American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-07-13
How John SmithsOn Got Il Dinner I'M
der False PretenSes.


AT the window of trim little villa, in
a neat little suburb-one of those tiny
gems of houses, with which the great sub
urban ring enclosing London is so thickly
studded villa overhung by laburnums,
and shaded by lilacs, with garden at the
back as big as n drawing-room table, and
a lawn in front nearly as large; at the
parlor window of this little Arcadia, gaz-
ing wistfully over the trim little grass
plot, there sat the other morning as trim
ii little figure as ever newly made Benedict
would wish to call his own.
How pretty she was in her morning
dress, with her fair hair, and her blue
eyes, and her white fingers, And to any
one there to see it, there was a new look
about the broad gold ring on her left
hand, and a something in the way she
| lidgeted it with her fingers, which showed
| n certain strangcness i'll its presence there,
| and betrayed unmistakably-the bride.
And SO she was. She had been married
three months; and, if the truth must be
told, she was tired of it already.
Breakfast was over and done Johns
chair (empty) stood by the fireplace.
Johns breakfast cup empty ALSO stood
| on the table. And John himself was
gone to the city, there to remain all the
long dull day.
1t is so dull said the little matron to
herself: at is so dull. John won't come
home to dinner to-day again, | dare say
Cts only cold meat if he doesl and shall
be by myself all the evening. 1t is so
dull
| Four hours later there was a knock at
the door of the trim little villa.
Rat-tat. Sharp and quick is sounded,
| like the knock OF man in hurry.
| Rat-tati
1t was the postman. "NIiss Arabella
| Smithson? why, it is for me, " said the lit
| tie matron to the trim little servant who
had answered the door, land Johns writ
ing, too: What can be the matter?" j.
| MY DEAR ARABEIIA: Thinking you would be
dull day, l have decided to bring some to
d nner-some one yoI know we'll an old and true
tell you in confidence it isn't every day he gets
such coy little dinner you can give him if you
| like Your loving husband, JOIN.
From that time up till $50 p M, hustle
and commotion, and high jinks in the
cooking line, reigned supreme in the trim
little villa. And when the appointed
hour came, it was with an exutant, albeit
q slightly flushed face (at the thought of
the gastronomic triumph in store for ''the
old and true friend whom her husband
was to bring homel, that Arabel!a ran to
| the door to answer her husbands knock.
| For, let me say in a whisper, this was an
office she had not learned to delegate to
the trim little servant.
When the door opened, there stood
John, radiant, smiling, but-alonc!
''Why, John said Arabella, ''where is
| hep
"He, my dear9 Who?"
Why, the gentleman.
Here he is, my DEAR" answered John,
demurely.
What, you:"
"Ges-none other"
"But you said l knew him WELL" con-
tinucd Arabella, nearly crying.
We'll, don't you?" asked John, with a
sly twinkle in his eye.
"And he was an old and true FRIEND"
Arabella went on.
"Well, isn't he?"
ooh, John, it is too bad, you-you-
wicked -" and here Arabella fairly
broke down, and burst into tears.
OF course, things smoothed themselves
out after awhile; John presided at the
dinner, which was to have astonished
''the old and true friend" and Arabella
sat at the foot of the table. There can be
no doubt that fellow John enjoyed the
coy little dinner he had obtained under
such outrageously false pretenses; but tits
il question whether Arabella has forgiven
him the fraud he practiced to this very
day.-Judy.
Dried Peach Pudding.-Cut in small