Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-05-15
MRS. FANSHAW'S TEA-PARTY.

MRS. FANSHAW'S TEA-PARTY.
"What a beautiful snow-stOrm, i" though
fiNMilly, as she stood looking wistfusiy Out
of the window. She did SO wish she was
out! If she, too, were only a little street
sweeper! 1t was SO hard to be kept care
fully within doors,-so hard. She was 81
lent for full ten minutes with hel
thoughts. At last, q happy one struck
her, and she turned quickly to her mother,
pretty-faced young woman, who was
deeply interested in re-trimming a last
years bonnet, and who at this moment ex.
claimed, triumphantly, REALLY, it will be
as good as new"
"Mother," interrupted Milly.
swell ?''
"Then [ cannot skate 7"
"No," deeply engrossed in the bonnet.
'sNor slide down hill 20
"No, child, not in this snowstorm."
'sBut can put on my cloak, and new fu1
tippet, and gloves, and take an umbrella,
and fill basket with goodies for poor Miss
J Fanshaw. CantI? For she is so poverty
poor, you know"
Milly had one thought for Miss Fanshaw
end two for herself. For, in reality, she
thought herself very hardly used to be
kept indoors while she deemed it rare fun
to be poverty poor,' like Miss Fanshaw,
in her little playhouse room.
Her mother smiled wisely, and gave her
permission to go. So Milly, like the little
woman she was, equipped herself for the
walk. She then went into the store-room,
and put into a willow basket loaf of
bread, a jar of sWeetmeats, and four red
apples. After which preparation, she
I started forth with as happy a face as one
could meet in days walk and the face
was no happier than the little warm heart
heating beneath the warm cloak. No Won
der the snow was not cold to her!
ooh, the snow, the beautiful snow!'' the
little keart kept chanting to itself, as she
watched the star-like crystals alighting on
her dress and gloves. Even the old board
fence, with it's clingiqg vines, shorn of
their summer beauty, was draped in the
beautiful snow. Ohy it, came down $50
quietly and comfortably, as if it had a
world Of leisure, and world of it's wealth
| to bestoW
All too quickly, Milly was at Miss Fan
shaw's door. In answer to Milly's ''rat-
tat-tap" at the door, it creaked and wrig-
1ol ., 1itt1o tha1, mo-
wide open; and there stood Miss Fan
shaw, little shriveled figure, the Shout
ders pinned tightly up in an Anticipated
baby-blanket, embroidered all around in
HERRING bone" and various other marve-
lolls stitches. From under the shawl
peeped two arms, clothed in the neatest
ssleg-o'-mutton' sleeves. On one finger
was a-ring,-no, something just as dean
to her, and it betokened e-long engage
ment, too 1t was an old brass thimble.
worn full of holes, and as bright as gold
itself.
But must not forget her face. A white
face, with white hair, white eyebrows and
eyelashes, and two deep-blue, bright
twinkling eyes, which seemed to say, s'Ah
me, what dear, delightful, merry, busy
world it is; and I've young heart for~it
yet, if the wrinkles are in my face''
s'Bless the child p she cried, in her short
crisp way. "Did she come down in the
snow ?" And she drew Milly in, and took
the long broom and swept her from head
to foot. CHOW, my dear, I've swept the
way to your mouth, must have a kiss y
So, giving her one emphatic embrace
she whirled her along the hall Of the tene.
ment-house, into the least atom of a
room, NOT half as big as your play.
roem,-and perched her up in an old, rick
ETY. armchair.
If any one presumed to suggest that
Miss Fanshaw might be more comfortable
in larger room, she laughed within her
self, eXclaiming, 'sNo no, my dearies; you
see have only to sit in the middle of my
room to reach everything. There's my
Bible, and there's my bread jar, and there's
my work basket, and there's my cutting
board, and there's the stove, with The tea
pot on it,-so handy" And her han(
| UOlIlCCu UllC IOOul do IL IL WO1C
hand on clock pointing to the hours
hBesides as for the wood, why IN warn
as u toast with burning two sticks and
few kindlers day. Then 1 can tidy III
the room, bright as basket o. chips, il
less than wink o. time.''
Milly thought this housekeeping a won
derful affair, and Miss Fanshaw a sort
divinity.
A happy thought struck Milly, as she sa
perched in the armchair, and Miss Fan
shaw fitted like humming bird about hel
Miss Fanshaw -
"Well, dear ~
s'Let's play tea -
ssRless the child ! Play tea? Ut cours
you shall.''
And she buzzed over to little cul
board, and brought out tiny shining Tea
kettle, and put it upon the tiny stove, owe
the tiny blaze. 1t began to sing and sing
She then whirled a little round table (res'
ing on one leg with three carved claws III
to the centre of the room. Over this sh
spread astrip of old white, homemade liner
Upon this she placed one plate with &c
of butter, another plate with dot
cheese, and another with a dot OF sass.
Then she brought out crusty piece
e bread, two marvellous little china cups, an
two ancient plates, figured with red
Then came Milly's turn. She cllmpe
down from her perch drew the bask'
: from under her cloak, which she had q
r clined removing; put the loaf on the &
BILE, then the jar, and then ranged tne 1o'
red applies beside them.