Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-23
MEG's ADVICE.

1t was the day after the party, and can any
day be any more utterly wretched? mean, Of
course, to the people who have given the party
especially when, like my uncle and aunt, they
are OF quiet-going habits and moderate means,
and must let their guests dance in the dining
room and have supper In the biggest bedroom
1t was the day after the party, and every indi-
vidual In the house was miserable. The days
before the party had not been remarkable for
comfort but they at least had been tinged with
the radiance Of hope and bright anticipation,
while now nothing remained but ''dregs and
bitterness" and to clear away and get the house
into order again. This would have seemed
rather dreary task in any circumstances, dare
say; but it was greatly aggravated by the fact
that we were all in very low spirits, or to put 1t
honestly, In dreadfully bad tempers. having each
and all special grievance of our own
My uncle's household consisted of himself and
my aunt, Mr.. and Mrs. Gilbee, their two sons,
Christopher and Peter, their two daughters.
Lottie and Sophy. and myself, Meg Merton, the
orphan daughter of my aunt's only sister, NV
mother had died when was eight years old, and
my father, whose habits were by no means Of q
domestic kind, sent me to school, and allowed
me to spend all my holidays at my aunt's; and
when he died and my schOoldays were over my
temporary home became permanent one. This
",
a matter OF course by my kind-hearted cousins !;
and aunt Charlotte, who had always regarded
me as one OF ner own children, never seemed to
suppose that she was comforting any particular
favor upon me by giving me a happy home
among them all. But appreciated it. and en-
deayOred to prove my gratitude In every way
possible. was older than Lottie and Sophy
and left school before they did, and became
very useful in the house. Aunt Charlotte was
OF nervous, timid nature, and as happened
to be self-possessed and cool and decided she
soon came to rely entirely on my Judgment and
energy. and In year or two / was hOusekeeper-
in-chief. and my advice was asked and pretty
generally taken on matters both small and great
indeed. Megs advice" became proverbial
ID the household. Naturally grew little die
tatorial, for often wondered what they could
have done without me. Chris was the only one
/ could not MANAGE
"Buliy the others as much as You like" he
would say, "but you shall never bully me" and
somehow or other never felt inclined to try.
''Tiffs occurred amongst US now and then:
but. on the whole. we were a very happy family
until the day after the party, when. as 1 have
said We were each and all miserable Nv uncle
was confined to his room with a bilious attack,
where he lay grooming and matchmaking that
champagns." My aunt looked very haggard
when she first came down in the morning, and
said her head ached badly; and her appearance
did not brighten as she and investigated the
state Of the crockery, &c.
81 shall never give party again" she said
quietly, but it was the uuietness of desnair
Mine champagne glasses broken, two sherries
and three OF the best china plates, and great
stain on the drawing-room carpet! We might
have been entertaining set of barbariansI"
Christopher and Peter, usually the most affec-
Tomato OF brothers. were not now on speaking
terms with each other, as my aunt and iliscoy-
cred at breakfast-time; and instead of going To
business together, Peter fingered until Chris
had gone, and then started about five minutes
afterwards This unfriendliness arose, as well
knew. because of q stylish disagreeable London
belle, whom some friends of ours had brought
with them to the party. and who had fiirted des-
perately, but with maddening impartiaty, with
both my deluded cousins. Hence their GOODNESS
toward each other this morning. As for I.ottie
that they were not on speaking terms, for they
We're nagging at each other all the time and
finished just before dinner with downright
spteful quarrel; and aunt Charlotte cried.
Their grievance was about two brothers, Tom
and Harry NOwill; for Lottie liked Harry best.
and sophy liked Tom; and with the usual
contrariness Of mankind, Harry was desper-
ately In love with SOphy and Tom with Lottie:
30 1t was usual. after every merry-mak-
ing we might have for Lottie and Sophy total
but think was quite justified in being So for
they would all persist in believing-or saving
that they believed-that was la love with ridic.
ulOus John HOwarth, just because he happened
TO be In love with me- and took care that eyerv
one should know he was too! did think some
OF them at least might have had more sense.
And now this fine London belle had appeared on
the scene-oh felt tempted to break another
best china plate and all the remaining sherry
glasses as thought about it! And, if aunt had
only known the state of mind 1 was in, she
would never have trusted me to wash them I'D
and put them away. Even our Newfoundland
dog seemed to share the general dissatisfaction.
and kept coming from his kennel as far as his
chain would permit, and uttering long and dis
NAL howis The cook said that it was the sign
OF death; but the hOusemaid persisted that il
fOretOld a wedding. / did not feel as If cared
much which it was or what happened-only
think felt more inclined for funeral than
wedding, especially If the wedding entailed q
breakfast and-another party.
My aunt and had been up as early az usual
this morning-we had too much to do to be able
to lie in bed. Chris and Peter Of course wanted
their breakfast at the usual hour. and their lun-
cheons-which they always took with them and
ate In little back room at the on1ce-put up;
and then, when they had started for business.
wecommenced our dismal investigations through
the house. We always dined at 6 o'clock, and
1t was nearly that hour beforeswe had succeeded
in reducing the house to anything like order.
Then Lottie and Sophy had their quarrel. in the
midst Of which Chris and Peter arrived and we
went to dinner.
Chris folded his arms and put on a dogged
and determined look as he took his place at the
table. '''o
II breakfasted Off cold fowl" he said gloom
i1y-'I lunched off cold fowl refuse to dine
Off It,"
My aunt grew fearful again.
This is not cold fowl" she answered, sit ia
turkey. and you might eat it. Cold beef win
keep day or two-fOwlsand turkeys with sance
over them, will not. But"-turning to me re-
signedly-"ring for the beef to be brought in
Meg; we have had enough unpleasantness for
one day."
"HOw Is 1t there is whole turkey left?" in
CURED Chris, somewhat Modified as the beef
appeared.
1t was Meg's fault, >" replied Aunt Charlotte.
" She put 1t on that dark shelf behind the cellar
door, and found 1t there this morning onite
forgotten. But I wonder, Meg. you did not
notice that there were only two turkeys at sun
per; this would have been eaten II it had been
there"
81 did not have any SUPPER" said. s.for I
thought there would not be ROOM"
That Is merely an excuse" interposed Lot
tie; You were spooning with John Howarth in
the conservatory ell supper time"
meant to look defiant, but may have looked
guilty.
1t mo. ''''-
81 win put q stop to this nonsense about
Kyrww~ ~ -