Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-11-02
FRS. SAWYER'S PARTY.

Mrs. Tom Sawyer's CHEEKY little face
was Enthusiastically clouded, as she went
about her work one bright morning. In
order to explain to you the cause OF this
unusual occurrence, | shall have to 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 self
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, I must confess, on
account Of her sweet, SunShiny ways,
and good, true sense, Mrs Tom, though
her husband was mechanic, was ad-
mitted even into the charmed circles of
aristocratic Ashton. Mrs. ION herself
wondered how she came there, as did
everybody else, but there she was, and
no one, not even the most tastidious, had
any desire to put her out.
But it proved same thing of a trial to
her after all, and this morning the thorns
were very sharp. You must know she
found herself as the expression is in
debted to nearly every one of her friends,
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 10 appear robed in their very
best. The table was loaded with dain-
ties Of all sorts and descriptions. Alter
an evening of high-bred small talk and
gossip, the company adjourned, each
vowing 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 a cosy, CHEEKY
room; looked lust 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
diing-room. That crapet was very
much worn and thin in spots. But 1
enjoy eating in it enough sight better
than in Mrs. George Parkers elegant
one, for hers fairly chills me, and this
warIas me up, it looks so homelike,"
said the incorrigible Tom, who preferred
his own coy home to any ones SPLEEN
dor.
Mrs. Tom went back to her sweeping
with look of indecision on her face.
and it rested there all the time she was
busting and putting things to rights. I'll
do it," she exclaimed at once, as she put
the last book back, and pushed Toms
chair into the corner. "I'll do it. I've
accepted their hospitality, and I'll offer
them mine. They know cannot do as
they do, so they won't expect it, and 1
won't spoil it by trying to do something
I can't. I'll make as nice tea party as
I 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. 81 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
she would not fully realize what she was
undertaking. But one and all made up
their minds to 60. 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
Ter and prettieT than to-day. It was not
grand or impressive, but you felt its
brightsunshine the minute YOU entered.
Such an afternoon! Not one of them
could remember one like it. Mrs. Tom
was everywhere, sometimes with a
merry lest, sometimes kindly inquiry,
now with an interesting curiosity and its
story, another time with some question
that led into an interesting discussion.
They forgot to gossip or criticise; 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 establishment. Where had
the afternoon gone?
Il don't know what you've DONE"
said Mrs. Parker, as she babe her host
ess goodnight, "but feel as used tc
say when child, gooder than 1 did
when / came"
''We shall all be glad to come again,
said Mrs. Weston, the lady of Ashton
whose husband was very rich.
''And all 1 did, Tom, was Just to try
and get the best out of everybody"
eff everyone would do that, the mel
lennium would come in less than nc
time, little woman" responded Tom
with fond smile.
"What did she do, anyway" asked
enc, as they discussed the strange party
'tShe didn't do anything" answers
Mrs. Parker promptly.
''She was just real and true. I neve
felt SO ashamed in my life as when
thought of all the parties had given
and every one of them spreads Blu
I've spread all am going to-" she added
with laugh. Hereafter, when in
yite you to my house, l want you to uI
'ders!and it is because l think we can d.
each other good in some way, not he
cause I've new carpet to exhibit, or
new kind of cake to treat you to-"
2r H. r