Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-09-05

possessed any conversational salcnt, he |
would have Jared badly enough, as his moth |
er and sister were opposed, upon principle,
to auybody's talking but themselves. AT
ell events, tae Sprggs were stylish m ap-
fearance; and somehow, as Polly Froth- /
inghaIns sharp eyes scanned them from
head TO foot, Mrs. Greene was pleased to
know that the shawls mother and daughter
wore were of real Chaniilly lace.
Though the tea passed off nicely, yet MIS-.
Greene could net help thinking thai y sha fe
crossed the faces of he Spriggs at its sim
piiciiy they being famous for their devotion
10 good cheeri nor could she avoid seeing
that Polly Frothinghah looked supercIli-
Gus, MS If thinking how much better she
could have managed everything. and FOR
this reason she looked forward to the even-
ing with added zest.
Little Lulu had remained close by her
mothers side, miracle Of goodness aud
quietness; bat Johnny. boy-hke, t ddled in
aud out among the company, and finally
taking his station beside Mrs. Spriggs,
pounded vigorously ON her knee to attract
attention, and began,
'See here, big lady, do 'ou ike goodies ?
SO, this big lady returning a smiling assent,
Johnny continued, 'Cause, if 'ou do, mann
my toe sis and me zat at nine o'tock wese
doin' to have OTIS of good tings. Jelly, and
sapes, and peaches, and ice tream. And oh,
! Jvhnny can't member all wese doin' to
1 havep
/ AT this unexpected information bland
expression stole into Mrs, Spriggs' FACE, and
] ,l,sA IL, oh -hny h.4r kpa
! she began to ride him to Banbury Cross
Mrs. Greene, not displeased at the COM
phments showered upon Johnny for his cum
ming speech, luckily did not hear Mrs.
rockingham whisper to Amanda Spriggs,
Pnor little dearl This sort of things is
quite novelty TO him. Bessie lives rather
plainly, as general thing, you see.'
Presently Mrs. Greene heard the hall
door open and her husband pass up stairs to
arrange his dress before meeting theii
guests. A sudden terror beset her. Wha
if Preston should have forgotten TO stop a
the confectioners She Immediately re-
jected the idea as absurd, bu; would have
no peace until she had seen him. Sc, whisp
ering Polly Frothingham TO entertain tn,
company during her absence, which, witt
an air Of ludicrous importance, this lady pro
ceeded TO do, Bessie stole quietly up stairs
She had not forgotten him, at all events
for, upon entering the room, he found hi'
best suit lying in state upon the bed, in com
pany with shirt of snowy linen. Wei
pleased the gentleman proceeded to make
his toilet, when Bessie, gliding in, said,
i was so anxious, Preston, that couldn'
rest until came up to make sure that yor
! had stopped at the confectioners,
Ce,..4-setiy,arsie = ssssonasrea hr. Greene
t Upon my word, Bessie, beg pardon But
: hang it all not getting my paper in the
morning threw me off the track entirely
, meant 10 have stopped at Knicknaek's the
first thing but had any quantity of busi
ness on hand, and, in fact, it slipped my
mind we were to have company al all, un
til | heard strange voices through the opeI
window.
And, with a very rueful face, the gentle
man handed back the neatly folded papeI
intended for the eye of the Knicknacks, ad
5 ding, I'm so sorry, wife But then, ther,
: is plenty in the house that will do upon ;
f pinch Tears stood in Bessie'5 eyes anJ
: you will think her model wife when | sal
? she refrained from single reproach, thougl
t she could not help saying TO herself, witt
4 some little bitterness, How stupid men are
They always think anything will dol
t The plenty Mr.. Greene represented a
/ being in the house consisted of hams, vege
5 tables, etc, which, of course, would neve
do TO set before company; and there wa
!. but one person Mrs. Greene could consul
in her difficulty. Among the neighbors sh
I had invited was kind, cheery matron, cal
D led Mrs. Homeyard. During diversion
' made by the entrance Of Mr.. Greene, Bes
: sic beckoned her from the room and explain
ed her peiplexities. Mrs. Homeyard wa
/ inclined TO take cheerful view Of the mat
: ter.
D i made some cake to-day. To be sure
: it's only cookies; but then they're nice AM
4 Eight, and you're welcome to them. An,
; you have jams in the house, likelyp
v Yes, 10 be surer replied Bessie, bright
r eniug up. i have pleity of strawberr.
jam, if that will do
0 So good Mrs. Iomeyard trudged off an'
+ presently returned with basketful of cake;
and the two proceeded 10 set forth the table
a Really, it didn't look so badly, in the end
t with rich bouquet in the CENTER purpl
It grapes heaped up at each end, and glass con
r serve dishes showing off the ruby-colore
: jam to perfection. Still it was so differen
], from what Bessie had expected, and wors
t still, so different from what Johnny had le'
:, the company TO expect, that with a it'll
e Hulter OF dismay, and wish that it was al
e over Bessie ushered her guests into tn
: pleasant dining room opening out of the par
d lur.
I Bessies manner, however, was quite fire.
5 from confusion, as she made a graceful an
# laughing apology for the absence of th
c choicer confectionery she had expected t
: set before them. Everybody protested, G
e course, that they couldn't possibly hav
e wished for anything niceri but, for all tina
e it was little tantalizing 10 Bessie to Sc
t Polly rockingham exchange glances wit
the Spriggs, aud thea say, in that bland
r patronizing voice which was so tormentin
to hear, that Bessie must be sure 10 give he
i the receipt for those cookies'-they wer
: so much healthier than richer cakes sh
e thought.
= The Spriggs did not leave New York i'm
r mediaiely, and Mrs. Greene had the dub
It ous pleasure of being present at an enter
NJ -.