The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-12-09
THE PRESS.
A Danbury Family Scene.

A family of some pretensons, living on Mel
son street, had a party of five to tea Thursday
evening. The table was set out in fine style as
the company was from the city and 1t was alb
solutely necessary to show them that folks may
live in village like Danbury and yet under
stand the requirements of good society, When
they were all at the table and he lady was pre-
pairing to dish up the tea, her little son, whose
face shone like the knee of country clergy
mans pants, pulled her secretly by the dress.
But she was too busy 70 notice. He pulled her
again, but receiving no response, he whis-
pered:
ma, map
what is it?''
saint this one of Miss Perrys knives?"
holding up the article in his hand and looking,
as he properly should, very much gratifed by
such an evidence of his discernment.
She made no reply in words, but she gave
him look that was calculated to annihilate
him.
The tea was dished out. and the party were
buttering their biscuit, when the youth sudden
~ whispered again, looking at his plate with a
pleased expression. Why, ma, my plate is
different from the Others"
Thomas" she calculated under her breath.
why, it is, ma" persisted Thomas. NOW,
just see here. This plate has
'.Thomas?' again calculated his mother,
with crimsoned face while his father assumed
a frown nearly an inch thick, ''if you don't let
your victuals stop your mouth Pll send you
away from the tablet
This quoted Thomas at once, He was not a
very particular boy, and he concluded that the
difference in the plates was not of such mo-
ment as to admit of tedious argument at this
time.
Several minutes passed without any further
interruption. The young man industriousy
attended to his food, but at the same time kept
up close eye on what was going on around
him. He was lifting up his cup for a sip, when
his glance unfortunately fell upon the saucer
1t was but glance, but with the keeness of a
young eye he saw that the two were not origi.
nally designed for each other.
why ma" he eagerly whispered, this CUP
don't belong to-
Then he suddenly stopped. The expression
OF his mothers face actually rendered him
speechless and for o moment he applied him
self to his meal in depressed silence; but hi
was young and of an elastic temper, and he
soon recovered his beaming expression. A
little later he observed lady opposite putting
spoon of preserved grapes in her mouth
Then he twitched his mothers dress and sale
again.
The unhappy woman shivered at the sound
but his remark at this time appeared to be OF
an entirely different subject as he as he asked
faint Miss Walker funny woman?"
Funny said his mother, with a sigh O
relief. Aud then turning to the company will
the explanation, "Mrs. Walker is an old lady
who lives across the way" she smiled on hel
hopeful son and asked, what makes you thinl
she is funny?'
"Why, you know-you know" began Thorn
as, in that rapid moist way which an only sol
assumes when he is mparting information
before company in response to cordial invita-
ton, when l went over there this afternoon Il
get the spoons she said she hoped the com
psny wouldn't bite 'em, as it would dent"
Thomas" shrieked the unhappy mother
as soon as she could break in.
Young man." gasped the father, "leav
this table at oncep'
And Thomas left at .once. His father sub
sequently followed him and the two met in
back room and had both been flying expires
trains coming together there could hav
scarcely been more noise.-Danbury Meas.