The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-08-09

the memory of her lost pet. But told
you, Amyllon, she was good-hearted
with all her faults. When 1 described
to her the bite"
''She wanted to send you a new
coatp"
''She f,rgave me, consented to keep
the bird"
"And borrowed $40 on the strength
of her pardon. Satisfactory finale.o
II never told you that, Amylion.
How on earth"
81 remember your telling me you
had lost $40 about that time, as a reason
for not going out of town for the Fourth.
Giving, friend Amys, is one of the lux
uries OF life. But just so soon as gen.
erosity suffers coercion it ceases to be
qualification to give. No man would
relish an enforced diet of plate de foie
gras. yet its a luxury it for the gods.
10 be asked for loan by one who, on
principle, never repays it, is perhaps
the most trying form of compulsory
gift. The borrower evades the stigma
of begging, while the lender wholly
misses the credit of giving. l think,
Amys, would rather avoid more in
innate Acquaintance with your fair
friend"
81 am sorry to hear you say 80, for /
promised to call upon her next Sunday,
and relied upon your accompanying
me. Did you know that your little
friend Orianna Is down from Virginia
City, and staying with Fidessap"
Now, Orianna is pet of mine, and
had not seen her for an age. was an
xious, moreover, to keep brotherly eye
upon Amys; so L determined if he
would go to Fidessa's the following
Sunday, so would l. When the day
came found he was not TO be turned
from his purpose. Therefore, we called
together on the widow. l carried with
me into her house my prejudice against
her. In her presence, it seemed to
melt away in defiance of my will. She
was certainly wonderfully agreeable
woman, and she appeared sincerely de-
sirous to put forward little Orianna,
who is shy, modest and retiring. She
eyinced no feminine jealousy of her SUI
perior advantages of youth and good
looks. Such not always being the
habit of widows, was pleasantly sur
prised.
We were asked to remain to dinner.
Fidessa pressed-insisted. 1t was no
kindness to ask us, she said, for she had
forgotten to market yesterday, and she
didn't believe there was anything At to
eat in the house. Then she went out
of the room to ransack the pantries,
she told us, and Orianna was left to en-
terrain us. The latter was unusually
quiet and silent. There was an embar-
rassment in her manner that l could not
fathom. Was she distressed at our re-
naming to what she knew would be a
shabby dinner9 If so, she placed insult
ficient faith in the powers of our hostess.
A more toothsome, inviting little din
ner | never sat down to. The dishes
were few, but every one was dainty
enough to set before royalty, And the
whole exquisitely served. l formed a
better opinion of Fldessa as sat at her
table enjoying the delicacies she evident
ly took genuine pleasure in pressing
upon us, than l thought it possible l
could entertain toward one of whose i'll
veterate and inconsiderate habit of ask
ing favOrs l had heard much and ex-
perienced little. Two items that told
strongly in her favor with me were her
kind manner TO Orianna and her evident
ability as housekeeper and hostess.
Amys fairly beamed under the influ-
ence Of the tidbits she slipped on to his
plate and the smiles she lavished upon
him. The sherry was incompatible,
and l confess her sOlicitude in keeping
my glass in Drumming state had a mel
lowing effect upon my humor. | could
not understand how little Orianna, usu-
ally so bright and gay, could resist the
effects of this genial atmosphere. She
had grown quieter and more silent since
we sat down to dinner, aud all my efforts
failed to draw her out.
We dined early, and the better part
of the evening was still before us when
we left Fidessa's house. Amys sug-
gested some calls in the neighborhood.
| acquiesced. Our first visit was to the
Browns. They were at tea, and insist
ed upon our each taking cup. The
six-year old daughter of the house, who
had a childish fOndness for me, came
and cuddled down in corner Of the
sofa beside me. We were somewhat
apart from the others.
'TlIere is no cake for tea tonight
SHE said, condOlngly. "We always
have lots Of cake, and Bridget made
some that was awful good yesterday
) but the lady who lives in the little house
across the street begged it all away
from us to-day. She had company that
came unexpected, and the mice had
spoiled all her cake. And we gave hel
: some soup, too. She's nice lady, and
| like her, but | wish her soup didn'
J all get burned up sometimes; cause
5 like soup, and to-day there was no
: enough for dinner to give me any, 'caus
her soup got all burned up again to-day
} and mamma lent her some of Ours.'
l was deeply interested.
) "Doesthis lady's soup often get burn
edP" asked.
ooh, yes-'mOst every Sunday AM
v papa was awful mad to-day, cause
was gumbo soup, and he didn't hav
. but little wee bit. And he was awfu
cross with mamma cause he had
" crushed napkin, cause mamma lent a
the clean ones to the lady. And, yo
l. | lynnY.r ola A. at