Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-10-10
BUYING A WEDDING CAKE

very well, Samho, put 'em doWr
and take yourself OFF,
1 had just finished my breakfast
and the tiny silver chochlatiere, witt
the bachelor service of transparent
china, still stood on the damask
draped round table It was a bright
little room, with its white and gold
paper, and high heaped CRATE, on
the gray light of this chill December
morning, when the air was thick
with noiseless falling snow flakes;
and this contrast between the bitter
atmosphere without an6 tropical
warmth of my own special nook,
gave me an additional consciousness
of satisfaction, as l leaned back in
my chair and proceeded to examine
my correspondence.
Lee Worcester wants to know if ]
can come there to tea this evening.
Of course 1 can. Lees wife is a
perfect rosebud, and one, besides,
who don't believe in cashiering all
her husbands bachelor friends. And
then l rather like that brown eyed
sister in. law of his. Yes, I'll go,
certainly. Halloo-here's letter
from my brother in Glenfeld! 1
unfolded the document eagerly,
scarcely able, at first, to credit the
tidings it revealed.
"Well, here Is a pretty state of
things. Going to be married, claims
my congratulations, says that Mary,
(who the dickens is Mary?) is in
great tribulation about the wedding
cake; affair to come off on Wednes-
day, and no cake to be had for love
or money! Will 1 be the best fellow
in the world, and send down one
from D'Artier's?''
l glanced at the date of the letter.
1t had been delayed for several days
on the road, and there was not min
ute to be lost Irose, mechanically,
and put on my hat and cloak, giving
more heedful gaze at the various di-
rections about icing, weight, and dec
oration, which accompanied Toms
closely written epistle, before l sal
lied forth boldly to the street on my
novel errand.
1t was just about one o'clock, the
snow had ceased falling, and the sun
shone brilliantly. D'Artier's was
full, of course; there were at least a
dozen ladies that I knew sitting at
the tiny marble tables. / tried
to assume an air of easy impudence,
IS if l had only come in for pound
of chocolate almonds, but it was no
use; / could not disguise the latent
sheepishuess of my aspect as 1
sauntered up to the counter.
"How can Iserve you, sir2" de-
manded the trim damsel who presided
over the saccharine treasures.
1 muttered something under my
moustache, feeling hot blush suf-
fuse my whole countenance. "Why
would not the inquisitive woman-kind
attend to their ice creams?"
"Cake, sir?" "Certainly." "For
party, sir2 Pound cake, lemon and
almond"
mo, no." I bawled out: II want
a wedding cake.'
"Oh, 1 beg your pardon, SIR" tit
tered the atrocious shopwoman.-
Was it reality, or did I only fancy
that the litter was echoed among the
bonnets and furs beyond? However
that might have been, the mere ap-
prehension was sufficient to throw me
into cold perspiration.
The next moment, however, the
counter was heaped with various
temples. of glistening white sugar,
some wreathed with make.b believe
roses, some surmounted with candy
cupids, others with pure white mass
es of icing. l surveyed them in a
state of hopeless t,wilderment.
Perhaps, sir, it would be better if
the lady could come with you to Sc
lect," hazarded my enemy behind
the counter.
l could endure this badgering no
longer, but pounced upon a gigantic
pyramid of sugar lilies, from which
peepea up tiny alabaster cupid.
81 will take this = what is the
price2" % 90
Fifteen dollars, sir!"
I laid down the money, and never
experienced so delicious a sensation
OF relief as at the moment when !
thrust the cupid, packed in round
wooden box, under my arm and
rushed out Of the establishment
How gladly I delivered it to the ex-
press agent, who tossed it in on one
side, as carelessly as if the transmits
sion of wedding cakes were a mat
ter Of every day occurrence.
"How dye do, GoIde, when is it
to come off,"
"When is what to come Off" quer-
led !, considerably puzzled at my
friend Atherton's address.
"Your wedding to besure? All,