Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-12-22
A Danbury Family Scene.

A family Of some pretentions, living on
Nelson street, had party Of FIVE to tea
Thursday evening The table was set out in
fine style as the company was from the city
and It was absolutely necessary to show them
that folks may live in n village like Danbury
and yet understand the requirements Of good
society. When they were all at the table
and the lady was preparing to dish up the
tea, her little son, whose face shone like the
knee Of a country clergywan's pants. pulled
her secretly by the dress. But she was too
busy 10 notice. He pulled her again, but
receiving no response, he whispered
"Ma, ma 7"
"What is III"
"Ain't this one Of Miss Perrys knives ~
holding up the article in his hand and look
ing, as he properly should, very much graft
fed by such an evidence Of his discerument.
She made no reply in words, but she gave
him look that was calculated TO annihiate
him. .....-.......
The tea was dished out, and the party
we're butteripg their biscuit, when the youth
suddenly whispered sgain, looking at his
plate with 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"
"Tkomas |" again CALCULATED his mother,
with crimsoned face, while his father assumed
frown nearly an inch thick, "if you don't
let your viotuals stop your mouth Ill send
you away from the table -
H.. nu;okoI ~ nnnn II. -,
not very particular boy, and he concluded
that the difference in the plates was not Of
such moment as to admit Of tedious argument
at this time.
Several minutes passed without any fur.
thor interruption. The young man industri.
ously attended to his food, but at the same
time kept close eye on what was going on
around him. He was lifting up his cup for
q sip, when his glance unfortunately fell upon
the saucer. 1t was but q glance, but with
the keennsss OF young eye he saw that the
two were not originally designed for each
other. .'-.
why ma he eagerly whispered, "this
cup don't belong to-"
Then he suddenly stopped. The express
sion Of his mothers face actually rendered
him speechless, aud for q moment he applied
himself 10 hisimeal,ih depressed silence |;
but no was young and Of an elastic temper,
and he soon recovered his beaming express
sion. A little later he observed a lady OPP.
posite putting a spoon of preserved grapes in
her mouth. Then he twitched his mothers
dress and said again;
"Mam ..r
The unhappy woman shivored at the
sound, but his remark ut this time appeared
to be on an entirely different subject as he
asked
"Aint Miss Walker funny woman ?"
Funny !" said bis mother with sigh of
relief. And then turning to the company
with the explanation, MRS. Walker is an
old lady who lives across the way" she
smiled on her hopeful son aud asked, "what
makes you think she is fnuny ~
"Why, you know--you know" began
Thomas, in that rapid, moist way which an
only son assumes when he is imparting in.
formation before company in response to
cordial invitation, "When went over there
this AFTERNOON to got the spoons she said she
hoped the company wouldn't bite EN-, as it
would dent"
Thomas !" shrieked the unhappy mother,
as soon as she could break in.
Young man." gasped the father, "loave
this table at once !"
And Thomas left at once. His father sub
sequently followed him and the two met in
back room and had both been aying express
trains coming together there could have
scarcely been more noise.-Danbury Netos.