Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-06-18

who could have had the stupidity to send
you set of step ladders"
81 should not wondtrif it was Amt Flint
sure said his wife, who was crying; it's
just like the old woman"
Lets mount her up on top of one of them
as soon as she comes in" cried young Her.
ace, who was amusing himself with loud
performance on the churn. Charley, the
four-year-old boy, had ensconced himself in
the wheel-barrow.
..Dolet us get in order. cried Mrs Honey
bell. " Horace, you and Charles had better
dress and, indeed shall have to retire my
self as soon as have looked at the supper
table" and the excited mistress of the fami-
ly hurried away. Presents meanwhile con-
tinued to come in. At eight O'Clock Mrs.
Honeywell in the pink robe, took her place
under Mr. Moquette's canopy, and, with
sweetest smiles, graciously welcomed the
guests. Mr.. Honeybell looked very restless,
and as il he would like to go away.
"How do you do, Aunt Flintsure? am
very happy to see you. y
swell, Mary Jane, I've come to your
wooden wedding. hope you liked the
step-ladders-they're such useful things in a
familY-rather large though, I'm afraid.
thought saw them standing outside the
house."
"Oh,aunt, I'm so sorry you could not think
of something else. have two in the house
of my own"
Miss Flintsure was dragged away by
Susan Maria, before the old lady, who was
convulsive with laughter, could reply. Mr.
and Mrs. Woggles each brought u pair of
castanets; and fat old gentleman, an carly
patron of Horace IIoneybell, presented
psir of dumb-bells and set of Indian clubs,
much used in calisthenic exercises, but not
specially valuable for any thing else. 1t
must be confessed that rubbish of all sorts
abounded, such as nut-crackers, nine-pins,
and endless wooden toys for the children.
Meanwhile the company separated into
groups and knots, and went from room to
room, as long as the crowd would permit.
"This is the most ridiculous thing ever
saw" said Mrs. Barker to Mrs. Woggles.
Mrs Honeybell is the greatest fool l know.
Look at that ugly wreath above her thin,
sickly facet"
| =" wish they would announce supper"
said Mrs. Woggles "for am growing
very hungry"
"How are you, Mrs. Woggles ?" said Miss
Flintsurc, coming up. .'They are trying to
dance in the back room it is the most alb
surd thing you ever saw. Susan Maria has
had her new blue tulle dress torn to ribbons
by her. partner, who stepped on her train.
What ridiculous party! How foolishly
the rooms are decorated. Charles said they
| looked like a theatre, and told him IL was
just the thing, since he must have such
farce as wooden wedding. But poor Mary
Jane is such fool that one must have pa
tience with hor."
There is only one handsome thing here"
said Mrs. Barker, "and 1t is that beautiful
inlaid table. wonder who sent it,? Do
tell me, Mrs. Honeybell," cried she, catching
u glimpse of that lady, "who has presented
you with that exquisite table? ?"
81 wish l knew myself" returned the
hostess; "but it was brought here anony-
mousy and Mary Jane, as she looked at it,
felt degree of pleasure that almost made
her forget the step-ladders.
Supper being announced,a rush was made
called the dining-room. Everybody was
hungry and thirsty, the number of guests
was large, the IIoneybell mansion, as we
have said, was quite small and sardines in
u box formed good illustration OF the COM
pany when crammcd around the supper
table. Ample justice was being done to the
good cheer, and every one seemed enjoying
this part of the entertainment, when, to the
horror Of Mrs. Honeywell, the gas gave that
preliminary flicker so well known to house,
rallies at last went entirely out. Mrs. Hon
eybell was dismayed. 1t resisted all efforts
to relght it for long time, and so much
delay occurred in finding candles that good
many odd things had time to happen. Some
young gentlemen who had begun to make
love in the German resumed the occupation
in the Egyptian darkness which surrounded
| all parties. Also Mrs. Honeybell's extremity
was the black walters opportunity, and
several dishes of game which decorated the
| supper-table were found to have recovered
their wings and flown away. The stout
gentleman who presented the dumb-bels,
having somehow got wedged in behind one
of the suppcr-tables, struggled in the dark
so violently to get out that he tore his gar
mcnts badly, and finally overset the table,
which was loadcd with glass and china, the
havoc among which articles was frightful.
The heavy crash of her household goods
came like knell to the ear of Mrs. Honey
bell.
| "Good night, Mary janet" cried the
squeaking voice OF old Aunt Flintsure, as
pity your party has been spoiled In this
way! Susan Maria and are going now.
! hope you have enjoyed your wooden we'd
ding very much"
"And I'm sure we've had q delightful
time, kindly added the good-natured Susan
Maria; for she saw the scarcely-restrained
tears of vexation, fatigue, and disappoint-
ment, In the eyes OF the exhausted hostess.
The Honeywell family came to breakfast
next morning with little appetite, and in a
state of general discomfort.
Mary Jane," said her husband, solemn
ly, elf you want to wean me from the
world, just go and have another wooden
wedding, and l shall pray that l may not
live to see it. Well, l hope it has been
lesson to you"
81 don't know what you mean" said his
wife, briding. sc am sure we have had
pleasant party, and many valuable gifts"
"Vcry valuable indeed If / had known
you were going to have all this trumpery 1
would have requested the donors to wait
until the year after next, when hope to
put another story on the house. 1t seems
to me that your presents have run chiefly to
Swiss nut-crackers and paper-knves, and