The Van Buren press., 1874-04-07

otherwise "put herself out" as house.
keepers say, for the comfort OF the ex
pected guest.
When tho latter arrived, some OF US
noticed that she expressed no pleasure
at the appearance OF the house or
grounds, or anything else. And IT struck
me that finding her old acquaintance bet
ter situated than herself, or than she ex
pected, her envy was reused and she was
determined not to praise anything or even
approve. Certainly no otner construc'
tion could DO put on her manners or
conversation that evening. She seemed
anything but friend-she most ungraci-
Gus of guests aud yet she too was lady
a scholar, and Christian.
The next morning a. Mrs. Burt-that
was her name-seated herself at the
breakfast. table, our hostess asked II she
had slept well.
II can't say that did particularly
WE'LL" with spitetul emphasis on the sec
ond syllable.
OF course the mistress Of the house
was covered with confusion and she be
gan to explain about the mattresses hav-
ing become matted and uneven.
Il sleep on a hair mattress at home, "
said Mrs Burt sententiously and that
settled the matter. But the enormlty OF
her rudcness became more apparent to US
when, afterwards, it came out in her con-
versation with one ef the lady boarders
that she was never good sleeper.
This was only the beginning OF things.
She seemed to have a special small spite
towards her hostess, on account OF her
being happy and well situated. To the
rest of us she was gracious and lady like,
agreeable in her ways and words; but to.
wards Miss Girder in con ,tant state I
antagonism, which broke out in the most
unciviI things that over were said. II
that lady liked person who happened
to be named, the other did not she found
some fault with Miss Cirder's friends.
and approved Of nothing proposed by
her Little words Of disDaragement,
small slurs, harsh judgment, fault Ind
ing, seeing a flaw ia everything, charac
terized her remarks
On the second morning no one asked
her had she slept She might have sat
in her chair all night, for aught any OF
US knew or erred. But the breakfast
was not allowed to pass without some
thing unpleasant being said. We had
excellent cotree--so specially excellent
that almost every one spoke Of it, be.
cause they could not help it'-and itdoes
the heart Of a hostess good to be assured
that her guests appreciate her food
light, good rolls. baked potatoes. slices
OF cold ham, and boiled eggs, and every
one vas enjoying the sensible meal when
we became aware that our difficult com
panion was refusing everything offered
] her. ,e--4.-.-..-.~s. --s....----+.-
"What no rolls They are so nice r
"No. thank you. never eat warm
bread"
! Upon which Miss Girdcr having heard
the proder and refusal, rung for cold
bread
Would she take potato, asked the
same gentleman they were "done to
dot, " he said.
"No thank you!
"a bit of ham it is excellent; do try
it with your cold bread. "
mo. thank your in a way that
was an insult
She would take an egg.
Our hostess remarked tlat these had
been in the water four minutes--they
might be trile hard
"Three minutes and half is the rule,
was the rejoinder from the guest, who
proceeded to slowly eat the egg with the
air of one who knew she was fastening
her own death by doing it.
The feeling Of the company was ex-
pressed by one of the gentlemen, who
was overheard asking another:
ais not that rather hateful woman
Seems to me would have eaten break
fast if | had known it would kill me. 4"
At nc on there were tomatoes on the
table-th first Sf the season; and very
early ii was, too and they were uncom-
monty fines ones. Miss Girdcr had saved
them on purpose for her guest. and said
at the table that they had never raised
any 50 early as these.
1--WE had them two weeks ago.
This was rather drawback; but Miss
Girder persevered, and added that they
had never planted this kind before, but
we're sure they should like them best of
any.
"Have you ever had the Trophy p
demanded Mrs. Burt We used to have
the kind you have here, but the Trophy
is so much better that we never SOW the
Others at all now.
mightygo on. ] might tell you fifty
things that you would hardly believe
woman would say to ano,her, much less
to her hostess.
After about week Of this, she an
nounced that one Of her family had been
taken sick, ana her brother had sent for
her, and she had replied that she would
be at home by such train, and he was
to meet her This arrangement the ven
cradle grandfather Of our hostess knew
nothing about; and being a most hospi
table old gentleman, when he found that
she was going away, he began to urge
her to stay longer.
~ think I'd better 60 "
"Why, no, )" he said; there is moth
ing to call you home.
II think I'd better 60.
"Oh no Stop witn us over another
Sabbath. would not go to-day.
IL think I'd better go.
This was too much for me; and know
ing that he was very scrupulous about