Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-11-17
THE EVENING STAR.
OUR ECONOMICAL sOIREE.

Economy In household expenses has come 20
be the leading idea OF terrestrial sxistencs In
the minds OF Mrs. Dobb and myself We cal.
culate closely. We never did before since we
were married that can remember. But when
butter cost at the rate Of five cents Ia dab, and
everything else in proportion, housekeeping
EXPENSES become a ssrioss matter.
I was musing upon the announcement that
there was q rise OF three cents the pound on
veal since the daybefore-musing and eating
veal, at the breakfast table when Mrs. Dobb
spoke
birthday"
Ills nj" said I "Ho " old is she nowl"
"She is six years old and have promised to
hold 3 little party for her this evening"
"Susan, will 1t cost any thing2'
why. but trifie. James. Besides. Sallie
has never had birthday party, you know
"Sallie should not have her birthdays come
so often, wife, in such times Of these. How
long is it since bought her a self.operating
locomotive for a birthday present."
THAT was Susie, my dear. It's perfectly
distressing to me the way you do mix those
children up"
.But what will this soiree cost MS, Susan!
You are forever preaching economy to me,
and I'D like you to practice it little, and let
me preach. Its more fun to preach l ike
10 preach, first rate"
'Oh! there will have to be some nuts and ap.
pies bought"
And some candy of coursel"
"What, A baby party, ana no candy''
.If Won won't interrupt me at every word,
i
of moIasses, and am going to make the candy
myself Now there's one of my economical
shifts. i never got any credit for it."
"But what daupy job, Susan. Stretching
candy sticks a body's fingers up So.
"You didn't mind it when you were young
man, Mr.. Dobb. Have you forgotten the candy
was girl, James! Such glorious times IS
we used to have in that old kitchenl Why. it
was at one of those candy parties that you
paid me the first compliment ever received
from you"
=. An! what was that!'
"You said i was the sweetest girl in the
uThat was because you was daubed all over
with molasses, my dear-as you'll be tonight
again"
pleasure to revive, here in the city, the recol-
lection of those old days at the farmhouse. Do
yen remember those big hooks in the ceiling of
the kitchen that you threw great twist of
candy over to stretch it easier, when Mary
Howard helped your
sAh, those were happy days!" l said, mus
ingly, slipping my coffee.
0You enjoyed candy making thea, James"
..Yes,'' said /, coming back TO the present
and economy. al enjoyed q great many fool
ieh things when was young and innocent
counting, for instance.'t
"Weii, L haven't Loaf any zest tor simple
pleasures" said Mrs. D., with enthusiasm. 1
think 1t will be splendid to make the candy.
had thousand times rather make 1t than buy
it,
(which accounts for one of y our economical
shifts that you never get any credit for. En-,
my dear"
Mrs. Dobb looked daggers at me.
We'll, Susan, let's see what it will cost.
What's molasses the pownd now
II paid sixty cents tor two quarts"
"And applesP'
"a peck will supply the party; that will be
.And say a dollar and half for nuts. That
will be three dollars and seventy cents. 1t
will &c very economical soiree.'s
al should say 1t would, MIR. Dobb."
s,Gan I papar' said Sallie. looking nm at me,
with her spoon between her lips.
"Can you what, daIliIsl Have the party;
And helped her 10 another spoonful OF gravy,
out Of the full fondness of fathers heart.
won't it be bully, siss' cried Fred from his
How that boy does pick up the slang OF this
vicious age is astonishing! It's no use reprov-
ing it. "Boys will be boys" as friend OF
mine once remarked when he sat on bent pin
placed in his chair by his oldest son in frolc
some moment.
:" What a good papa he is!' whispered SAL
lie 10 her sister, next plate east
"Oh, he's gay"' slanged Fred.
gave SallIe some more gravy.
"Do you like kisses, papar put in Nellie
~ like everything good, dear. Why DO you
"Because we're going to have all the girls
kiss you to night
"They won't be big enough, Nell-not nall
prefer big girls to little ones"
"Jamesm said Mrs. Dobb, reprovingly.
"Oh, Mary Ann Smith is great big girl.'
said sal Nell "Her dresses almost come down 10
"Do theyl That's encouraging. Is Mary
Ann coming"
yes and two other big girls. They write
compositions"
Compositions, They must be getting very
oIdr'
compositions are such q proof of maturity
among these little bodies! Did you ever notice
"Bring the nuts as you come to dinner,
James, was my wife parting lnJuncuon.
All right, my q ear
I was detained downtown that afternoon
later than usual, and when l came nome D, IN
the evening, found the four little Dobbs SIT
ting in solemn state in the parlor, awaiting the
coming Of the guests.
children were in q high state OF commotion.
Sallie Jumped down from the sofa and made
dash for the door, but suddenly recollecttsg
herself, returned to her perch and smootned ner
hands over her apron
Bridget ushered into the parlor string of
seven boy of assorted sizes, who ranged them
selves along the wall without saying q word
But there WIS any amount Of subdued giggllng
among them.
The next arrival was cluster OF little girls,
looking as sweet as June roses.
1 went out 10 tea, and when looked in again,
the room was filled with the neighbors' pro-
geny, including Mary Ann Smith and two
other big girls.
Such staid conclave / never saw before in
my life. There they all sat, as bashful as mice,
never uttering a loud word, and scarcely car
ing TO look each other In the face. II was vast
ly amusing to me to observe the conventional
awe under which those boys, especially, Ia
bored; the very boys that had been saluting
eacn other roughly in the street an hour be-
fore, perhaps pulling each others hair. As
sedate as deacons now.
The ice was broken in this way:
One of the big girls, by the way OF opening
the ball, said to q youDgster Of SOM eight sum-
mers, named joey Perry.
ats pleasant evening, MI Perry"
"Oh, how are you Mr.. Perry" burst forth
our Fred, derisiyely, at the top of his voice
And then such a broadside of laughter! In
less time than it takes me TO write II the
youngsters were in hubbub as noisy as the
meeting had before been sedats.
They played the Post office" and "Cedar
swamp" and "Forfeits,' and all that sort OF
games, whose principal feature is an abun-
dance Of kissing. l went into my study and
began writing. The merry burst of laughter
came echoing 70 my ears, but they did not dis
turb me. am fond father.
One of the big girls came into my august
presence and threw cushion at my feet, on
W hich she kneeled. nnutinY at me- pair OF