Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-03-31
Across the Walnuts and the Wine.
In after-dinner talk

Across the Walnuts and the Wine.
In after-dnner talk
Across the walnuts and the wine.-7snnyson.
"Will there be any children, wonder,
among us a generation or two hence!"
sighed Housewife the other night,upon the
occasion of his last juvenile party for the
season and really, when l looked about
me, could scarcely feel astonished at his
inquiry. The room, indeed, was full OF
children in one sense, but in another
there was not child to be seen. 1t was
an assemblage of little men and women.
The dancing was as stately as minuet
and each duodecimo dame had card in
which to set down her engagements. l
heard one of them refuse most gallant
cavalier Tin puce velvet and lace) her
hand for the lancers, upon the ground that
it had been previously promised to another;
and vet she did not dance that set.
"And why" said l, "my little lady, did
you not dance with that gentlemany am
sure he looked very good -natured ?"
"Good .natured Eyes" returned she,
Struggling her small shoulders; "but how
unfortunately plain p
This young person was about eight
years old.
Mrs. Housewife had empowered me TO
act as one of the masters of the cere-
monies-she termed it "helping to keep
order !" but any post Of that kind would
have been perfect sinecure. Romp-
ing" was as little likely to take place
among these decorous Lilliputians as
scalping or the actual cautery. The least
approach to it was regarded with inefable
disdain. Even awkwardness was visited
with the utmost severity of remark by
these small ladies.
"He hangs upon one So" was the YER
dict passed on one young beau, who had
Just taken to "stickups," and looked like
a clergyman in miniature.
Another was rejected by sweet little
maiden Of eleven, upon the ground that
he had danced with her twice already.
"And are you 80 inconsistent as all
that" inquired /, deferentially.
NO" said she frankly; II like him as
well as any in the room. But don't like
being laughed at and people do laugh if
one dances more than twice with the same
person"
She was actually afraid Of "being talked
about :"
overheard two little female dots Of
six or seven making conversation. They
had got very friendly, and one expressed
her hope that they should see more
Of one another. my sister yonder,"
(pointing to damsel Of eleven) "is at
home Wednesday from three to seven.
We should be 30 glad to see you."
Instead of the indiscriminate rush
which used to follow the announcement
Of supper when we were young, these
dignifed juveniles went down in couples
and talked the same twaddle on the stairs
which their seniors use-inquiring sedate-
" of one another whether they had
been lately to the theatre, or were
going out Of town. At tie repast itself,
It was thought vulgar to admire as for
bursting into applause at the sight of any
gorgeous dainty, a. youth was surely won't
to do-to have given away to such
impulse would have been considered bar.
barrie. On the other hand, depreciatory
criticism was as freely exchanged as
among the most fashionable grown-up
society. Professor Puzzleton's son and
heir, aged z, happened to be my neighbor.
He was prosecuting his attentions 70
little golden haired fairy on the other
side of him in most characteristic man.
ner. Having inherited the faculty Of
analytic investigation from his parent, he
W88 U0AluK VIZ kAlt III WAC %
tricks which had Just been performed up
stairs, and preaching TO his beloved object
upon the text of the hollowness Of things
in general. Presently he took up . highly
ornamental cracker, and In loud and
distinct voice-the very echo Of his
fathers lecture-room tone - olsrrved:
!" These crackers were made at h...e."
saw the color come into Mrs. House
wife's face when on finding II did not ex-
plode, he added. "Ah, / thought, *"
Another young gentleman Of somewhat
leAs tender age, who, IL seemed 70 me, had
had quite - much champagne - was good
for him, was ceaseless in his opportunities
for port. SeHn u 1900 81 ~
"Port wine, ssy p" Port wine, will
you :" were the observations he addressed
TO sysry waitsr, with incseesing irritation.
Now, h hi igneranos Of m tAaies Of
the rising generation, their host provided
NO povt wine, and thu indignation Of his
very respectable butler ct its being de-
manded in this pubic manner was .
charming spectacle. saw him growing
redder and rcdder with Zach feiterstion Of
the request, which he neverthelessa affected
TO ignore. When the little ladies retired
from the table. some of the little gentle.
men remained to discuss matters OF
Renesal intercst, Nth their Et&le eSs. -
wide apart - they would 80, and their
little. thunbs In 1tho afmholeSs OF their
waistcoets, and among others was my