The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-12-26

fore he could find it and collect his
thoughts.
Now the next thing to be considered
was whom they should ask TO take par
in the tableaux, for ON reflection, thu
Parkinses' circle of intimate acquaintance
was found to be limited, and especially
in the number of young gentlemen 1t In
cluded. There werethe two Brown girls
they were amiable, and not ugly, and be
sides, were not unused TO exhibitions OF
this kind Their services must be en-
gagged, of course. There was Miss Ful
| Ter, who was tall and stately, and would
make good Queen Elizabeth or nun
or something of that sort-perhaps she
would come. And there was her broth
or, who was always smoking; perhaps he
might be induced to take character on
two, but that indeed was very doubtful.
There was young Screed, a lawyer, bat
after mature deliberation, il vas decided
that they did not know him wen enough
to ask him to act, although, of course, he
would come to the party. And then
after a few other names had been pro
posed, and, fguratively speaking, black
balled, the little club came TO 4 stand
still
Then Miss PAMELA Parkins suggested
| John Townsend and Mr.. Fox. Miss
| Emily objected; that they we're papa'E
statesmen, and it was hardly the thing to
ask them. And besides, Mr.. Fox would
be sure to wear that horrid velvet waist
coat and that great watch chain, which
could not by any means be gold, al
though, to be sure, it looked like it BY
night. Miss Emily would admit that
John Townsend was we'll enough in his
way. she supposed both Of them must
be asked to the party, but as to having
them in the tabieaux, that indeed was
quite another matter.
Then Miss Fanny Parkins responded
that papa himself was salesman once.
But he isn't now" said Miss Emily.
At this point the wise Pamela sudden
ly gave new turn to the controversy,
by propounding after the manner of a
conundrum the following question: '1f
you don't have these young men to act,
whom will you have?"
Miss Emily and Miss Fanny labored
for considerable time to discover the
answer to this, with such little success
that they finally had to give it up.
So the point was yielded, and the in
vitation was conveyed verbally and by
letter to the actors, who, strange to say,
all consented, even to the cloud-compel-
ling Mr.. Fuller, although what induced
him to join in such Il scheme has been
ever since most profound mystery to all
his friends, and indeed TO Mr.. Fuller
himself.
Thea, under the direction of Miss Pa
mela, the large upper room in the Par
kins mansion was swept and garnished,
and generally made to present an invit-
ing appearance, and Michael, the man
servant, erected little stage at one end,
and, with Miss Pamela's aid, rugged Il
curtain.
1t was arranged that there should be
first dancing, then the supper, then the
tableaux vivants, and then more dancing
for those who chose to stay late. The
rooms were decked with evergreen and
beautifully lighted. Parkins was arrayed
in his best black suit, somewhat loose,
but not ill-fitting, with his face wheathed
in smiles, as became a host. Mrs.
Parkins was respondent III a dress of
many colors and cap of rainbow tints.
Miss Parkins was dres sed in style of
severe but tasteful simplicity. The
fashion of Miss Emily's attire was equally
tasteful, but less severe, and that OF Miss
Fanny was very charming, but not severe
at ALL
The Dobbses came first. They were
pleasant people, but could not conceal
their annoyance at having arrived so
early. Then came Captain Mizzentop
and his wife, The Captain had habit
of making very bad jokes, and his wife,
as model spouse should, Uttered very
much whenever he launched a jest, ana
unsuccessfully strove by her example to
draw forth the approving smiles OF the
who, in general, stupidity re-
fused to see that anything funny was in
tended. Then came Mr.. Fox IN the
velvet waistcoat and the watch chain,
and strove to look happy. Mr.. Fox was
a tall young man, with an unmeanlng
face and pale and lofty forehead, like
tombstone without any inscription. With
him came John Townsend, who presently
with Fanny-because you
know, there were things to look after up
stairs-much to the scandal of Mrs.
Dobbs, who would never have allowed a
daughter of hers to go on so, If she'd had
one, which she thanked her stars she
hadn't. Then there was young Screed,
the lawyer, who beamed on the company
mildly through his spectacles, and was
presently cornered by DObbs and obliged
to talk about politics, subject about
which he knew absolutely nothing.
Tompkins, wholesale importer of molasses,
came and greeted Mr.. Parkins with an
air which said, Il know, old fellow,
you're in the retail trade, but hang 1t
Tam not bit proud. Brown, Jones,
Jordan, Hathaway and Robinson and
their families came in their carriages,
and other people of less consequence
came out from town in the $3.50 tram.
But why should | particularize
Presently there was little hustle at
one of the doors of the drawing-rOom, and
there appeared the tall, lean man who
PLAYED upon the flute and flageolet, the
Short, dumpy man who played upon the
harp, and the pale man who played upon
the violin. There was lull III the con-
versation, and everybody looked at them,
but the votaries of the art of making
melody being used to that sort of thing,
did not mind it in the least, but began
to unpack their instruments with as
much care as if they were unrolling
mnmmies which had been embalmed
ever since the building of the great pyra
mid. Then the pale man began tuning
the violin, which gave out a series of
squeals, as if it was very tired
from the work Of the night before, and
wanted to be let alone.
s.Will gentlemen take their partners
for IA cotillon," said Parkins, now in a
high state of excitement. "Mr. Brown,
will YOU take partner? Mr.. Fox, will
YOU set the example p and away he went
stirring up his guests.