Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-08-15
The Forbidden lea Party.


world would call a beauty. She was
tall and slight. with a lie ciied stoop In
her shoulders. Her hands we're very
thin, and her fingers long and tapering
She had low, sweet voice. and a sad
mournful face, in reference to which |
once startled my little sisters by remark
ing that 1t was shaped just like a cot
fin"
Mrs. Howe, although she seemed so
grand and beautiful to me, was a very
poor and humble woman. Sometimes,
in emergencies, she washed and cleaned
house at the parsonage ;and she watched
with us when we had the measles all
OF which services seemed to me tri-
umph of condescension on her part.
We had recently moved to the town.
and OF all the kind people who gathered
to welcome us to the parsonage, she,
sitting apart from the rest, was my IA
vorite. l took seat Cd cricket at her
feet, held her hand, and played with
her one plain gold ring. l did not want
to change my lovely mother for Mrs.
Howe, but | remember distinctly wish
ing that little girls could have two real
mothers, SO that l could keep her al
ways.
My passion for Mrs. Howe soon be-
came subject for family sport, and
often l had double share of some lux
ury given me, with a smile and hint
that could carry part of it to pretty
Mrs. Howe"
This excellent, and to me, beautiful
woman, had three little girls who were
not particularly attractive, and whom
my mother never invited to the parson
age. l was forbidden to stop at their
mousse gong too returning from school,
and when l asked " Why?" the only
answer l ever received, was,-
:" Mrs. Howe has children enough of
her own to look after"
AS l remember it, hers must have
been very poor home for an American
family. 1t reminded me-and that gave
1t great charm then-of our keeping
house in the stable on Saturday after.
Moons, when our kind mother allowed
us to prepare and eat our supper there.
My parents were once going off sew
eral miles to a great wedding and we
were saddened by the remark that we
must 60 to bed at our usual hour. as
they would not be at home till very
late.
1t was so unusual and so sad to have
them far away that the promise of we'd
ding-cake in the morning could hardly
console us. What, then, was nv low.
Just before they left, at seeing Sally
Howe leap the fence, and rush in with
the words, -
-. We're going to have tea-party to-
night. and want you all to come over.
Six others are coming, and we're going
TO make moiasses candy and to pop corn
in the evening""
My mother said " No, and explained
that she was going away. and had
charged Emeline to have us all in bed
before nine o'clock.
This was bitter disappointment but
not a word was said, and the girl made
second leap over the picket.fence, and
was oil to fill our places with other chill
dren.
do not think, looking back to that
time. that / was at heart q law-abidinp
child. Indeed, remember distinctly
the rebellious acts which often cast a
shadow over face whose smiles I would
give worlds to see to-day, but which I
shall never see again till I see it in its
immortal beauty.
Emeline was fresh, pretty Yankee
girl, who taught district school or
wrought in a kitchen, just as opportu-
nifty offered. She had promised us two
whole chapters of Robinson Crusoe -
after tea, and my elder sisters were set
ting the table for her so as to hasten on
the joyful hour.
slipped out at the back door, and
ran, bare headed, in nv little pink
sleeved apron and old slippers, to the
tea-party at Mrs. Howe's.
Never shall I forget what seemed to
me the glory of the scene as I entered,
The large, low, upholstered kitchen,
with its broad, open fire casting shad-
ows on the rough boards, the caseless
clock, the two great horn. shells, the
lamps filled with vitriol. water and red
yarn. and the proiles of Mrs. Howe
and strange man-it had never once
occurred to me that there could be a
husband and father attached to this
family-completely charmed me.
How | wished there was a great un
plastered room in the parsonage. with
such a fireplace, with black andirons.
and long crane, with tea. kettle on it!
How l envied these girls those elegant
lamps and their mothers profile |! I
was willing they should keep the mans
that hung beside it.
Mrs: Howe welcomed me very kindly.
and said,-
I'm glad your mother changed her
mind, SO as to let one of you come. 1
suppose Emeline would be lonesome
without the others"
made no reply.
felt little ashamed of my calico
apron and my old slippers when saw
SIX little girls in their Sunday clothes.
but soon forgot it.
While the Howe girls and their guests
were spreading the cloth, Mrs. Howe
beckoned me to follow her into the next
room.
That also was upholstered and I'M
painted. Taking key, attached to a
black ribbon. from her neck. she said
OIaclnO the cauale al, -, ~, =, hall