The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-08-26

OUR ECONOMICAL so1REE.

calculate cl0Sely. We never did before since
we were married that / can remember. But
when butter costs at the rate of five cents
dab, and everything else in proportion, house
keeping expenses become serious matter
was muslng upon the announcement that
there was a rise OF three cents the pound on
veal, at the breakfast table, When Mrs. Dobb
spoke:
James, didyo know to day was Sallie's
birthday?"
'Is itr said /. How old is she now ?"
''She is six years old, and have promised
to hold little party for her in the evening""
susan, will it cost anything"
why, but a trifie, James. Besides. Sal
lie has never had birthday party, you
know"
H "Sallie should not have her BIRTHDAYS come
so often, wife, in times like these. How long
is it since bought her selfoperating locomo-
tive for birthday present?p k&Ets
THAT was Susie, my dear It's perfectly
distressing to me the way you mix those Chi
dren up"
"But what will this soiree cost us, Susan
you are forever preaching economy at me. and
I'd like you to practice it little, and let me
preach. like to preach, first-rate"
"Ohl there will have to be some nuts and
apples bought"
"And some candy, of coursep"
No"
WHAT baby party, and no candy?"
IF you won't interrupt me at every word,
James, I'll tell you. / have bought two quart
Of Inolasses, and Pm going to make the candy
myself Now there's one of my economical
shifts. never get any credit for it."
"But what dauby job, Susani Stretchino
candy sticks body's fingers up sop N
"You didn't mind it when you were younp
man, Mr. Dobb. Have you forgotten the car
dy parties we used to have at our house when
l was girl, James? Such glorious times as
we used to have in that old kitchen! WHY. il
was at one of those candy parties that you paid
me the first compliment ever received from
you"
"Al1! what was thatp ?"
@You said l was the sweetest girl in the
room" s s7-gs
THAT was because you were daubed all owe.
with molasses, my dear--as you'll be tonight
again."
81 should think, James, that it would be
a pleasure to revive, here in the city, the reco-
lection of those old days at the farm house
Do you remember those big hooks in the kitch-
en- that you threw a great twist of candy owe.
to stretch It the easier, when Mary Howard
helped youpn
"Ah, those were happy daysr' said mll-
ingly, slipping my coffee,
"You enjoyed candy making then James,
"Yes," said /, coming back to the present
and economy 81 enjoyed great many fool
courting forinstance."
swell, haven't lost my zest for simple plea
sures,p said Mrs. D., with enthusiasm. II
think it will be splendid to make the candy /
had thousand times rather make it than bug
it," A ~ -
(Which accounts for one of your economi-
cal shifts that you never get any credit fcr.
Eh, my dear?"
Mrs. Dobb looked daggers at me.
"Well, Susan, let's see what it will COST
What's molasses the pound now?"
Il paid sixty cents for two quarts.D r4s
sand apples r' -.{-
"a peck will supply the party; that will be
sixty cents more"
"And say dollar and half for nuts. That
makes three dollars and seventy cents. tt viii
be very economical soiree"
Il should say it would, Mr.. Dobb"
'Can |, papa?" said Sallie looking UP at me.
with her spoon between her lips Els4-ss gasl
"Can you, what, darling? Have the party
Why, OF course YOU can you little blessing!'
and helped her to another spoonful Of gravy,
out of the full fondness of fathers heart
Wont it be bully, Sis" cried Fred from
his side of the table.
How that boy does pick up the slang ofthi;
vicious age is astonishingl It's no use re-
proving him for it. "Boys will be boys" as q
friend of mine once remarked when he sat
down on bent pin that his Oldest son had
placed in his chair in frolicsome moment.
What good papa he isp whispered Sallie
to her sister, next plate east. M
"Oh, he's gayp slanged Fred.
gave Sallie some more gravy t
"Do you like kisses, papa ~ put in Nellie.
II like every thing good, dear Why do you
ask? ?".
Because we're going to have all the girls
kiss you tonight"
"They won't be big enough, Nell--not half
prefer big to little ones"
James, said Mrs. Dobb, reproyingly
"Oh, Mary Ann Smith is a great big girl r
said Nell. "Her dresses almost come down to
the ground.' l 9M a6l
DO they? That's encouraging, Is Mary
Ann coming ?"
eyes; ;and two other big girls. They write
compositions"
old.o T7~S' 0SS'''7 -
Composition are such proof of maturity
among these little bodiesl Did you ever no
"Bring the nuts when you come to dinner,
James" was my wife's parting injunction.
"All right, my dear"
was detained down town that afternoon
later than usual, and when | came home in tbe
evening l found the little Dobbs. sittlno in SOL
e,nn state In the parlor, waiting the coming of
the guests.
Shortly after the door-bell rang. and the eb;l-
dren were in high state of commotion Sai-
lie jumped down from the sofa and made
dash for the door, but suddenly recollnctinc
herself, returned to her perch and smoothed
her hands over her apron.
Bridget ushered into the parlor string Of
several boys of assorted sizes, who arranged
themselves against the wall without saying a
word. But there was any amount ofsubdued
giggling among them.
The next arrival was cluster OF little girE
looking as sweet as June roses.
went out to tea, and when looked in again
the room was filled with the neighbors' progeny,
lnclnding Mary Ann Smith and two other big
girls. aA 2
such staid conclave never saw before III
niy lie. There they all sat, as bashful as mice,
never uttering loud word. and scarcely daf-
~ 1rs 70 look each other in the face 1t was vast
y anluslng 81 70 observe the conventional awe
a. wancL % tne o9ys, especially, labored under; .he
sety poyS winch had been saluting each other
y Iugeiy 10 the street an hour before perhaps
now. "'e ID ueacohS
Inc ice was broken in this way:
Une OF the big girls, by way Of onenino tho
pAu, said TO youngster Of some eight s,,1D M
IneIs, named Josey Perry. ~ sum
It's pleasant evening, Mr.. Perry
On, now are you, Mister Perry p bnrs+ sor+,,
our Frea, derisvey at the top Of his vo;oo ~ VI
AND then such broad side of lauobtari
less tlme than 1t takes me to Trito !. ~ II
yodnster5 were in hubbub asnoisv =, - w .iie
meeting before had been sedate, = 'ile