The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-12-28
AT HOME, JANUARY FIRST.

AI Gs
"Peep into the library-do, father
and see the dear girls. What a picture
they maker, Mr.. Bell down town was
a man much respected as a rich, success
full merchant, much feared as an over
shrewd financier; up town, in his own
house, he was just stfather." Mrs. Bell,
a comely, stout, blonde matron, had let
ber whole soul overflow on the little bald
head of her first baby. Successive
babies brought more outpouring of in
exhaustible affection and indulgence.
She was content as a brooding dove to
be only ssmother," and that Mr.. Bell
could ask greater glory or honor than
to be ssfather,n why, the idea was alb
surd. Soabsurd that it v came into
his mind. On tiptoe he obeyed his wife's
Injunction and looked in at the library.
door.
..What are they doingP'' he asked, in
a whisper.
directing envelopes for the New
Years cards-the invitations to call,
you know"
They were certainly pretty, those three
girls, with their slender forms thrown
into graceful, unrestrained attitudes. as
they sat about the library table eagerly
talking and busily writing. They were,
respectively. nineteen. eighteen and six
teen e old; and called, respectively,
10 or Josie for Josephine, Sissy for
Cecilia, and Tiny for Christina. These
were their home pet names, to be sure,
but following acustom that obtains now
adays, they chose to be known by these
dimiuutives outside in the fashionable
world. The great society paper described
them as ssthree Graces shading in styles
of beauty from Miss Josie's brunette
brilliancy, through Miss Sissy's brown
haired, blue-eyed bewilderment, to Miss
Tiny's moonlight blondeness." The
description was considered accurate as
well as extremely poetical, and Mrs. Bell
had asked the reporter to lunch.
Josie read off names from. a list. the
other two sisters wrote, and a fourth-a
mite called Poppet-neatly piled up en-
yelopes.
..Let's see" said Josie" the AS, BIS.
C'sAan done down to the Ms. Morse.
Morris, Mcintyre. Mumford-
Sissy. who was biting her pen-handle
in deep reflection, and had turned up
her blue eyes to the ceiling until she
looked like the saint whose name she
bore. interrupted just here with:
stJo, didn't We meet a Montgomery
somewherer'
montgomery No. Yes; there was
somebody of that name, it seems to me,
at Saratoga"
Il remember" exclaimed Tiny, get
ting upon her knees in the chair like a
child, and stretching across the table,
somebody, I've forgotten who, brought
him to us n day on the piazza, and
said he was an agreeable man who
lounged about the office and seemed to
have no friends"
80 yels,n said Josie, with uncer.
tainty; ..and I think he spoke of being al
the Windsor, in New York. Direct him
an envelope, Sissy"
.But, JOSIE asked Tiny, stdo we
know himP''
Nonsense, child; people aren't SO ex.
act at New Years. And we must have
alot of calls. Three girls of us! why,
less than two or three hundred G alls
would be a disgrace"
s.Of COURSE said Sissy, with a sense
of the gravest responsibility; .sand to Sc,
cure that number we must send out al
least twice as many invitations. There
Mr.. Montgomery, Windsor HOTEL 1
may not find him. but theresa chance
and every n counts" She threw the
directed envelope among the others tina
we're ready to be stamped and mailed.
"Well. my pets" Mr.. Bell asked. a.
he came in and looked down at tn,
pretty group in fond pride, s'where ar,
all these cards to be sent?''
80, papa" exclaimed 10, s.now JUS
run away we're so busy"
"Now, papa'-and Sissy jumped III
and kissed him-.do be a docile parent
there's a dear"
Miss Tiny, clapping her hand over
pile of envelopes to protect them from
scrutiny.
Mr.. Bell looked amused, patted theil
heads all around, and observed, in
mildly speculative way, as he saw abou
one quarter of the number to be sent
ut seems to me there r a grea
many"
ats all right, papa; we know tn
customs of society,"" came the re-assur
ing chorus.
I'VE know the cuthtomth of thotiety
perfec'ly'' echoed in a shrill solo from
Poppet, who at present lisps, being
minus one milk-tooth in front, but VIII,
will shortly be known to the news
papers a. 1.-THE piquant Miss Poppe
Bell"
Then all the girls jump up and mad
a dash a tpapa, and in q few moments
handsome old gentleman, very merr,
and very proud of his handsome ant
merry girls, makes a feint of havin,
been elected with great violence from
the library, and the door is closed an,
locked on the inside.
Mr.. Bell can hardly stop laughing t
say to his wife, 81 suppose you know a
about the cards sent outp"
so no." she answers, placidly; Z"
leave social matters to the girls. They'r
great favorites, father, and very attract
i've. The number of friends they hay
is astonishing. It's alright"
By force Of example, MI. Bell echoes
cheerfully, 30 yes, it's all right"
On New Years day there was q YER
rainbow Of girls in the Bell drawing
room. Such flmy, dainty-hued dresses
such bright cheeks and eyes, such q be
wildering tangle of glossy hair, neve
before shimmered around aprosperous
beaming old father. Mr.. Bell was Q