Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-01
MAKING Calls.


Simply by liking what we havs!nr
Mary" said Charles Hendepon to his wife,
as they rose from their noontidb repast, "this
would be pleasant day for youto 90 out call
HI suppose / could, ]" was tia reply. "But
/ should have to take Charley With me, for
promised Jane she might hsvs this after
noon"
well, then, draw Charig down 10 the
store and I'll take care Of him" said Mr..
Henderson kindly; and as hs wife followed
him to the door, he gave hers goodbye kiss
and walked with elastic tread down the neat
ly grsyslsd path leading toths little white
Mary stood looking after hin with loving
eye, and thought, "what der, good husband
he Is ought TO be very thankful"
It was a lovely day in 0cober, and the
breeze stole gently through tbs crimson vine
leaves clustering around the ,issza Of their
cosy cottage hoRe. Mr. Henhrson was en-.
gagged in the mercantile busines in the thriv-
ing town of Westbury. industrious and frugal
In bis habits, he babe fair to become q sue
cessful merchant; and his young wife was ever
ready to lend a helping hand and by her.
economy and tact, aided him mGe than either
of them realized. Nevertheless, she was not
always contented with their still, humble lot,
although she seldom troubled her husband
with any complaint. Many of Ter acquaint-
ances moved in higher circle o society, and
she was by no means insensible to the inferi-
ority Of her furniture and dres when COM
pared with theirs; and il must be confessed
that the remembrance Of this fpt sometimes
caused her an unhappy hour.
On the afternoon In question hese repining
thoughts throngsd unbidden round her heart,
and soon gained undisputed possession Of that
citadel. She turned away from the door with
listless air and sscended the stairs to her
own room How cheap the pntty chamber
set looked in comparison with Mrs. Thorn
tons elegant rosewood furniturt The white
window shades, too, were vastly inferior to
the costly curtains that draped the windows
cf her aristocratic friend; and how low the
ceiling was and how mean the ingram carpet
seemed to her ambitious vision And as she
began to make her toilet for the afternoons
walk, she calculated impatiently:
"Oh, dear! I've nothing at to wear. Ny
black silk looks SO doHdy, and then We worn
Il so much; aud my blue is at least two inches
too short. do think Charles might let me
have a new dress; but it's always the way, a
merchants wife must be the last one served.
WELL" she concluded with q sigh, "I must
wear the black" and as she fastened the des-
pissed dress she couldn't help mentally con-
Tossing that it fitted her trim form most ad. .
mirably, and although more than two years
old, had borne its age remarkably well. Her
neat straw hat, with its bright fall ribbons
and flowers, was very becoming: nd her street
basque, Just the style, although made out of
her old cloak. Her kid gloves we're not new,
bat were free from those untidF rips which
too many ladies leave unmended Surely those
articles Of apparel were not in tativs of s1-
Before donnfng her outer urspings, how
ever, she prepared her twelve-ponth boy for
his visit TO "Papa's store" A inc little fell
low was the pet Charley, and when clad in
his new merino dress, with prdty cloak and
fancy hat, he might well be lo.k ed upon by
loving eyes with fond and proudsfection
Jane helped her mistress TO trsw the little
carriage down the steps, and OFT of the gate,
and Mrs. Henderson proceededon her way In
rather a more desirable frame mind.
She met several ladies who slipped 10 kiss
Charley, and call him ga iegeI'' ia bsauty, /"
and "s splendid baby" and sriving at her
husbands store, he greeted hx With his ac-
eustoned kindness, and pro0ily lifted his
darling boy from the carriage, and telling his
-ife to enj1y all she could and be homo at
tea-tins, he again bid her "gOsd-bye"
Her first destination was ME, Judge Thorn
tons, the brown stone house en- the hill: she
vas one of the slite Of WestburJ As Mrs.
Henderson opened the heavy iron gate, and
walked up the box edged walk, she gs1ed half
enviously upon the elegant mansion and its
tasteful surroundings. The yard was very
large, containing fine trees and shrubbery,
vases Of geraniums, and mounds Of vsrbena
and heliotrope, while q fouitain threw its
crystal spray high mp in the autumn sunshine,
falling again with musical sound into It's
marble basin.
She ascended the marble neps, and rang
the bell. and was aided by a servant into q
dimly-lighted parlor; sat dow on the purple
velvet tete-a-tete and looked about her. II
was ell marble, velvet, and rosewood, every
thing that fancy could deTiSs or art invent;
bat Il took ed too formal, too f.uItIess, and the
visitor remembered that II was a childless
hone,-there were no ting feet to tread upon
those gorgeous carpets, mo little hands ts
disarrsnge those curious Ornaments on the
etegsre.-no young facet TO be rejected in
those full-Iength mirror Ind she said to
herself, II would not i've my Charley for
them all - tFE :. p.
Just then the rustic of brecsde was heard,
and Mrs. Thornton la1guidly entered the
room. eheiwas q pale. nughty- looking per-
son. but when she spokeithere was a gentle
cadence in her tsnes tha afold she might have
been an afectionate ant happy woman had
love but touched her bart With its magic
wand. But the blessed ministry Of children
had been denied her, snd ADDITION was the
idol Of her proRd husband Il was evident
that amid all the laxuriss q wealth she still
felt lonely and sad ~zs sa-rE - .
After brief call, Mary ikt, and as the iron
Rebo again ClduSc4 noAAn9 sue ShFb sign
Of relief and hastened on to1rs LiVermores, g,
who lived in . large white hansion nearly op-
posits Judge Thorntoh's. ghen Mrs. Hen
derson took her seat in the larlor, she need ed
no previous scquaintance Nth the family to
assure her that children foroed an important
element of her household. ,bs door was liter
ally streun With toys; Q boksn- headed aoll
lay on the sofa,--a rocking lorse stood In the
middle Of the room and imnediately after her
entrance q noisy boy rushd inysnd began
bonndings ball, ct the iHmnent risk of mir
rors and vases. he was soo followed by two
girls, with dirty faces and prone, Who we're
quite overwhelming In theirattention to Mrs.
Hsndsrson's bonnetstrings and lace trim
mings.
At last Mrs. Livermore erersd, wearing q
wrapper which might once lave been Of rich
cashmere, but which was nov quite too much
soiled 70 be elegant. She hei her baby In her
arms, and although its role was Of finely
wrought csmbric, 10 was too nueh crimped and
dingy 30 be excusable In the ,yes of Mrs. Hem
derson, among whose distinguished traits was
q love Of neatness and order. The call was az
Agresahls ss could have bee, expected under
the circumstances. Mrs. Lksrmore was an
easy adable woman, but too ndolent or care