The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-12-25
VALERIA,S CALLERS.
Why Invited and How They
Were Entertained.

"Now Iwonder what that means?'
said Philo Lusk.
He had lust come back from hi,
snowy tramp to the post-of1ice, Will
the weekly papers and one letter
Old Mrs. Lusk had brought in the
lighted candles, and piled an extra
log on the fire, so that the low ceiled
kitchen was al aglow with ruddy light
while the smell of stewing apples, and
the song OF the tea-kettle, which hung
from the iron crane, lent a practical
idea of comfort to the scene.
Taxes, amt itPn said Mrs. Lusk,
whose eyesight was not as good as il
had BEEN gW
'No, it amt taxes" rnechanicallz
uttered her sou, still intent on the con
tents Of the envelope that he had just
torn open.
"Well, then, it's letter from your
Aunt Sophrony ont on Long Island,
asking tor moneypn
mo, it ain't,' said Philo. cit amt
q letter at all. It's just card: Miss
Valeria Whitman; at home, January /,
1886 >"
'La!' said Mrs. Lusk. "She wants
you to call there. =
"Get outn said Philo, With sudden
accent of sheepishness. "Why should
go therep"
"Weil, why notP" said Mrs. Lusk.
cts what the city people do, Tn told.
They bake a big cake and draw a
pitcher of cider, and set down in their
best clothes to see company Vally
Whitman is dreadful enterprising. She
means to lead in the fashion.
Gam to call therepn asked Philo.
''Why, of COURSE" said his mother.
"What else does itmeanP--' Miss Valeria
Whitman. AT Home. ~
"She's at home most days, amt
sheP" said Philo, musingly. ''There
never was anything Of the CAD
about in Yally Whitman that ever /
heard of. !"
ooh, but this 'ere's new kinkr' ex-
planned Mrs. Lusk, 'New Years Day
don't you seeP"
I'D calculated to take the oxen on
TO Snidge hill and grub stumps out of
the clearin' on New Years Day. said
Philo.
"The next day will do just as well
for the stumps," said Mrs. Lusk, en-
couragmgly. zone might as we'll be out
OF the world as out of The fashion, -
Deacon Folgrove cot one of Miss
Whitman's cards; also Squire Hart.
In fact, there was not a widower or
old bachelor or eligible swain in all
Cedarville who was omitted from the
list
81 amt as young as / was" said
Miss Whitman to herself. Sits high
time ! took steps to establish myself. /"
SO she put fresh muslin curtains to
the windows, made herselfa new gown
according to the latest fashion-plate
and prepared for the festive Initial Day
OF the year.
"As for you, Bella, 2 she said to her
niece, who worked in the needle fac
tory neai by and paid for her board
and lodging by such household tasks as
she might be able TO do nights and
mornings, you can 90 up to old Mrs.
Willett's on New Years Day. Take
my compliments and a jar of them fer
mented sweetmeats-old Mrs. Willett
won t ever know the difference and
stay all day and sew and mend for her.
There ain no virtue like that of char
ity,'
"But, aunt" pleaded Bella, '.would
not some other day do as well for Mrs.
"illettP Iwould rather remain here
and--',
mo, it wouldn' t." said Miss valeria,
CURLY, "When / say / want a thing
done w,mt it done! So there!'
81 lNnoW,n said Bella to herself,
"Amt Val IS going to wear that ridicu-
lous low-nGcked dress of dyed-oreen
satin, and the wreath of flowers: and
I'm perfectly certain that that was a
bottle of haiT-dye saw on her bureau
labeled Best black ink And she has
sent out lot of cards, and is going to
sec company and am to be sent off to
Snidge Mountain, where Mrs. Willett
lives, to be out Of the way. Well, we'll
seem
Miss Yaleria Whitman had lust
passed her iiye-and-fortieth year. She
was stout and ruddy, with the very
best set Of teeth that the Cedaville
dentist could supply, and perpetual
smile riveted on her lips; and she was
very tired of living alone and SEWING.
ON vests to earn her pin-money. And
she had determined on this particular
occasion to make coup d'etat and
win husband.
So she attired herself on New Years
Day in a green satin dress, cut low in
the neck and short in the sleeves, and
pinned bunch of ehrysanthemums at
the left side, and pulled her newly
tinted hair in the most elaborate style
Il do declare, said Miss Val to her.
self, 81 don't look day over twenty!n
And then she took up her position in
the parlor, where bright fire blazed
ON the neatly secured brass andirons,
and the smell of pancake and currant
wine was already percep ible, with a
piece of tatting in her hand. Fortu-
tunately, the day was BRIGHT and clear;
the well-beaten snow now offered
every inducement to sleighing parties,
and the sunshine streamed in upon the
few geraniums and the monthly rose
in the window seat, as if cloud and
storm We're altogether a thing of the
past
Deacon Folgrove was the first to ar
rlye-a .hard-handed. hard-headed old
man, with complexion of leather and
the keenest of twinkling black eyes.
Il got a letter from you, Miss Whit
man, sad he, II 8 pose you want to
consult me on business. AAk
''La dsacoai What Q very strange