The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-07-17
Laid upon the Shelf.
By MRS. II. G. Rowe.

"Why, really, Iva, 1 did think should
like TO go to this party"
Mrs. Rays tone was deprecatory, and
she gave a quick, shy glance at her
daughters surprised face.
81 don't generally care much for these
large gatherings; but Mrs. Brent was a
schoolmate of mine, and l should like to
go to her silver wedding-if can"
"Irs to be grand affair, and, of course,
you can't wear your old black silk
you've worn it everywhere for the last
six years.
"NO, of course not. l was thinking of
getting me one of those handsome sill
ver-gray silks that we saw the other
day at Mace * Psckard's. Don't you
think" with timid look at her daugh-
ter's unsympathetic face, sit would be
suitable for me ?''
"Oh, yes, certainly" was the cold re-
spOnse; and Eva drew up the last seal
lop Of her tatting with a jerk and frown,
while she added, in that quietly-ag-
grieved tone so painful to a sensitive
ear: 81 can help you on your dress, for
| shall stay at home myself"
Mrs. Ray colored painfully. "Why,
what do you mean, child? You have
been talking of going ever since the in
y
change your mind so suddenly ?"
"Only," affecting utter obliviOusness
of the pained surprise in her mothers
look and tone, "if you have to buy a
new silk for yourself, papa won't think
he can afford nae the dress that | in
tended TO have for this party, and had
rather stay at home than wear the same
dress that I've worn to every party,
large and small, that Pve attended this
winter"
81 thought" the mothers voice fall
tered as she spoke, "that, as your dress
was new and handsome, it would do to
wear through the season."
81 don't care to be known by my
dress was the 'shOrtr reply, and with
a sigh for the lost entertainment that
she had anticipated with real pleasure,
the unselfish mother replied with an ef-
fort at chserfulness:
"Oh, well, if that's the way of it, IN
stay at home. l shouldn't take any
comfort in going if thought was de-
priving you of a pleasure"
Eva's fair face was all sunshine in an
instant.
THANK you, mamma! But, honest
ly now, | don't believe you'd have en-
joyed it a bit, If you had decided to go.
The confusion and crowding, and the
late supper-all together, would have
worn you out entirely"
Mrs. Ray smiled sadly, as she thought
OF the daily round of wearying, wearing
domestic cares, with the suppers both
late" and early, whose preparation had
helped TO make up the burden that had
bowed her shoulders into the stoop of
premature old age, and roughened the
hands that her dainty daughters looked
upon with kind of plying contempt
"MIamma never was intended for a
lady," Eva remarked, cOnfidentially, to
her sister Bessie. "Only see how red
and rough her hands are; and she wears
n number five boot. / don't see, really,
how you and | came to have such small
feet and hands"
"Oh, we got those from papa's side of
the house. You know what beautiful
soft, white hands Aunt Jenny has"
"Nes, and well they may be. She
never soiled them with waiting upon
herself, even"
Eva spoke rather scornfully, for she
was really energetic, in her own way,
and had little sympathy with idleness,
even In the much-admired paternal rel
ative of whom her sister had reminded
her.
81 think Aunt Jenny is perfectly
splendid! The last time she was here
we used to take some comfort sitting to-
gether up in her room, reading Mrs.
Browning and Tennyson. Her voice is
so sweet and flexible, and she has such
a quick and delicate appreciation of
what she reads. 1t is q perfect delight
to listen to her."
Eva laughed.
"Did you hear Mr.. Washburn asking
mamma the other evening how she
liked Bret Harte? wanted to laugh, al
though / was frightened almost TO death
at the thought Of her making him some
ridiculous answer, for l didn't suppose
she had ever even heard Of him; but"
"How did she get out of the scrape ?'
interrupted the younger sister, with
more force than elegance.
"Why, luckily, she had the good
sense TO acknowledge that she knew too
little of his poems to be competent
Judge of his merits. / believe | never
was so grateful to her in my life as
was then"
every likely" laughed Bessie, with
shrug of her plump shoulders. "But,
honestly now, Eva" She hesitated
and colored little, pausing, as the sound
OF lnGlE InOlueIS NbttSf giving ulISC-
tions to the laundress in an adjoining
room, fell upon their ears.
"You must be more particular-as I've
told YOU over and over ragain-especially
with Mr.. Rays shirts and the girls mus
lins and cambria skirts. l can't have
them put off with rub and promise, If
everything else is"
The tones were sharp, and considera-
bly, higher than the lady-like pitch that
her well-bred daughters were always
careful to confine themselves to; and
Bessie, unmindful of the loving thought
fuluess that had prompted the rebuke
that so jarred upon her delieately-
trained senses, took up the thread Of
her remarks with an angry petulance
that was as unbecOming as it was un-
called for.
az was about to say that it had always
been a mystery to me, ever since was
old enough to reason about such things,
that father made the choice that he did
of a wife. | don't mean anything
mamma, Of course" as she
caught the startled look of disapproval
upon her sisters face; ''but their tastes
and feelings are so different. Now papa
is really intellectual, although he has so
little time TO cultivate his tastes in that
direction and he loves music and poe
try; and am sure everybody says he is
one OF the most agreeable men in soci-
ety. Now you know that when he is at
home an evening, nothing pleases him