Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-02-10
mrs. STlRLING'S RECEPTION.

land so we are really settled IN our own |
house 1t seems too good to be true, don't |
itP
AS John Strings pretty wife WAS speak |
ing, che let down the soft, heavy falling bro
catelle curtains of the handsome room, half
parlor, half library, where she sat with her
husband, turned on little more gas 80 that |
the Italian peasant girl, and the dark, bright |
Spanish woman on the alabaster shade Of |
the droplight might display their beauties
vet more glowingly, and then seated herself
in little easy chair beside the lounge, where
her husband lay stretched out in the enjoy
ment Of the masculine comforts evening
ease, and household sovereignty. Taking
up dainty bit of bright-colored knitting,
she went on:
at was very nice, TO be sure boarding at
mothers but it was a sort Of vacant life af
ter all. This is so much better. l have
something TO do now"
John Stirling smiled
"And something to govern. After all,
believe, 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."
IL declare, John, you are too bad. 1
never scold, and Pm sure every thing
! as gone on so nicely since we have been
here
"a whole week and all the brooms new.
But don't look sober. have every conf
dence in your ability to keep the wheels
moving"
She sat silent awhile until her husband
began to want to hear her voice again, and
rallied her for her abstraction.
"What is it, little one? You seem in
brown study about something. Remember,
I'm your prime minister and must know
all the state secrets and cares of govern
ment."
81 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 Hurlbuts aske | us three times, and the
Graytons twice, and you know we went
everywhere"
John Stirling knew that very we'll Some
what reserved of nature, save to those of
his own household, and not fond of general
society, going TO q continual round Of par
ties had been one of the sacrifices he made
during the first winter of his marriage, to
please his gay little wife. The idea crossed
his mind as she spoke, that she, too, had
weared Of so much excitement and wa
going to propose for the future quieter
life.
eyes," he answered know We went
out a great deal, but I thought you liked
it."
ayes, liked it, she said, with little
embarrassment, for her womans intuition
OWNED the course his thoughts had taken.
81 was only thinking, John, that having ac-
cepted so many invitations, every one
would say that 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? Every thing we have is so fresh and
new-our drawing g-rooms are really ele-
gantl l should so like to gather our
friends round US and give sort of house
warmingw
That's primitive, comfortably sound
ing term, Nellie How much would this
friendly little affair cost us ?"
"Ob, I've thought that all over. We should
have to ask every one we know. Itwouldn't
do to slight any. Besides, the more the
merrier, you know. We could have Saith
get up the supper and furnish the decora-
tions. His bill would be about three hun
dred and fifty, say fifty more for music, and
new dress for me"
'Fiye hundred dollars, eh Nellie?"
ayes, am sure l could make five hun
dred do it handsomely. l could send out
the invitations for week after next"
"Well, DEAR you must let me dream over
it. l really didn't know receptions were
such expensive affairs. Five hundred dol
lars for an evenings entertainment, and the
prospect Of a hard winter and much suffer
ing among the poorl Well, I'll tell you in
the morning. III can make up my mind
it is right, you shall have the party"
The rest of the evening was little con-
strained. The young wife seeing that her
husband did not care to talk about the re
ception any more just then, struggled bravely
to avoid the subject, and inasmuch 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 quie
country home where five hundred dollars
would have been thought by no means in
adequate provision for the support of tn
whole family during the entire year Wa
it right, could it be right, to spend it al
upon one evening entertainment, for tn
sake, too, Of people who would be in noWis
benefited thereby-whose choicest pleasure
were so common that they had alread
palled upon their senses But, then, as hi
wife had suggested, they had been out s
much, would not this drawing back from
return of ciyilities look very mean an
John Stirling shrank, with all the pride o
q sensitive man, from the least imputatiol
of meanness. They were not rich. Tru
his capital was his own, aud his busines
was good but he had felt that he could nC
spend more than three thousand a year o
home expenses, and here was five hundre
extra, upon which he had not counted, CON
ing at once. Surely he could not dare, 70
such q cause, TO stint his contributions fo
the relief Of the suffering2 Could he affor
it Without Nellie, the indulgent child O
wealthy parents, knew nothing Of such anx
ious thoughts; she only heard the result il
the morning Before he gave her his good
by kiss, he said in tone little more so
ber than he meant ii should be,
DWELL, dear you shall have yoursparty
You can begin making your arrangement
at once Here are a hundred dollars ia
the feminine adornmentsi | will pay Smit
and the music afterward."
That was all. John Stirling had a sunny
Il 4..,xa. onI ,ghap Ia 10 nm bi