economical
plan; delaines and calico are good
enough for my children to wear when
they are young, and we ladies have
concluded about it and think you had
better keep your old one, to save the
new one, for / don't think Susan is old
enough to take care of a silk Dress"
"I cannot promise, Mrs. Horton,
said Mrs. Morris, rosy hue tingine
her cheek, ",to be governed altogether
by the ladies, in regulating the ward
robe of my children; l ought to be the
best judge of their wants"
! "Very well, Mrs. Norris" and the
fat lady seemed to grow warm in the
face, "Very well, if you can't choose
to accept a dress from us, we will make
no farther effort. We have had minis