The Red Cloud chief., 1886-01-01
NALERiA'S CALLERS.
Why Invited and How Thoy
Were Entertained.

"Eow wonder what that mcans?"
said lhiio Lusk.
He had Just come back from his
snowy tramp Ia the po,t-oflicc, with
the weekly paper, and onc letter.
Old Mr.. Lu,k had brought in the
lighted candles, and piled an extra
log IN the fire, 80 that the low cciled
Kitchen WAS all ag.ow with ruddy light.
while the smell of Slowing apples. and
from the iron crane, lent a practical
idca of comfort to the scene.
..1aNrs. amt it?' said Mrs. Lusk.
whose cyc-ight Was not as good As il
had been.
NO. it amt taxes" mechanically
uttered her son. still intent on the con
tents Of the envelope that ne had just
torn open
Well, then. its a letter from your
Aunt S"phrony. oH. Oh Long island.
asking for money!
mo. il amt said Philo. at amt
:: letter At all. L. Just a card: Miss
Nalcria Whitman; at home, January l.,
1856"
La said Mrs. Lusk. She wants
Won 10 call there
Get out" said Philo. with a sudden
accent of shccpisimess. Why should
l go there"
Well why note" said Mrs. Lu~k.
cit what the city people do. I'm told.
They bake 4 big cake and draw u
pKtAcr of cider. and set down in their
heyt clothes To see company. Nally
Whitman is dreadful cntcrprising. She
mdHns to lead in the fashion"
lam | To call thcrr?" asked PhilO.
<NNhy. of COURSE" said his mother.
What else does il mean?-'Mis, Valeria
Whitman. AT Home.
..Shc's at home most days. amt
She" sail Philo. musingly. There
never was anything of the CAD
about in Vally Whitman that ever |
heard Of
..Oh. but this 'ere's a new kink.' ex-
planned Mrs. Lu>k. New Years Day
don't You scc?"
I'D calculated TO take the oxcn on
10 Snidgc 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-
coura@ingl,. .TOnc might rs well be GU
of the world a. out of the fashion"
Deacon Folgroyc got one of Miss
Whitman's cards; also Squire Hart.
IL fact. there was not a widowcr or
old bachelor or eligible swain in all
(edaryillc who was omitted from the
list.
Il amt aS Young as l was" said
Miss Whitman to herself. Its high
time | took steps To establish myself. :
So she put fresh muslin curtains 10
:he windows. made herself a new gown
according To- the latest faShion-plate
and prepared for the festive Initial Day
OF the wear.
..A> for Won. Bella" she said TO her
niece. who worked in the needle fac
tory near by and paid for her board
and lodging toy such household tasks as
she might Ice able 10 do nights and
mornings, 'yo can go up 10 old Mrs.
Willctt'> on New Years Day. Take
my compliments and a jar of them fer
mcntcd SwcetmcatS-old Mrs. Willett
won't ever know the diifercnce-and
stay all day and Sew and mend for her.
There amt no virtue like that of char
ity-'
But. aunt" pleaded Bella. would
not some other day do a. well for Mrs.
Willett? Iwould rather remain here
and
.Ne. it wouldn't" said Miss Vsleris.
CURLY. When l SAY | want a thing
done l want il done, So ;hcrer'
IL l,a,r - aid Rnlio q, hnrSafS
..Aunt Val is going TO wcarthat ridicu-
lou> ~low-nccked dress of dyel-green
satin. and the wreath of flowers: and
I'm perfectly certain that that was a
bottle Of hair-dye L saw on her bureau
labeled Best black ink. And she has
sent out a lot of cards. and is going to
see company and l am TO be sent off TO
Snidgc Mountain. where Mrs. Willett
lives. 10 Toe out of the a Well, We'll
Seetf
Miss Valeria Whitman had jus;
PASSED her iiye-and-fortieth year. She
was stout and ruddy. with the very
best set of teeth that the Cedarrille
dentist couli supply. and a perpetual
smile riyeted 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 a coup d'etst and
win nknsband.
e attired herself on New Years
Dawn a green satin dress. cut low n
the nick and short in the sleeves. and
nioned a bunch of chrySanthemums at
the lea eide, and pulled her newly
tlntsdbkG dir in the most elaborate style.
II do declare" said Miss Val to her.
.elf. Il don't look a day over twenty
And then she took up her position in
shc parlo-. where a bright fire blazed
on the neatly secured brass andirons,
.,nd the smell of pancake and currant
wine wa already Pereepuble, with .