The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-08-01
Not Her Reception Day.

Not Her Reception Day.
1t was one of the first tempting days in
spring. My thoughts were awakened
with fresh kindliness toward my friends,
and l devoted the afternoon to my social
impulses. Not intending to be ceremo-
NOUS in my visit, it was, perhaps, little
in advance of the usual calling hours
when l rang at Mrs. Rolph's door. Though
she was my neighbor, my acquaintance
with her was not very intimate, and af-
terward somewhat regretted that l had
not remembered her special receiving day
or at least made more timely visit.
I've no question that the waiter opened
the door minute too soon, for as l
stepped forward in the vestibule, saw
Mrs. Rolph nearly at the stairs, in the I'M
mistakable confusion of an attempt at es-
cape. The soft, rolling edges of the carpet
impeded her progress, and an unfortunate
tripping, in her haste, secured to me the
interview which | shall now in part
describe.
In the embarrassment of her fall, Mrs.
Rolph looked down and said, laughing,
and yet with half-provoked air:
80, Mrs. Lee you've fairly caught
me, and 1 suppose that [ might as well
come down to see you, if / am all in the
dust. 1t will not hurt me to get little
rest, if you will excuse my appearance
don't often see my friends in this rig"
The hall was full of extra furniture,
and it required good navigation to get to
the library, which room was mercifully
left in order, not being "turned up" on
1art,o
doors were open, as we passed, assuring
me at a glance that it was day of special
putting to rights in those superb drawing
rooms. Curtains were tied up; the statue
of Rebekah at the we'll was covered
closely with cotton sacque, made after
no extravaganza of fashion; the inde-
scribable bronze clock on the mantel
might have been cheap imitation for all l
could see of it; the sofa and the arm
chairs were protected with old sheets and
all the endless catalogue of small orna.
ments, which made those rooms such a
bewildering entertainment to guests (wbo
came at proper time), were dislodged
from their usual places, and thrust into
temporary oblivion.
I" was just coming up from the lunch.
table when l heard the BELL" said Mrs.
Rolph, as she seated herself, after lower.
ing the shade to darken the room as
much as possible. Gail the morning |
have been so hard at work that | thought
| must stop and refresh myself with bit
of something to eat. Are not these
sweeping-days dreadful p
"Tm very sorry" 1 replied, "that !
came this afternoon, for l see that my
| oil 10 int Nj Tok 10
just told me that you were engaged, ]
should have spared you it. But since
you urged me to come in, I'll stay a mo-
ment; the work will all go on just as
we'll while you are resting"
"Well," said Mrs. Rolph, "I'm glad tc
have moments talk with friend, but
don't agree with you that the sweeping
can 60 on quite as we'll when I'm moi
there"
"Dear me-" was my reply, it would
wear me out, if l undertook to see to the
execution of all that needs to be done.
should consider every ornament in the
house an extra trial, if l had to overlook
the care of it,"
Surely you do not let your girls SWEEP
your elegant carpets, with no one to direc
them and manage the work 2"
"What skill Of managing does it need?'
l exclaimed. 81 give Martha a fresh
broom once in two months for the parlol
floor, and don't know but that | should
die of consumption, if l had to stand il
the dust every week or fortnight, while
she sweeps
My neighbor then most generously ties
titled to the ordinary neatness of my
house, and to my fair success in domestic
matters generally, but added, You mus
have secured better servants than l car
get, for certainly would not trust any o.
mine to take the care of my heavy Aubus
son. Why, have to watch the two girl
every moment. If did not, they would
begin and sweep from one end of the room
to the other, instead of doing few feet a
time, and taking the dust up on tn
spot. I've had experience of their igno
rant and careless ways. My patience
the hours, and days, might say, which
have spent over the carpet, are tiresome t,
think of II"
al should think as much" | replied
"for sweeping days come pretty often, an,
with two or three boys in the family, a
you have, should Judge that they nigh
be serious occasions, if, as you say, it i
necessary for you to superintend the worl
each time. My way is to devote mysel
to a girl until have taught her what
wish her to do, and then leave her to d
it. If she fails to please me, l notice j
and require the careless work to be re
done. Common sense in a few week
teaches her that it is easier to follow m
directions in the first place than to b
obliged to do the work over again. Ever.
day l spend about an hour examining tn
different rooms, from attic to cellar, ant