The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-04-02

not 10 praise anything, or even ap
prove. Certainly no other construc
ton could bc put on her manner O
conversation that evening. Sh,
seemed anything but iriend-th,
most ungracious of guests and ye
she too was lady, scholar, and
christian.
The next morning as Mrs. Burt
that was her name-seated herself a
the breakfast table, our hostess ask
ed her if she had slept well.
81 can't say that l did particular,
WE'LL" with spiteful emphasis OF
the second syllable.
OF course the mistress of tn,
house was covered with confusion
and she began to explain about the
mattresses having become matted
and uneven.
81 sleep on hair mattress a
home" said Mrs. Burt sententlously
and that settled the matter. Bur
the enormity of her rudeness became
apparent to us, when, afterwards il
came out in her conversation tina,
she was never good sleeper.
This was only the beginning of
things. She seemed to have spec
ial spite at our hostess, on account
of her being happy and well situated,
To the rest of us she was gracious
and ladylike, agreeable in her ways
and wolas but toward Mrs. Girder
IN constant state of antagonism
which broke out In the most uncivil
things that were ever said. If that
lady liked person who happened
TO be named, the other did not she
found fault with Mrs. Girder's friends
and approved Of nothing proposed
by her. Little words OF disagree.
ment, small s.urs, harsh judgement,
fault fading, seeing a flaw in every
thing, characterized her remarks.
On the second morning no une
asked her how she had slept. She
might have sat in her chair all night
for all any OF US knew or cared. But
the breakfast was not allowed to
pass without something unpleasant
being SAID. We had excellent cot
tee-so specially excellent that al
most every one spoke OF it because
they could Mt help it-aud it does
the heart of hostess good to be as
sured that her guests appreciate her
food. Light, good rolls, baked po-
tatoes, slices of cold ham and boiled
eggs; and every one was enjoying
the sensible meal when we became
aware our difficult companion was
refusing everything offered her.
What no rolls :? Trey are SO
nice -
"No, l thank you, 1 never eat
warm bread"
On which Mrs. Girder, having
heard the conversation, ruug for
cold bread.
"Would she have a potato" ask
ed the same gentleman they were
"done to dot" he said.
"No. thaak you!''
ga bit Of ham ? it is excellent /;
try it with your cold bread"
"No | thank YOU" she said in a
way that was All insult.
She would take an egg.
Our hostess remarked that they
had been In the water four minutes,
they might be little hard.
"Three minutes aud half Is the
rule" was the rejoinder from the
guest, who proceeded to owly eat
the egg with the ar of one who
knew she was fastening her own
death by doing so.
The feeling OF the company was
expressed by one of the gentlem an
who was overheard asking another ::
els that not a hatefnl woman :?
Seems to me l would have eaten nv
breakfast, if I had known it would
kill me"
Atm there were tomatoes on
on the table-the first of the season 1:
and very early, it was, too and they
were nncommonly fine ones. Mrs.
Girder had saved them on purpose
for her guest, and said at the table
that they had never raised any so
early as these.
"We had them two weeks ago."
This was rather drawback but
Mrs. Girder persevered, and added
that they had never planted this
kind before, but were 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"
might go on. / might tell you
fifty things that you woald hardly
believe a woman would say to anoth
er, much less to her hostess.
About a week after this, she an.
nounced that one OF her family was
taken sick, and her brother had sent
for her, and she had replied that she
would be at home by such a train
and he was to meet her. This ar,
rangement the venerable grandfath.
er of our hostess knew nothing about.
and being most hospitable old gen
tlemau. when he found that she was
going away, began to urge her to
stay longer.
81 think I'd better CO."
sob, no ! Stop with us over an
other Sabbath. l wouldn't 90 to
day"
81 think I'd better Co."
"Why, no." he said "there is
nothing to call you home"
81 think I'd better CO."
This was too much for me, and
knowing that he was very scrupu.
lous about keeping an engagement, 1
rose and walked across the room,
and said him-I suppose it was
spiteful in me:
"Her sister is sick. She has had
letter from home. Her brother is
to meet her by the three O'Clock
train, and she has sent word that she
would come"
"Oh !" said the unsuspecting old
gentleman "that makes a differ
ence. People should always keep
their engagements"
And Mrs Burt flushed a rosy red.
After she was gone, some of the
ladies said sho ought to be made an
example of; but Mrs. Girder said,
"no, she was her guest" But she
vas not mine.
And she was not mine.-Hearth
and Home.