The Northern Pacific farmer., 1882-10-26
MRS. SAWYER'S PARTY.

Mrs. Tom Sawyer's CHEEKY little lace
was Enthusiastically clouded, as she went
about her work one bright morning. IN
order to explain to you the cause OF this
unusual occurrence, I shall have 10 say
first of all, that there never was more
thoroughly aristocratic little town than
that of Ashton. The Ashtonites had
aristocratic homes, and last but not least,
in poor little Mrs. Toms eyes, this SELL
same morning, they had very aristocrat-
ic tea parties.
"What had they to do with herr you
ask. "Well, partly in virtue Of her good
family, but mostly, l must confess, on
account of her sweet, sunshiny ways,
and good, true sense, Mrs. Tom, though
her husband was mechanic, was ad.
1nitted even into the charmed circles OF
aristocratic Ashton. Mrs. rom herself
wondered how she came there, as DID
everybody else, but there she was, and
no one, not even the most fastidlous, had
any desire to put her out.
But it proved same thing Of a trial to
her after all, and this morning the tiiorna
were very sharp. You must know She
found herself, as the expression is IN
debted to nearly every one ofher1riends,
not financially, but socially. Nothing
very terrible about that" you say, but
that is because you know nothing about
Ashton tea parties. No one was invited
until just tea time, when all were ex-
pected to appear robed IN their very
best. The table was loaded with daln-
ties of all sorts and descriptions. After
an evening of high-bred small talk and
gossip, the company adjourned, each
yowing TO surpass the hostess on some
future occasion. Such were Ashton tea
parties. Do you wonder that Mrs. Tom
sighed?
She went, broom in hand, and opened
the parlor door. 1t is cosy, CHEEKY
room; looked 'just like herself" her
husband said. But the carpet was only
ingram, and the furniture very plain
She shut the door and went on into the
dirMng-room. That crapet was very
much worn and thin in spots: But /
enjoy eating in it enough sight better
than in Mrs George Parker's elegant
one, for hers fairly chills me, and this
warns me up, it looks 80 homehke,,
said the incorrigible Tom, who preferred
his own cozy home to any ones splen-
dor.
Mrs. Tom went back to her sweeping
with look Of inlecision on her face.
and it rested there all the time she was
dusting and putting things to rights. III
do it," she exclaimed at once, as she put
the last book back. and pushed Toms
chair into the corner. ''Tll do it: I've
them mine. They know l cannot do as
they do, so they won't expect it, and !
won't spoil it by trying to do something
I can't I'll make as nice tea party as
1 know how my way, but I'll keep it my
way" So it came to pass that afternoon
Mrs. Tom went around among her
friends, inviting them to take tea with
her the next day. "And would like to
have YOU come early and spend the
afternoon" she said to every one.
Then she went home and commenced
the preparations. For tea, she would
have biscuits and butter land Mrs Tom
could make biscuits worth eating) cold
meat. preserves, and two kinds of cake.
She hesitated over the cake little. She
did hate to seem mean and stingy; but
she kept firm. "I can't afford any more,
and | don't believe in thinking your
company comes for the cake"
There was no little wonderment and
surprise over Mrs; Toms Invitations;
SOME even felt little sorry for her lest
! undertaking. But one and all made up
their minds to 20. and help along if need
be- Mrs. Tom met them at the door
with bright smile of welcome, took
them up into her own room to lay aside
their things, then down into the CHEEKY
little parlor, which never looked cheer
| ier and prettier than to-day. 1t was not
grand or impressive, but you felt its
bright sunshine the minute you entered.
Such an afternoon. Not one of them
could remember one like it. Mrs. Tom
| was everywhere, sometimes with q
merry Jest, sometimes kindly inquiry,
now with an inter asting curiosity and its
story, another time with some question
that led into an interesting discussion
They forgot to gossip or criticse; they
| lad no time to; it was crowded out with
better things Somehow kindly feel
ing crept over them, and they showed
! the best of themselves far more in this
| cozy little home, than in their accustom-
| ed splendor. When Mrs. Tom excused
| herself, as the clock struck six, to look
| after supper, they looked from one to
another in astoniskment Where had
| the afternoon gOneI
I don't know what you've DONE"
! said Mrs Parker, as she bade her host
tSS Stt''l-HISut, tut l. lCSi do tLott1 ~
| say when child, gooder than l did
when came"
| eve shall all be glad to come again."
said Mrs Weston, the lady of Ashton,
whose husband was very lich.
"And all l did, Tom, was just to try
and get the best out If everybody.'
eff everyone would do that, the mel
| lenniun would come in less than no
time, little woman,' responded Tom.
| with a fond smile.
! "What did she do, anyway" asked
one, as they discussed the strange party.
| "Shr didn't do anything" answered.
| Mrs. Parker promptly.
''Shc WAS Just real and true. | never
felt so ashamed in my life as when ]
thought of all the parties [ had given,
and every one of them spreads. But
| I've spread all am going to-" she added
| with y lar III. 'siIrreaftcr, when l in
| vitc yt'u tn lrE house, want you to un-
! icrS' a,rI it j. !".,;,',-,. ! think we ,an do
| each ether good in some way, not be-
cause I've 4 new carpet to exhibit, or
| new kind of cake to treat you TO-"