The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-01-27

hastily dispatched, and in the handsome
dining-room Of DR.. St. Julien's mansion,
alrwaSs busy and gay preparation. Under
Nanny RacbePs careful supervision the
massive silver goblets, dishes, &C., had
been frightened until they looked like
polished mirrors;; the snowy damash
cloth. had been spread over the shining
mahogany table; delicate, transparent
china, and handsome cut glass, glittering.
with prissnaasic colors had been arranged
comme IL jaut, and combining with the
handsome plate presented an appearance
atvl,ee-refnedand elegant A youthful
and metsyT group had gathered in the
dining-room to assist Mrs. Mahan and
Nanny in the fixing" of the supper
table. Ring after ring of the door bell
had been answered, and very socn large
hampers from "Cursine" and "Rouget"
had laden the table with goodies" SO
beautiful to the eye and delicious to the
taste, they would seem to have been pro-
duced by the magic wand of some fairy
godmother. ' - ss
Reader, permit me to try and describe
that richly spread board. Be patient
with garrulous and childish old woman,
who loves to dwell upon the days of
'1ang syne,n and recall even the trifes
of the past. Though, verify, in those
happy days that are forever gone, the
graceful arrangement of the festive board
was matter of serious consideration
and innocent pride to our ladies. With
due Difference to their importance, places
easy of access, and conspicuous for dis
playing the grace Of the carver, were left
for the juicy westphalia, the well roasted
turkies, ducks, guineas, &C., the tempting
fat, stewed oysters and the nice, brown
maccaroni; while chicken salad, russes,
polonaises, custards, jellies, blancmanges,
&C., with large ice-cakes, as rich in favor
and as white rs bridal cakes, seemed to
take their places as if by intuition
There, too, in dscanters of exquisite
Bohemian glass were wines of every va
riety, in quality so rich and rare, they
would have rivalled the far-famed ''wines
of Shivaz" and "the bright dew from
vineyards Of the Green Sea gushing"
In the centre of the table stood the
crowning beauty of the whole-a tall
and gittering steeple of crystal fruits of
various kinds, connected, or rather ce-
mented, in form of rings of crystalized
rose-colored sugar. Within this magical
sugared palace was placed a tall wax
candle which, when lighted at night,
gave sparkling effect to the whole.
About half way between the crystal
tower ION each side of it) and the ends
of the table were flower stands of silver,
so contrived as when arranged with
flowers to give them the appearance of
pyramids ds-these the children, when little
ones, called "fower steeples." It was in
the artistic arrangement of those stands
that Marion, Arthur, Jessie and Harry
were engaged when Rose was writing her
letter. At a side table Walter was en-
ployed in skilfully cutting up the chick
en- salad, while Annie handed him the
crisp green lettuce from bowl of water;
her wee bit, dainty fingers looking the
more delicate and rosy for the cool and
pleasant work. ,s;IiGg7 . a5.'nH
"Another ring at the bell" said Harry,
3I hope the sugar plums are coming, I
would like to finger them myself, for
Madame Rougets are always nonpa-
reils"
The servant entered and handed Annie
beautiful Etruscan vase, containing one
single magnificent camelia, and card
with, "Mr. Richard Egan's compliments
to Miss St. Julien, and begs she will wear
his flower tonight"
"Wheughw whistled Harry; '"Miss
St. Julien Ar. Eganw 3fE.+',
ooh! how beautifulp cried Jessie.
'I don't like Dick Egan," muttered
Arthur. And on Walters serene brow
an unusal look of anxious thought res
ted.
Annie blushed slightly, but with gen.
tie dignity she bade the grinning Tom
TO take the vase and flower to the draw
ing-room.
Only three hours before Annie St.
Julien had carried to her boudoir, and
placed tenderly and carefully with her
pretty fingers in water bunch of sweet
violets and apple geranium leaves, which
Walter had given her with the whispered
words, "Their emblems are modesty and
preference, Annie"
"Why Harry what are you doing?"
exclaimed Marion, in. CONSERVATION;
"you are not adorning' the flower stand,
at all, but Jessie's head, which is almost
bowed down by the weight of the wreath
you have placed upon it. And only see
how Jessie has crushed the beautiful
flowers in her frolic. Obi it is too, too
bad of you! There were so many beau
tiful flowers, and now I fear they will
scarcely hold out to form these pyramids,
and the vases in the drawing-room need
a few more to give a finishing grace.
Oh! Harry! oh! Jessie you are incor-
rigible! I wish Rose would come and
help us, she has an artists eye and a
skillful hand"
"I will run and call Rose," said Jessie,
with pretty pout, "for I am weary of
the work. Harry tumbles over the stand
L.. .-o4 - Gvad onythiDo like