The Portland daily press., 1874-08-08
[From the Saturday Journal.l
OUR EVENING PARTY.

got back from the city, ard found double
supply of my favorite. hot, buttefed mullins
: awaiting me, ard my slippers so nicely aired
on the hearth. But | was sure of it when my
wife said smiling, 81 hope you like the tea
dear; put an extra spoonful in, because it's
such bleak night for you;' and when my
eldest daughter, Molly, laughed so very heart
ily at nv cid story of the Chinese Missionary,
which L think so good that / take every OPP
portunity OF repeating.
s.Now. Mollv," said T. as took down my.
meerschaum after tea; snow Molly, what is
it?"
'.What is what, papa?" said Polly; hut
she bushed and laughed conscious hltie
laugh all the same.
Come I retorted, ''let us have it. What
is it you want to coax out of me noW?"
swell, Molly. as papa seems so cunning at
finding US out, think we had better tell him
what we have been talking about" said my
wife with slightly nervous litter.
go "a great deal better, you most artiul of
women,' said !, with all the sternness l could
muster; s'and no more compliments to my
superior wisdom, if you please. | am quite
aware you are only oiling the machinery to
make it run round your own-way. All at
tempts, too, TO bride the court with more
mullins win only iJure your case. Proceed,
therefore"
'.Well, James," replied my wife, "the girls
anu L nave UCCH tttihIliS etiI Tue
ahem ~
sAnd all the morning, too, l have no doubt.
So far the court quite agrees with you, mad
am,'' interrupted, blowing out one CT my
most sarcastic wreaths of smoke.
'sThese poor things, James, do so want you
to give them an evening party-something
little stylish, you know-llke other people"
my wife continued, hurrying on like the
stream when it has come to the brink OF the
precipice.
San evening party!' repeated in amaze
ment
"Oh, yes! do, papa,' said Molly, sitting
down on the hassock at my feet, and putting
her cheek on my knee. She is an admirable
hand at coaxing, is Molly.
eyes. dear, why should we not be like our
neighbors, at least sometimes-like Mrs. Wy
ner. Tor instance?" pursued my wife, skill
fully singing out an acquaintance who was
my pet aversion.
swell, because we can't, if we tried; we
haven't got the money" L replied. ''You
must surely see what nonsense it is to talk OF
our being like Vyner, when his partner in
. ands year, and ! have barely as many hun
dreds.'
.'Well. but we might just show Mrs. Vyner
we know what's what"
1t was mean advantage my wife Jane was
taking, and she knew it, Mrs. Vvner was
from the same county town as myself, and on
!. the strength of her father having had thou
sand year in land (and heaven knows how
much more in rustic stupidityD had always
considered herself entitled to play the part OF
a superior being towards us. Nor was she
content with thinking this, but was deter
mined we should admit her glorious suprem-
acy in style, house, furniture and belongings.
In word, she was my special adherence;
and if there was enc thing l should have
ID II Tpc
drought down peg" Jane knew this weak
ness OF mine very well, and | consider it an
ungsnerous action on her part to have APP
pealed to it. However, for the present / re-
sisted the temptation firmly.
In truth, the notion of our giving an even
ing party was very ridiculous one. was
secretary to city company, with about three
hundred year. We had already sacrificed
to the graces of London society-appearanc
by taking decent house at Noting Hill,
and had hard work, what with Ned'S school
ing and the finishing of my two daughters
to keep our heads farely above waiter. SO
like sensible man, had hitherto always
insisted on dining at half past one, and had
never received my friends otherwise than at
tea and supper in the painest of ''plain ways"
If they liked to drop in at such times (and
many of them did,, We were always delighted
to see them, and under these circumstances
had many pleasanter chat and laugh, dare
say, than tall to the lot of grander houses.
The very freedom of this kind of visiting
the knowledge that you can come and go
when you like, do and talk as you Ike, abd
that the more you please yourself the better
you will please the host, suit my constitution
exactly; and l believe that in liking it l am
only one of a vast majority OF London gentle
men. For the ladies dare not speak.
When we went to bed, however, my wife
returned to the attack, and did not leave me
till she was victorious. Her chief argument
was now that we Taught to give Molly a
chance; and Molly thought so her self. There
was young Kelly looked very sweet at her;
but how could we expect a respectable fellow
like him to come forward unless he saw we
knew somebody and were not quite out of
the pale of good society,"
''My dear sr,' said l. "pray don't put
these silly notions into Molly's head. Kelly
always seemed to be rather spooney on Ellen
Vyner, and not at all on Molly"
''Ah, the Vyners always try to make out
that he is quite devoted to them; but l fla.ter
myself knew white fro black when see it
yes. yes, think so indeed
swell, il you really think we aught to give
Molly this party said l, reluctantly.
.'Yes that wodld be a good excuse for be-
ginning But think we aught to give one
every year for the futuFe.''
groaned in spirit and said, sPray let us
get safely over this before We talk of any
more. l confess think the whole notion
absurd-the expense, the trouble, the prob
ability of break down with such servants
as ours. But suppose you must have your
way"
Accordingly, in the morning my wife and
two daughteri formed themselves into o per-
manent committee of ways and means They
decided that things could not possibly be got
ready under month, and for the whole of
that time we were in a state of disturbance.
First, it was found out that the drawing
room curtains were old and shabby, and We
must have new ones; then, the dining-room
carpet did not suit the furniture-'!and you
would not wish people to think we have no
taste, dear" said my vile. Now it was nv
old bookcase that had to be showed into an
unobtrusive corner, where [ had to go and
hunt for my papers in the dark; next, one
nearly broke ones neck over new music
stand which had arrived that morning and
been left in the passage, ''only just for min
ute till the carpet was put DOWN. then if
any friend came in there was scarcely sin
gle place where one could sit down. In a
word, all our quiet, homely, comfortable
ways were at an end; and what with uphol-
serers, carpenters, piano tuners, and others,
it was just as if we were ''f:tting." | was
heartily glad, therefore, when they at last de-
careo themselves ready to send out ''inyita-
tons."
Then the consultations were about the day
and what people we were to ask! Mr.. Dis
raeli, forming a new cabinet for the govern
ment of a fourth part of the world, could not
have pondered more anXiodsly, and [ am
sure he would not have looked half so grave
ly important over it. For my part, watched
the proceedings with an amused eye, for my
opinion, like an eminent physicians, was on
ly taken as last resource.
The first name written down in call the
lists" was, of course, Fred Kelly's-to catch
whom lin plain English) our party was given.
1 could quite understand how this young
Kelly, who was in the civil service, contrived
to make SO many mothers and daughters run
after him. Perhaps las quantity is preferred
to quality it was only because there was so
much OF him. for he stood over six feet; but
then he was as thin as lath, and neatly as
white, with feeble attempts at the straw
colored moustache and hay-colored beard
that Thackeray speaks Of More probably
cool Ojibbeway manner of the man about
town-that af1ectation of stony indifference