The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-31

A lady, her husband, and children had come
TO reside near us. She called one morning, ana
found her extremely pleasant and agreeable.
I did not return her call till one evening Fred
and /, in o ing her house. were greeted with
friendly nod as she and her husband we're lust
entering their door. She came TO wards US, ana
insisted upon our joining them. My husband
hated fuss, 81 / thought 1T best at once to COM
ply. An hour soon passed in pleasant conVer-
sation, for both Mr.. ami Mrs. Gray, were well
informed. Everything IN The furnishing ot the
rooms appeared neat, some even elegant, and
all bore traces of refinement much above the
style of house they we're inhabtmg. Presently
the folding-doors of the two small rooms were
thrown open, and a charminely laid-out supper
appeared There was well-dressed lobster
salad the remains OF cold Joint, bread, butter,
and cheese; and on the centre OF the table stood
a small spreading basket OF freshly gathered
roses and migDonette, periumlng the whole
atmosphere with their fragrance. We were
overpowered with the hospitality of our kind
friends and consented to share what they
termed their usual evening meal.
looked with more of curiosity than of appe-
tite upon the tempting repast thus so pleasantly
displayed There were no expensive articles OF
food Holsters and lettuces we're at their
cheapest. But what was it that made the whole
affair look as if it had been spread for royalty!
A second glance was sufficient. The table
CLOTH although not spotless, looked nearly so.
Each fold of the damask, as 1t had been sent
from the laundress, had been carefully kept no
rouehness appeared on its surface, ana IL was
only upon near examination one could discover
that it had done duty tor perhaps two days or
more. The silver if silver ii was, sparkled in
its brightness the glasses we're clear ana thln,
and the knives shone with undimmed lustre.
All this, with the fragrant mignonete and
many tinted roses, gave an indescrlbable cnarm
to the simple repast Visions OF my own neglect
in these apparently trlfling but really important
matters rose up as accusers, and determined
to have no more carelessness in this respect.
Soon after we commenced supper wine was in
troduced my husband gave me glance, which
| well understood. 1t was sherry, OF very
indifferent quality, but served in an eXquisitely
cut decanter. without entering into further
particulars, | need only say we spent very
pleasant evening and mutual civilites having
passed, we returned home. During our walk |
said:-
''The evening has been pleasant one; but
fear we must give up visiting Mrs. GRAY. You
know we cannot afford wine; besides, am too
proud to place wine of an indifferent quality
before our guests. I hate shams, and this is
one of them; but how shall we manage about
the return yisit?"
at is Just this which is perplexing me-" re.
piled my husband; ut so happenssthat | know
Berlie Adams who filled the situatian Mr.. GRAY
is now in, and / know that he had barely two
hundred q year. Possibly these people may
have other means However, be that as 1t
might, we cannot give lobster salads and sherry
for supper; so l suppose we must fight shy"
'That will not do, at all events, TILL we have
invited them back. If Bertha were here,
know what she would say and do, and feel as
II | had gained some courage from thinking of
her. She hates all subterfuge-so 90 |, and it
will be better to commence our intercourse in
the same way we should be compelled TO con-
tinue it. We dine late, and DO not take suppers.
II they come to u.s. 1t must be to our tea, and
this meal must be he extent of our hospitality"
"Well, little one, dent see what else we can
offer them If we mean to be honest. Twenty
seven shillngs week wont go far in refresh
ments for visitors, and ourselves to live out of
1t. Perhaps we had better give it up"
'tI do nOt nuitp like tn do this ~ | rnDlip1
Mrs. Gray is evidently gentlewoman, and has
been accustomed to something more than her
present means l wonder how she managesW
"Never mind how she manages, so that we
keep straight" replied my husband somewhat
pettishly.
No more was then said upon what was evil
IDENTIFY sore subject. Two or three weeks
passed on, during which time | constantly bore
in mind the briehtneSs of the silver, the un-
creased cloth, and the flowers, and the general
effect of the pleasant repast we had enjoyed
This scene was so ever-present to my vision that
every day endeavored to produce, not only on
my table. but in the decorations OF the room, q
similar effect, and IN great measure succeeded |;
so that, when Mr. and Mrs. Gray called as we
were sitting dawn to tea, my husband, who had
hitherto appeared unobservant, looked with a
pleased smile on the general arrangements.
The t0apOt-albeit not silver nor silverplatei-
and the teaspoons and Joast-rack looked their
brightest; and though | mad but few roses, and
only flowers of the commonest kind, still there
they were, and arranged, as Mr.. Gray said, like
picture.
Mrs Allison; you are an artist, fancy" he con-
tinued.
'It you mean that l appreciate an artistic
design or good painting, then you are correct;
but l do not paint nor SKETCH"
81 mean that you have blended the colors OF
these flowers so we'll, and contrasted their seve
raj tints with such appropriate foliage that
fancied you must have an artists talent Why,
positively, you have made simple dinner dish
do duty tor costlier vase, and with capital
| effect. That exquisite outer border OF fern
| leaves, then the inward one of mignonette, then
| the scarlet geranlum, and finally the white
! roses. Why, the arrangement is quite study.
| You have them in wet sand, of course?
| mo; not sand. Simple water, with morsel.
of moss stuffed in to keep the blooms upright
| is all use. l also put in various places small
! pieces OF charcoal, which prevents all decaying
OF earthly SMELL"
| it," SAID Mrs. Gray; "hnd also admire your plan
| OF placing mignonette and scarlet geraniums in
these china saucers they are infinitely pretue
! than more costly appliances, which keep one il
| perpetual idret lest they should get broken
II scarcely know whether may be permitted
to offer you tea; but if you will JOIN us we shall
be pleased" l said, with some nervousness.
Our friends we're delighted, or appeared to bt
so; and certainly an hour or two passed away
pleasantly enough; then Mr.. and Mrs. Gray left
We had neither introduced wlne nor had othel
amusement than conversation.
| A fortnight elapsed, our friends again called
and was upon the point OF promising to spenC
the following evening with them, when IN.
husband sal6;-
Pardon me for moment, Milly. We shal
be very glad to retain your friendship Mr.
Gray; but our income is evidently so much les
than yours that we should not feel comfortable
to partake OF your hospitality, for we canno
otler you an equivalent in return, and so vi
will be very friendly without closer inter
course. beseech you to excuse my seeming