The Brookhaven leader., 1884-03-27
Little Mary's Wedding Call.

II was in war time, and little Mary 8
father and mother were going to visit
the soldiers in camp, leaving her in
Bridget's care for the day. Just before
going, Mary's mother dressed her in an
old cambria dress, that she might play
in the dirt all she wanted to, and then,
kissing her goodbye and telling her to
be good little girl, off they started:
Mary watched them out of sight, and
then went to work on her mud-pies,
and soon large batch all ready for
baking adorned the curbstone.
But it was hot day, and Mary tired
very soon of playing in the sun, so she
tried to think what to do next. Now,
few houses down the street, lived Mrs.
Stillings, who, only within week or
two, had changed her name from M ss
Brown. Mary had heard Il great deal
of talk about 1.-THE BRIDE" and mamma
and auntie were thinking of calling.
So Mary thought she would call that
morning
She went in and washed her hands,
then started off, feeling very important,
not thinking of the old dress or aware
of the traces of mud-pies on her face.
She marched up the steps and rang the
bell. Martha, the girl, came to tie
door. They were very good friends
usually. but Mary was so filled with the
importance of making q real call all
alone that she took no notice of Maria
beyond inquiring in very digniiied
manner:
'Is the bride at homep"
Maria, choking back a laugh, said
Yes" aud ushered her into the par
lor. Very soon Mrs. Stillings came in,
and Mary had delightful time. Mrs.
! Stillings gave her some wedding-cake
on pretty plate, with a white napkin,
which made great impression on
Mary, and must have been funny
contrast, as she used it, to the grimy
little hands, which were not over-clean
despite the washing.
She made a very long, questionable
call, but was home again before Bridget
had missed her, and to her she told
about her call. And then when papa
and mamma came home she had to tell
the story over again at the supper table
IL went to call on the bride to- day, "
said Mary.
You did! Did Bridget dress you
nice and clean?" asked mamma.
"No. | went after l was tired of
playing in the dirt, and Bridget didn't
know il" answered Mary.
I'm that old dress! With dirty hands
and face! Why, Mary Tighter OK.
claime9 mamma, in a tone of horror.
81 washed my hands fore l went,
and Maria took me into the parlor, and
pretty soon Miss Brown came, and she
had on pretty brown dress. made of
! silk, with big eeves with white inside
! of 'em, and / asked her how she liked
being married, and she said very much,
and then | asked her if she was married
| in that dress, and she said no, she was
married in her trav. .erling dress. and if
I'd look out of the window next Sunday
| I'd see her go to church with it on, and
Pm goin' to. And then she had on a
ring, and asked her if it was her re-
gagement ring, and she said that was
her wedding ring, and she showed me
her be-gagement ring, and then she
went to the closet and brought me a
whole slice of wedding-cake, on real
pretty plate all over flowers, and a
napkin, mamma, just like real grown
up lady, and | eat it all but little tiny
bit of piece, and thought it wouldn' t
be polite to eat that, so left it, but
did want to atcfuliy--and mean to go
again and get some more cakes? and
Mary stopped, out of breath.
| When her mamma called on Mrs.
| Stillings she said that little Mary was
the most entertaining caller she had re-
ceived.
Mary was not allowed to call again.
SO she had no moro cake-a fact which
she long regretted. She has been a
''rcal, grown-up lady" herself for a
number of years, but she still remem-
bers distinctly her first call.-Porttand
Transcript.