Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-03-07
III isre1lanp.
Mrs. Strings Reception.

MIS-. SClrl1ngS hecepLlon.
"When thou makest dinner, or supper, call
not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy
kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors."
As John Strings pretty wife was
speaking. she let down the soft, heavy
falling brocatelle curtains of the hand
some room, half parlor, half library,
where she sat with her husband; turned
Oh little more gas, so that the Italian
peasant girl and the dark, bright Span
ish woman, on the alabaster shade of the
drop light, might display their beauties
yet more glowingly; and then seated
herself in { little easy chair, beside the
lounge, where her husband lay stretched
out in the enjoyment of the masculine
comforts, evening ease and household
sovereignty Taking up dainty bit of
bright-colored knitting, she went on:
ait was very nice, to be sure, board
ing t mothers, but it was sort of va
cant life after all. This is SO much bet
ter. | have something to do now
John Stirling smiled. s.s
&C And some thing to govern. After all,
l believe it is the love of power that
makes you women so delight in homes
of your own don't doubt, gentle as
you seem, that your servants find you as
austere as the great Mogul.
Il declare John, you are too bad, |
never scold, and I'm sure everything
has gone on so nicely since We have
been here
"a 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 hus
band began to want o hear her voice
again, and rallied hec Tor her abstract
ion.
What is it, little one? You seem in
brown study about something. Re
member I'm your prime minister, and
must know alPthe state secrets and cares
of government"
II was only won ering, John, whether
YOU would see certain matter as L do
Do you realize how many parties we
went to while we were at mother So
There we're the Hurlbuts asked us three
times, and the Graysons twice, and you
know We went everywhere"
John Stirling knew that very welE-
Somewhat reserved Of nature save to
those of his own household, and not fond
Of general society, going to continual
round Of parties had been one Of the sac
rifces he made, during the first winter
OF his marriage, to please the gay little
wife. The idea crossed his mind, as she
spoke, that she too had wearied of such
excitement, and was going to propose,
for the future, quieter life.
eyes," he answered, II know we went
out great deal, but 1 thought you
liked it.
"Yes, like it," she said, with little
embarrassment, for her woman's intoi-
tion OWNED the course his thoughts had
taken "I was only thinking, John,
that, having accepted so many invita-
tions, every one would say we we're mean
if we did not give at least one large
party in return. 1t would be Just the
time now, don't you see? Everything
we have is fresh and new-our drawing
rooms are really elegant! I should SO
like to gather our friends round US, and
give sort of house warming!'
That's a primitive, comfortable
sounding term, Nellie. How much
would this friendly little affair cost us?''
"Oh, I've thought that all over. We
should have to ask every one we know.
1t wouldn't do to slight any Besides,
the more the merrier, you know. We
could have Smith get up the supper and
furnish the decorations His bill would
he about three hundred and ffty-say
fifty more for music; and new dress for
me"
Give hundred dollars, eh, Nellie?'
Eyes, | am sure l could make five
hundred do it handsomely | could
send out the invitations for week after
next"
"Well, dear, you must let me dream
over it. 1 really didn't know recep-
tons were such expensive affairs. Five
hundred dollars for an evenings enter
tainment; and the prospect of hard
winter, and much suffering among the
poor! Well, I'll tell you in the morn
ing. If can make up my mind that
it is right, you shall have the party"
The rest of the evening was little
constrained. The young wife seeing
that her husband did not care to talk
bout the reception any more just then
struggled bravely to avoid the subject
and inasmuch as it held possession Of al
her thoughts, was rather an aosen
minded companion.
That night after his wife was quietly
asleep 5eside him, John Stirling spen
an hour of not untroublsd thought