The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-01-12

and out TO market she stalked, very up
right, very shabby, and very much of a
lady. At the corner, when grand car
riage in dashing by splashed mud all
over her well-worn clothing, Miss Lis
beths fine scornful smile was something
to see. She looked after the gay equi-
page with plying contempt, and said,
half aloud "The Jacksons' carriage
Why, Tim Jackson was my fathers
shoemaker. Poor wretches !'
The Vanderweyster house was in the
neighborhood lying abont Washington
Square, neighborhood which to-day
has a charm that all the uptown wealth
OF fine architecture fails to secure-the
charm of history. OF course the his
tory is not long one, nor has it any
regal glitter; but it begins with the Gen.
fury, and is respectable, which facts, i'll
a land where most things are still pain
fully new, bear something of weight and
| iblCICots SAiSS IloUCIu llNCu uuuCI UlC
roof built by her father, and on land be-
longing to the family for two hundred
years. Yet the house was much like a
carriage without horses-there was moth
ing to keep it going. She had therefore
lately begun to rent out the upper rooms
to single gentlemen with undoubted
references, and she and Sylvia lived in
the basement and pariors with frugality
dignitied by exquisite neatness.
Such odors of roasting and stewing,
such steam of fruit and spice, such tempt
ing sounds of hashing and grinding, as
| fioated upstairs all day long, made the
dodgers, as they came in pause in the
hallway.
Why" Black whispered to Smith,
'this house is always like church-still,
| clean, and monumental; but to-day, by
| George! it smells like Delmonico's. :"
And he went shifting over the basement
stair rails. "Bet the landlady's going to
have party to see the old year out"
"Wha,'s up, wonder9' said Smith,
loosely. Say, Parker" as another man
entered with his latch-key, "did you ever
see our landlady"'
'Never. Don't want to either. Ipay
up to an old dragon of mulatto. Hello.
smells here like the supper some fellows
gave me last New-Year's."
| Il can tell you," remarked Smith, "our
Miss hat-you-call'e is rum
lot. She looks like royal Egyptian
mummy; gives me an arctic bow now and
then; belongs to one of the old families"
cold families be-confounded ~ re-
piled Parker, carelessly; and he turned
to go up stairs, nodding on the way a
hasty 'How are you?' to little Japa-
nese gentleman, who had come in with
his key like the others, and had been
listening to the conversation.
Presently the Japanese advanced civ
lilly toward Black, and asked, in very
precise English, crushed to a strange,
inimitable softness on his foreign tongue
pardon; but kindly inform me why
the lady prepares feast9"
ooh, for New-Year's, I guess" re
sponded Black, airily. "It was an old
fashion to 90 round visiting, and make a
pig of yourself, on that day." and after
the manner of the festive ledger, he fran
chised the stairs at few bounds, and
loudly slammed his door up above.
Mr.. Tokugawa gazed after Blacks
heavy heels with that air of quiet obser.
walton peculiar to these @ell-bred little
yellow gentlemen; then he took his ow
noiseless way to his room. With a deli
cate lowering hand that proclaims famll
iarity with books, he chose certain vol.
umes from his well-filled shelves, and at
once began carefully searching them.
New-Year's Day was bright, crisp and
clear. Nature herself seemed inclined
to wholesome festivity. Miss Wander.
weyster's parlor looked much as it had
looked half a century before; the solid
mahogany furniture was little worn as
to the hair-cloth covering, but improved
as to the color and polish of the wood
and there stood the embroidered screen
representing ''Rebecca at the Well" anc
there were the claret moreen curtains
and in each window hung wreath O.
evergreens, and beyond the bright CRATE
fire the folding-doors stood wide open
displaying the dining room, with it's shin
ing sideboard, and the table spread will
a substantial banquet. Meats and salads
temptingly garnished with fresh lettuc,
and ruddy beets, were dispersed between
forms of translucent jellies and piles O
spicy cakes. Solids and danties, piquan
sours and luscious sweets, were gener
ously set out all together; steaming cot
fee offered solace to the cold and weary
and punch waited subtle invitation
through the air.
Sylvia lowered about the room, he
wizened features all relaxed with house
wife's satisfaction, and when Miss Lis
beth appeared from behind the tall SC reel
which hid from view a bed and dressing
table, the old servant let her off will
actually only one command
jess go straight away an put on you
pearl pin. Miss Lis"
Miss Lsbeth hesitated. Isn't it rathe
gay?" she asked.
''Bress us. not bit. Nothin' ain
too gay for such New-Year's. Look a
de sunshine; look at de punch; look a
Me- and with merry display of tn
interior of her toothless mouth, oylyi
turned about to show the bow of he
starched white apron. which was in
state of sheet-iron perfection.
So the pearl pima poor little trifle a
best-lent its glory to the neck of Mis-
Lisbeth's black sir gown. There wer
bits of court plaster that mended tn
sundry wounds of time in that gown
but, on the whole, the glisteu and tn
paper-like rattle of the costume wer
very satisfactory.
Now, Sylvia" said Miss Lisbeth, lit
nine o'clock, and the calls ought to be
gin. | declare I feel nervous about meet
ing SO many gentlemen, though at m
age it's ridiculous, of course
''Oh, dey'll be comm in crowds putt
soon, Miss Lis. Hark dere's rim
now" and Sylvia trotted off to the from
door and flung it open wide, calculating