The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-04-21
MRS, STIRLINGS RECEPTION

And SO we are really settled in our own
housef 1t seems too good to be true, doesn't
As JOHN Stirling's pretty wife was speaking,
she let down the soft curtains of the handsome
room. halfparlor, half library. where she sat,
beside her husband. Taking up bit of
bright-colored knitting. she went on
cit was very nice, to be sure, boarding but
it was sort Of vacant life, after all. This is
go much better. have something to do now"
John Stirling smiled.
Aud something TO 1orerm After all, be-
lieve it is the love of power that makes You
women delight in homes of your own. l don't
doubt, gentle you seem, that your servants
find you as anstere as the Great Mogul:"
81 declare, John, you are too bad. l mover
scold, and Pm sure everything has gone on so
nicely since we have been HERO"
"A whole week, Nellie, and all the brooms
new. But don't look so grave; have every
confidence in your ability to keep the wheels
She sat silent WHILE until her husband be.
gan to want to hear her voice again, and raj
lied her for her abstraction.
.What is it, little onei You seem in q
brown study about something. Remember,
I'm yonr prime minister. and must know all
the state secrets and cares of government"
~ was only wondering, John, whether you
would see certain matter as L do. Do you
remember how many parties we went tot you
know we went everywhere"
John Stirling knew that very we'll. Some
what reserved of nature, save to those of his
own household, and not fond of general society,
one Of the sacrifices he had made during the
first winter of his marriage, to please his gay
little wife. The idea crossed his mind, as she
spoke, that she too had wearied of so much Px-
citement; aud was going To propose for the fu-
ture queter life.
Yes" h. answ cred, ~ know went out n
great deal but thought you liked it,"
"Ies, liked it," she said with n little en-
barrassment was only thinking, John,
that, having accepted many invitations,
should like 70 gather our friends round u.s. and
..f
That's 4 primitive, comfortable sounding
term, Nellie. How much would this friendly
little affair cost us 7"
"Oh, I've thought that all over. We should
have to ask every we knew--lt wouldn't
do to slight any. We could have Smith get up
the supper and furnish the decorations. His
bill would he ahont forty pounds; say ten
mounds more i"T music, and new dress for
me-"
Seventy pounds eh, Nellie W
eyes, am sure could make seventy pounds
do it handsomely. could send out the invita-
tions for the week after next"
lyon must let me dream over il. l really
didn't know that receptions were such eXpen-
sive affairs. Seventy pounds for one evenings
entertainment; and the prospect of a hard
winter, and 80 :nnch suffering among the poor !!
Well I'll tell you in the morning. If can
make up my mind that it is right, you shall
have the party"
The rest OF the evening was little con-
strained. The young wife, seeing that her
husband did not care to talk abont tho recep-
avoid the subject, and, inasmuch as it held
possession of all her thoughts, was rather au
absent nded companion.
That night, after his wife was quietly asleep
beside him, John Stirling spent an hour of not
uutronbled thought. Unlike Nellie, he had
been brought up in quiet country home,
where seventy pounds would have been
thought by no means inadequate provision
for tue support of the whole family during half
the year. Vas it right could it be right, to
spend it all upon one evenings entertainment ?
for the sake, too, of people who would be in no
wise benefited thereby-wbose choicest pleas
ures were so common that they had already
palled upon their seuses3 But then, as his wife
had suggested, they had been out SO much
would not this drawing back from return of
ciHiiities look very mean and John Shilling
spran&, with all the pride of sensitive mau,
FRO" III" least impntatiou o. meauness. They
were not rich Tree, his capital was his own,
ana h's h"sln"sS WIS good but he had not
felt that he c"nld afford to spend more than
f35O ii year on home expenses and hero was
seventy pounds extra, upon whhch he had not
counted, comm, ntnice. Surely he could not
dare, for such u cauSr to stint his coutribu-
lions for th. relief of the suffsrinEf Could W.,
afford it without 7 Nellie, the indulGed cuti y
wealthy parents, knew nothing of such aux.