The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-09-18
THE SPONGE FAMILY'S HOLIDAY.

THE SPONGE FAMILY'.s HOLIDAY.
The summer holiday is each year le-
coming more and more of a social neces-
sity. Whether for a long OF 4 shot term
all city folks must so to the country.
Some patronize the large and costly hote's
while others with less capacious pockets
but with stomachs of equal capacity with
those of the people who put more money
in circulation seek health and fairness in
the private boarding houses. But there
is large class of pleasure seekers, more
thrifty than either of these, who are
averse to squandering their precious dol
lars on hostelries of any kind. Having
relations who live in the country these
people plan visit, the only expense of
which will be the transportation of them
selves and their baggage. In the assur-
ance that their country cousins will be
delighted to see them they go in full force
father, mother, several young children
and the baby. 1t is by no means an un-
usual thing for such people also to intlict
on their rural relations a nurse whose
business it is to take care of the baby.
When the relations are plain people who
live on Il farm and attend i'll person to
most of their household work, the nurse
girl is one of the chief burdens involved
in the entertainment of the party, es-
pecially if she be given to putting on city
airs, as she generallyis.
We are told that d" the Assyrian came
down like the wolf on the fold.' and this
is the way in which the Sponge Family
bestows itself Oh its country relations.
True, the citizens do not come with that
hostility which animated the army of
Benhadad when encamped before Sama-
ria. The result, however, is much the
same. The arriving army has neglected
to send any word Of its intended move
ments. It's leaders have supposed that
country people were always at home and
always ready. The city man knows that
milk and vegetables and other produce
GUILE lIOlli lHC Couiitiy anu oiiiO wv GIN
raised on farms. That it can be any
| trouble or expense to farmers to prepare
these things for the mouths of hungry
| guests does not occur to him. Therefore
with his family, he descends on his vic
tins about noon on washday. Horrors
seizes the farmers wife rs the perspiring
| ,1,+; flicna,.nal n,,ninr tho
lane. City people can in emergency send
to the neighboring grocer and butcher
and make immediate provision for sudden
guests. In the country it is different.
The fowls which would have been inn
prisoned for fattening and slaughter, had
the unwelcome visitors been expected,
are running at large, without suspicion
of the doom awaiting them. Their luck
less necks must he twisted that dinner
may be ready in an hour. Meantime
the city folks tell the farmers wife not
to put herself out at all on their account,
and not to make any company of them.
She thinks they have come for dinner
only, and will surely so home by the
afternoon or evening train. But while at
dinner her distress reaches its climax on
the arrival of Il wagon load of trunks
and bundles. She then discovers that
her kinsfolk have come to sit down on
her for two weeks. At first her heart
sinks within her, but she is revived by 4
thought of delights which await her and
her people next winter, when they will
run up to town and pass 4 few weeks
with the city folks and enjoy the style of
soiourning in city house, whose front is
veneered from pavement to cornlce with
thin slabs of brown stone. Visions of
ecstacy fit through her mind as she sees
herself and family invited to shows Of all
kinds, such as country people rarely see
in the vicinity of their homes. She tells
her guests she is glad to see them. She
bids them make themselves at home,
country air and scenes, they at once pro-
coed to do. She sets before them her
best and plenty of it. 1t vanishes as
vegetation before the attack of the army
worm. The children have the run of the
place. The boys eat green apples and
are sick. Then they recover and find
their way into all sorts of mischief. They
cut their legs by meddling with the
scythe. They are kicked nearly to death
when trying to pull hairs out of the
horses tails. They try to swim in the
creek and are fished out half drownd.
The girls search the woods for fern and
berries. and find snakes and poison ivy
instead. The baby catches cold, and the
nurse girl is angry because put to sleep
in dimly lighted garnet where there is
neither gas burner nor ~ater-piped wash
stand, with choice of hot or cold water.
At last the two weeks expire. Well
laden with baskets of the schoicest hand
picked pears and peaches the city folks
return home, heaving several signs as
they 90 over the discomforts of the coun-
try. AS they say farewell to the country
cousins who have, at great inconven-
fence, entertained them, old Mr.. Sponge
remarks to the farmers wife: Now,
Maria, remember that if you ever should
happen to come to the city you will call
on us, won't you?' AS q snail. shrinks
into it's shell Maria withdraws into her
own inner consciousness, and as the
Sponge Family disappear over the hill on
the road to the railroad station. she and
all hers speed the parting guests by shak-
ing their fists, distorting their faces and
using several wrathful expressions which
would not appear well in print.