Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-09
aUortester 9ailp SPY.
MRS srERLING's RECEPTION.

she let down the soft, heavy falling brocatelle
curtains OF the handsome room, halt parlor,
half library, where she sat with her husband
turned on little more gas, so that the Italian
peasant girl and the dark, bright Spanish wo.
man, on the alabaster shade of the droplight,
might display their beauties yet more glowing.
ly and then seated herself in a little easy
chair, beside the lounge, where her husband
lay stretched out in the enjoyment of the mas
cullne comforts, evening ease and household
sovereignty, Taking up dainty bit of bright
colored knitting, she went on:
1T is very nice, to be sure, boarding at
mothers, but it was a sort of vacant life after
all. This is so much better. have some
thing to do now
John Sterling smiled.
And something to govern. After all, l be-
lieve it is the love of power that makes YOU
women so delight in homes of your own |
don't doubt, gentle as you women seem, that
your servants find you as austere as the Great
Mogul"
81 declare John, you are too bad. never
scold, and Pm sure everything has gone on SO
nicely since we have been here"
IA whole week, and all the brooms new.
But don't look sober. l have every confidence
in your ability to keep the wheels moving"
She sat silent while, until her husband be-
gan to want to hear her voice again, and raj
lied her for her abstraction.
'What is it, little one -? You seem in a
brown study about something. Remember.
I'm your prime minister, and must know ali
the state secrets and cares of government"
II was only wondering, John, whether you
would see certain matter as do. Do YOU
realize how many parties We went TO while
we were at mothers. There were the Hurl.
butts asked US three times, and the Graytons
twice, and you know we went everywhere"
ILL, IL, Al.
what reserved of nature, save to those of his
own household, and not fond of general socie-
ty, going 10 a continual round OF parties had
been one OF the sacrifices he made, during the
first winter OF his marriage, to please his pav
little wife The idea crossed his mind as she
spoke, that she too had wearied of SO much
excitement, and was going to propose for the
future quieter life.
Eyes" he answered, 81 know we went out
great deal, but thought you liked it,"
Yes. liked it, she said, with little en-
barrasSment, for her woman's intuition OWNED
the course his thoughts had taken II was
only thinking, John, that having accepted SO
many invitations, every one would say we
were mean if we did not give at least one
large party in return. 1t would be just the
best time now, don't you see Everything
we have is so fresh and new--our drawing
rooms are really elegant. | should so like TO
gather our friends round US, and give sort of
housewarming.
CHATS primitive comfortable sounding
term, Nellie. How much would this friendly
little affair cost US ?"
ooh, I've thought that all over. We should
have to ask every one we know. 1t wouldn't
do TO slight any one Besides, the more the
merrer, you know. We could have Smith
get up the supper and furnish the decorations.
His bill would be about three hundred and
tity-say fifty more for music and new
dress for me-"
:'Five hundred dollars, ell, Nellie 2"
eyes, am sure | could make five hundred
do it handsomely. l could send out the invi.
tations for week after next"
"Well, dear, you must let me dream over it.
l really didn't know receptions were such ex-
peusive affairs. Five hundred dollars for an
evenings entertainment; and the prospect of
hard winter, and much suffering among the
poor Well, I'll tell you in the morning If
can make up my mind that it is right, you
shall have the party"
The rest OF the evening was a little con.
strained. The young wife, seeing that her
husband did not care to talk about the recep.
ton any more just then, struggled bravely to
avoid the subject, and inasmueh as it held
possession of all her thoughts, was rather an
absent minded companion.
That night, after his wife was quietly
asleep beside him, John Stirling spent an hour
of not untroubled thought. Unlike Nellie, he
had been brought up in quiet country home,
where i've hundred dollars would have been
thought by no means inadequate provision
for the support OF the whole family during the
entire year. Was it right, could it be right,
10 spenu IL all upon one evenings entertain.
ment, Tor the sake, too, of people who would
be In nowise benefited thereby-whose choic-
est pleasures were SO common that they had
already palled upon their senses But then,
as his wife had suggested, they had been out
so much-would not this drawing back tro:.. a
return OF ciyilities look very mean ?-and John
Stirling shrank, with all the pride OF Il sensi.
tive man, from the least imputation OF mean.
ness. They were not rich. True, his capital
was his own, and his business was good but
he had felt that he could not spend more than
three thousand Il year on home expenses, and
here was five hundred extra, upon which he
had not counted, coming at once. Surely he
could not dare, for such a cause, to stint his
contributions for the relief OF the suffering
Could he afford it without? Nellie, the in
dulgent Child Of wealthy parents, knew nothing
OF such anxious thoughts she only heard the
result in the morning. Before he gave her his
good bye kiss, he said, in tone little more
sober than lie meant it should be -
"Wel, dear you shall have your party.
You can begin making your arrangements at
once. Here is a hundred dollars for temi.
nine adjournment; l will pay Smith and the
music afterward."
That was all. John Stirling had sunny.
unselt1sh temper, and when he had made tip
his mind to grant his wife the indulgence sh,
cTaved, it would not have been like him IN
spoil her pleasure by any indications of dis
satisfaction.
Still, as | have limited, her intentions were
strong, and her nature sensitive and impressi-
BILE, and she had certain sense of having per
suaded her husband somewhat against his
own wishes, that rather dsinclined her to
commence her preparations, 1t was nearly
eleven o'clock before she dressed herself for
her shopping expedition She was just tying
the strings of her elegant fall hat when she
heard ring at the door, and presently a
servant came in with the information that
little child, who had brought home sewing
wanted TO see her.
Mrs. Stirling was motherly by instinct, and
her heart warmed at once to the shy little
creature who came timidly in. 1t was a girl
not more than seven years old-quite too
young, Mrs. Stirling thought, TO be trusted
alone in the Streets but then she herself had
been brought up under the successive rule of
nursery maid and goveTness.
She took the bundle from the child's hand.
and said, with the same bright kind smile
which had wiled John Strings bachelor heart
away,
Where did you come from, and how did
thing?" rOO' '''''s
"Sister Anne sent me- ma'am. She had
done your embroidery and she thought If she