Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-17
BY force Of example, Mr.. Bell echoes,


absorbed in business schemes, or "see
ing man" in the library during tn,
evening, that he had seldom met hi
daughters in grand toilet, and hat
never realized what radiant creatures
they were, and that uptown he wa
chiefly known as "the Bell girls
father" He himself, in full dress anC
a light overcoat, was comp.imented by
his eldest daughter as "just too swoe
for anything" Then he jumped int
the carriage, consulted formidabl,
list, and began the days work.
The first caller at the house was ole
Mr.. Crump-"nobody at all, you know
just a friend Of mammals ages ago
when she was young" as Sissy re
marked.
"Ah,' exclaimed Mrs. Bell, with rap
ture, as she was entertaining him, 'my
dear girls are quite leaders of society
Eyes, madame" answered the ridicu
lous old party; "and we live in the
only country in the world where {
mother can make such boast Of chill
dren in their teens"
II know it," responded the mother
with sigh Of pious contentment
land I'm devoutly grateful for oul
free institutions"
Free and easy institutions" Mr.
Crump suggested; then pinching Pop
pets cheek, he asked "Well, small
child, and what do you do on New
Years day."
"Oh, retheive all day long. 1t it'll
quite tirethome," said Poppet, gravely
Crump, as he gave TASTY farewell
nod, made some strange noise under
his breath. Josie thought it was a
groan, but Tiny, who stood nearest,
said: at was swear, an awful
swear"
AZ think" said Poppet, "he 18th
dreffully poky and hathn't any thyle."
The early calls were mostly from
very young men, solemn under sense
of juvenility, or hilarious and kindly
patronizing toward elder people.
At II o'clock Josie whispered to
Sissy: "What bore / hate boys p
BY noon old married men and the
heads of families hurried in, paid
elaborate compliments, declared that
Mrs. Bell hadn't grown day older in
twenty years; then made off, checking
against the name "Bell" in bust
ness-like way just at the carriage door.
"At last" exclaimed Josie about l
o'clock-"at last the manageable men
are coming"
They came by dozens--men who led
the german, men who drove their own
'four-in-hands," men who lounged
about clubs, men who had "seen life"
in Paris, and watched talkative young
girls with a sinister interest.
Rather late in the afternoon Mrs.
Bell became so pleased with a tall,
handsome, dark-haired man Of about
thirty-fve, who spoke in a mellow
voice and with an English infection,
that she contrived to whisper to Josie,
"What's his name?"
"I'm sure l don't know, mamma
answered the young lady, gayly.
"There are dozens here whose faces
even 1 can't recall"
ooh, yes" Sissy chimed in with a
languid smile, eve sent so many cards,
you know
Mrs. Bell, who had begun to feel he
would make an ideal son.in-law, said
to the gentleman, with a proper pre-
amble, ut is objectionable, but we
have really forgotten your name"
Montgomery" he suavely replied.
"Your card came to my hotel--the
Windsor"
"Oh, yes, certainly, of course. The
girls sent out a great many. Pleasant
custom, isn't it,"
Charming CUSTOM" answered Mr..
Montgomery, "so-convenient-thati is,
l mean So so cordial" His eyes were
fixed in horrible stare directly over
Mrs. Bells shoulder, and he hurriedly
offered his arm. my dear madame"
Che stammered dreadfully), "will you
permit me to admire" (he jerked out
the words) "the works Of art in the
next room?"
Mrs. Bell turned about to see at
what he was staring in that CHASTITY
way, and found standing behind her
nothing worse than short, stout man
of forty or so, with iiorid countenance,
and pleasant smile upon it, who was
waiting to pay his New Years compli-
ment. That duly received, she took
Mr.. Montgomery's proffered arm, and
went into the next room to view a
large oil painting. The stout gentle
men followed them, and cheerfully
offered the remark, "F'ine picture"
Mr.. Montgomery dashed off to corner
where there was piece Of statuary.
The stout man dashed off to the corner
also, and gave the opinion, Fine
statue"
"Poppet," whispered Mrs. Bell,
reckoning the child to her, Ego and
ask Josie this gentleman's name"
Meanwhile he was delivering quite a
little lecture on art. The wonderful
permanency of works in marble renders
them Of value to the historian ; they
are, so to speak, petrifed history" he
said, blandly.
Poppet came running back, and
said, in capital imitation Of her
elders, 1--WE really can't thay who
everybody ith."
Mr.. Montgomery's attention seemed
fixed on fine etching that hung near
the open door, and he went toward it.
The stout person performed sort of
quadrille figure in front of him all the
way, and stationed himself on the
threshold. Montgomery attempted to
cross that threshold fat hand met
his advancing shoulder, and the words,
"Oh, no" very gently spoken, met
his ear.
The words were evidently softer
than the grasp; for at the moment the
three girls and train of callers were
passing through to the dining-room,
where collation. was spread, and Mr..
Montgomery staggered back, violently
propelled by that plump hand. The
rude stout man seemed about to speak
with great vehemence, but he looked
into the faces of the three young girls
in succession, and down into Poppet's
l.