The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-11-28

dreadful truthfulness with which she
had delivered her message. She found
her mother at the back door engaged
in the strange pastime (for her) OF
stoning a neighbours dog.
There" said she, her voice full OF
suppressed fury, ~take that; and
that" sending stone after stone IN
the direction OF the retreating an
imal, not one of which reached its
mark, but served the purpose Just
as we'll as a medium for surplus
energy. The dog had been at the
cake. He was young dog and prob
ably hungry for sweets; and the result
was that it now lay scattered about,
a perfect wreck. 1t was trying, and
at this luncture the shadow OF sun
bonnet, made OF a complicated ar
rangement OF cords and "slats,"
was seen to fit past the window.
ooh heavens she exclaimed, 'if
there don't come the Widder Ferret"
Everybody knew wherever that "sun-
bonnet" went the "Widder Ferret s"
head was sure to be under it.
Il hea-erd you was sick" said the
"widder," coming in and easing herself
down on cushioned chair, all made
up nice and fluffy for company.
"Hea-erd | was sick - incredulously
echoed Mrs. Stebbins; "never was bet
tern my life" And she began
furious busting, although there was
not speck of dust to be seen, nor
could there have been by the aid OF a
microscope. Mrs. Stebbins had the
reputation OF being the "neatest wom-
II, go 81,
whacked the table up against the wall
and yanked the looking glass with the
picture of dancing girl on it THAT
had also belonged to her grandmoth-
err all out OF line, under pretence of
Strengthening it; took off the stove
covers and replaced them with good
deal of unnecessary clatter, but with
out attaining any obvious result;
kicked the braided mat as though it
was an object Of contempt, when it
was well known she regarded her handi-
work with secret Veneration.
Mr.. Stebbins had once beer heard
to remark (timidly, to be sure, for
Mr.. Stebbins was well trainedl that
the chief objection he had to leaving
home was his clothes. Braided mats
seemed so much more valuable to his
spouse than masculine attire, that he
was never sure OF finding the where
withai to clothe himself when he re-
turned.
However, after 1.-THE wilder" had
staid 'Etill all was blue" to quote Mrs.
Stebbins' own words, the picked-up
dinner was hastily set out on the
kitchen table, and hurried over re-
CARELESS OF ceremony, that there might
be time to make another cake before
the minister's folks should come. But
first she must put on her afternoon
dress" and open the blinds in the par
Tor, and dust around with her hand
kerchlef. Then she discovered that
the pines and mountain laurel with
which the fireplace was filled We're COW
cred with SCOT, and they had to be
removed and carefully shaken, By
that time there was a rap at the front
door, and the company had arrived.
As soon as she could Mrs. Stebbins
excused herself for a few minutes, tell
ing Minnie to show the photograph
album, and to keep her "tongue IN her
head" about the cake. But Minnie
was communicative, as well as truth
tul, and no sooner did the faint
sound OF beating eggs reach her ready
ear than she burst forth: "My moth
er's maxim cake; don't you hear the
eggs 'schnapp, gchnapp, schnapp"
She told me not to tell YOU" said this
terrible child, seeming suddenly to
come to a comprehension of the real
state ofthings. "She told me not to
tell YOU repeated Minnie, expecting
some response. But the minister and
his wife were deep in the album, and
seemingly regardless of anything else
At length the tired-out and worried
hostess made her appearance, with
flushed face and anxious mien,
and tried to 'tmake talk" for the
half hour before tea. Then they
sat down to the ministers pie
and the company cake, and drank
green tea out of the best china, and
Mrs. Stebbins inquired very interest
edly after Aunt Debby, and said she
meant to have her come, of course.
And the sun went down, and the min
lister and his wife walked home in the
twilight, and he wondered how many
generations it would take to outlive
the primitive, conventional tea-party.
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