Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-12-01
THE EVENING STAR,
4 CHAPTER FOR WIVES.

have neglected Of late and then drop in and
take a friendly cup of tea with my niece OiaFa
Having completed my household arrange
ments / accordingly set out after an early
dinner, and the shopping done, made my nrst
cali Mrs Ashburtons warm welcome, pleas
ing talk and cheerful hreslde would have
proyPd strong temptations to induce me to &C
cept her invitation to stay for the evening, had
not felt anxious to see my niece, whose res.
idence was much nearer my OWE.
On arriving at Claras door, l was not little
surprised TO see no light In the front part OF
the house. " am afraid they are not AT nome,
thought /, with a regretful mental glance
backward to the pretty home picture mad
Just left But l was mistaken. servant
came IN answer to my ring at the door-bell,
and ushered me into the dinlng-room, lit the
gas and then went to summon her mistress. L
had ample time TO look about me before CARA
made her appearance, ard could not help adj
miring the perfect order and good taste which
prevailed in the apartment and its furniture
/ was the more pleased to notice this as my
niece, when married did not promise to become
very notable as q housewife.
was beginning to tire of waiting-my brisk
walk over, l felt chilly in the nreiess room
when Clara entered, fastening a little article
OF dress evidently just assumed. Her greeting
was most cordial, and yet there was 4 shade OF
regret IN her tone when our frst salutations
over, she said: why, my dear aunt you did
not ct me know You were coming, and
should have been better prepared to receive
you"
Surely, Clara repliet mo preparation
is needed before you can bestow cup OF tea
rear a Telitive as l am. Pray do not
make my friendly call into a ceremonious visit
or L shall be tempted TO run away again In
place of W aitiug till after tea, and begging Mr.
WnitfOrd'S escort home"
PRAY dear aunt, do not think of such thing
i will hight this fire in q nom emf, and the room
Will be warm and comfortable"
So saying, Clara was aOout applying light
between the bars OF the crate when L stopped
her.
lyon must have a fire some where, my dear
l SAID, "and where you Were sitting when L
arrived, WILL am sure, suit me best III am
TO disturb any OF your arrangements Will leave
you forthwith
"Then, if so, aunt, you will have to excuse
nv taking you into the nursery
"Anywhere to warm hreside, Clara, but is
Whit I'd from home!"
"No aunt: he is here replied my niece, her
color rising as she spoke.
i laughlngly congratulated her on her nus
bands liking for the company OF her first
born: but percei wing no evidence OF pleasure
on her countenance, 1 asked If the baby was
well
ooh, yes, quite so, thank you, aunt. To say
the truth, il was my doing that are in the
nursery tonight, and Frederick is not too
well pleased about II, but 1t saves so much
trouble, and the other rooms have Just been
cleaned and put in order. But do not say a
word,' she added as she opened the nursery
door.
My nephew advanced and shook me warm
ly by the hand, and then, turning 10 Clara,
said, II hope, my dear, you do not intend TO
make your aunt nursery guest. If you do
shall not wonder If her visits becom still more
rare
L FASTENED to assure him that 1 had been
no difference might be msde; but quietly ring
ing the bell he desired the servant to light the
dining room fire, and bring wood W hen ii was
well burnt. CLARA bit her lip, and looked r 4:
and uncomfortable, while 1, feeling stlIl more
so, occupied myself in admiring the baby. /
could, however, distinguish easily enough, two
or three little articles which convinced me
that a tea equipage had Just been removed; and
certainly this was not what l should have eX-
pected TO see at Claras home, knowing the
comfortable and even atf1 uent income of her
husband i felt sorry that my unceremonious
visit should have produced such an alteration
in the arran gements: for l could tell by the
production of sundry keys, etc, that many
artic les not in common use were to be Brought
out and the evening meal deferred on my ac-
count. Besides, felt grieved at Mr. WHIT
lords Ill conceived vexation, not displayed
towuSdS me- hui bis wife,
At 1ehgs1s3s We're summensd" to 4 Sdining-
room; and truly wonderful change had been
effected there. A bright rre illumed every cor
ner, an elegant tea equipags-Was on the table;
in short everything lOoked-as l had hoped
at first TO find it-ln accordance with the po-
sltion Of its owners. Moreover, the pleasant
aspect of affairs banished the clouds from Mr..
Whitford's face and so agreeably did the time
pass, that / quite regretted when obliged to
bid my niece s'good night"
GOOD night, dear aunt said Clara, kissing
me affectionately, "do come again but dc let
me know when TO expect you"
"And them" added Mr.. Whltford after the
the dining room fire will be lighted before your
arrival. Dear aunt, what do you think of
CLARA 8 new nOtlCnS OF domestic economy!
When we were first married she was rather
ignorant of household matters;-now we are
so exceedingly orderly and careful that every
thing is too good to use. The drawing-room
first became So then the dining room under
went a thorough renovation, and the nursery
resOrted TO for temporary convenience during
the repairs, has become our regular abode, the
other only being used on state occasions, prob
ably our next remove will De into the kitchen.
i 90 into others houses and find that their mas
ters can introduce a friend at any time with
the certainty of causing NO embarrassment. In
my home on the contrary, the call of relative
even, produces quite q revolution: for plate,
china, In fact everything presentable, is laid
up in lavender like the rooms. / wish YOU
say something TO Clara on the subject, as l
know you possess great influence in that quar-
ter
"Have you named the matter, Frederick"
i asked.
"Uh, yes, a thousand times, think; but l
cannot effect any change. l trust you Will be
more successful"
81 will try, at any rate" said /, as l took
leave of my nephew In Law.
Having thought over the matter, i arranged
my plan of operation. L decided 1t would be
better 10 try the effect OF an opposite picture
CIara's mind, before giving utterance 10 any
remonsuance, tor l we'll knew that young
housewives do not generally relish the poine
interruption Of heir elders. l therefore called
on Clara-haylng previously given her due
notice OF my intentlon-to accompany me in q
long Iamble: and contriyed to be near Mrs.
Ashburton's just as tea-time vas approaching,
and we were thoroughly tired.
CLARA, said l ''w nat Is TO prevent our OBJ
tanning rest and refre shment! / can insure you
both, and besides, you are not cutie a stranger
TO Mrs. AshburtOn."
"Oh, dear aunt. / could not think of such a
thing, we should be sure to cause inconve-
nience.'
"Ion shall Judge for yourself. Clara L an
swered; land If you think so half an hour
hence, we will journey homeward."
The moment we were admitted, | frankly
told my friend that had come expressly to
claim her oft-tendered hos pitality for my niece
and self, and we were tired but still had a long
walk brfore
"How glad am my house lay in your route"
replied she. Tea is Just coming in, and my
husband will be here directly"
In a. few moments he arrived, and we were
ali seated, prepared TO join IN the evening
meal.
i noticed Claras glances at the perfect order
which surrounded US, and the elegant but SIM