The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-24
For TIE Few Orleans Sunday Crescent
THE BLUE Room IN TUE ARIING-
TON HOUSE

Madam Poly anthus had kindly allowed Jane
Lenord, Kate Hsyhurst and myself to accom-.
pany Sybl Arlington home on Friday afternoon
and remain until Monday morning.
We were pupils at Madam Poly-anthus's flush
ing school for young ladies, where, for the small
Gum of seven hundred dollars per annum and
some extras, she condescended to receive a lin.
tied number of young ladies Of good standing,
which, in the Poly snthus vocabulary. meant
wealth and prepare them for their entrance on
the great stsge of the fashionable world. And
twas marvellous how well she did it, if knowing
how 10 enter a room gracefully, waltz divinely,
smatter few soft phrases in French and sing
little in Italian were the needed re0usites.
Jane, Sybn Kate and myself were room-ma.es,
and fortunately for US, thrown together we were
and compelled to be in intimate association, we
were congeuial in temper and habits, and the lit
tie apguarities peculiar to all persons were worn
of by contact, and We became fond of each other,
end when you saw one, you might safely count upon
fDding the other three near by.
AS early ss possible on Friday afternoon the
carriage sent from the Arlington plantation for us
was at the door, and we were in it as speedily as
the rules of Madam for the department OF young
ladies would allow Us TO move, and coaxing old
Uncle Jerry to hurry up the horses. =" Yis, honey
old Miss, and young Master James and Master
John are in a very great hurry for you all to git
home, and Marse Dick shannon, and Marse Harry
Lee is done got thare fore this sho, }" said old Uncle
Jerry. with puiZzical look at ia, for he had
found out that his Marse John had fancy for
Jane his Marse James for your humble servant,
while be knew full as well that his young Mistress
Sybil had fancy for Harry Lee, who had lost his
heart to her while yet in roundabout and short
trousers while Dick Shannon was soft on Kate
and Iarrx hc;r oil - al .ao1
old nmes petted and priced for his faithful quail
ties, felt he had right TO his little joke at the ex-
pense Of the young people he had nursed and
loved with humble zeal.
The drive did not seem long. for it was a merry
one, and st the big gate at the end of the lane
leading up to the house we saw our four knights
awaiting US with eager expectation. They stopped
the carriage and insisted upon our aighting and
walking up the shaded avenue. which we were in
10 way lOatbe to do, and We speedily paired od,
each with the one most loved. An, me do the
fond hopes and wishes of youth ever meet reali-
zationl
"Ole Miss as Uncle Jerry called Mrs. Airing
tOn, had &c send half dozen little black Mercnrys
TO call us in to supper before our lingering feet
Rad really tarned to the house, and she met us at
he garden gate with kiss aud a scoding for
keeping supper waiting and spelling the hot wailes
snd light drop cake that " you know ought 10 be
eaien the moment It leaves the oven. children"
We were o gay and light-hearted group that met
around that tea-table, grooming under the weight
Of It's delicious burden. How | would like to sit
DOWN tonight with you 10 such a table Spring
chicken, and home cured ham, broiied over
hickory Goals; peaches and sweet cream-not
miik-but cream that would hold spoon upright
il rich and thick wsftes light biscuit drop
cake, and egg corn bread, with milk, tea and
coffee, as you might fancy, while clear, amber
hUeo honey wed with jams, marmelsdes anu pre-.
serves IN luscious sweetness-no fashionable tea,
but good, old-fsshioped supper.
Supper over, we ell adjourned to the psror.
and AxI.il fhraxu frr tho, mic
valtzes in a spirited style; and while Harry Lee
hung over her chair and mnrmured soft nothngs
IA her ear, the rest Of us whrled gsily around in
the most beautiful and fascinating dance that has
ever escaped from the Peris ia Paradise to bless
Us nortsls below. Then songs, in which the
many voices joined until the rooms rang with the
sweet sOuDos-the laugh and jest and merry
qOip went round until near 10 O'Clock, when old
hsumy bany came in with her large china
punch bowl Of hot milk punch. followed by her
grandson, jack, who was her aid-de-camp on such
occasions, with huge silver platter full of quaint
cid-iasbioned china mugs. This was old Maumy
Chary's nightly task. She was famous for her
bot milk punch, and we were shortly h9bnobing
with each other over the delicious drink of milk
cream, spices and brandy. Then came our little
promenade upon the front gallery ere we babe
cur knights good night; and, WELL perhaps we
gave good night kiss, too. Whether tue punch
was too strong for our heads, already excited
and full of life, or what, can't say, but think
it must have been that which prompted Jane to
say, "Sy bill. can we sleep tonight ia the Blue
Room p 1.-The Blue Room, Jane? Yes, If ma
does not ssy no; but no one has slept there since
! can recOlect, and there is but one bed 10 the
r. ON, and il we can make il safe to sleep in, we
will be packed like saTdines in box. Bat let's
so and talk to ma about it; it will be fine if she
will let u.s.
Ror ming into Mrs. Arlington's bedroom, we
xed and begged of her to let us sleep in the
blue-room but it was a hard task to gain her con-
sent. She was one of those soft, easy persons,
who cannot say no but she came as near it that
night rs che ever old in her lie. I'm sure. and it
took all our coaxiDg and the pettng and kissing Of
her darling Sybil to gain our wish ; and she then
babe rs take blankets and other things to make
the room comfortable. There was fat rebellion
when we wanted some Of the servants to go TO the
room. light q FIRE and make the bed, and Mrs.
Arlington would not compel them to 90, as she