The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-09-22

turned quickly Ill is Sauule, anu Cdlleu
back with the air of man who had
nearly forgotten an important order:
" Remember, l have promised no more
tea be drunk within my house."
A flush stole over the bright, pretty
face in the door, but she only bowed
her head, and no word of remonstrance
or promise of obedience passed her
lips. The colonel, evidently satisfied,
waived his hand and rode briskly along
the road to Salem village. Mistress
Putnam listened till Hector's hoofs
could no longer be heard, and then,
with her sleeves pinned above her dim
pied elbows and big apron tied over
her morning dress, invaded Chloe's
dominions.
Z" I'VE must lose no time" she ex-
claimed, cheerily. "Bid Pompey see
the brick oven is heated, and then go
to the barn and bring in all the eggs;
we must have custards baked directly"
Chloe vanished on her Grand, while
her mistress, from the shelves of the
buffet, brought out her precious china
and packed it, with her her own hands,
in large willow basket, arranging her
silver and glassware in the same
manner.
For the next two hours the spicy fra
GRANGE of nutmegs and cloves floated
out of the kitchen windows, and mis-
tress and maid were busy compromising
the choicest delicacies of the cook
book. BY noon all was done, the deli
cately Drowned custards, loaves of
sponge and fruit-cake set away in
the pantry in company with almost
t,.,, ~ .1, nF al Il
chicken, and glass dishes of ruby and
amber jellies. Mistress Putnam, taking
satisfied glance at the contents of
her pantry, retired to her chamber to
arrange her dress for the occasion.
About two O'Clock the company be-
gan to assemble, and the repeated raps
of the bright brass knocker put Chloe
into tlutter of excitement. First to
arrive was Mistress Deacon Gershom,
then lively Mistress Alice Hale, and
hardly were they comfortably seated
before Mistress Captain Putnam, Mis-
tress Mollie Downs and Mistress
Eunice Pettibone rustled in, dressed in
big-howered silks, hoops and high
heeled boots, each carrying her silk
work-bag on her arm. Mistress Put
nam received her guests in her own
graceful manner, making each feel so
much at home that the little stiffness
incident to such occasions speedily
disappeared, and each lady, being COM
fortably seated, produced her bit of COM
pany work. Outside the window swung
the late roses, and the hollyhocks stood
stiffly against the western zephyrs like
sentinels on guard, the wild bees
hummed, and now and then curious
fellow would fly in at the open window
to be driven out for his pains.
The ticking old clock in the corner
was quite drowned by the lively clatter,
for there was quite as much gossip in
tle-drums and pink-teas.
Anon they chatted of graver things
how it was possible war might yet be
the end of the opposition in the colonies
to the will of the king regarding the
new tax on tea; of the rumors of the
friendliness of the Pitt family, and that
the whole trouble was the kings fault,
and they wondered was it true that he
was half insane-and more to the same
effect, till the shadows heightened be-
hind the hOllyhocks, and the tall clock
in the corner pointed to the hour of
five. Much the matrons wondered that
no cheerful tinkle of silver and china
came through the closed doors. Would
Mistress Putnam change her hour for
tea, that the colonel might be present?
A light tap at the door and Chloe
craved audience with her mistress. A
few whispered words and Mistress Put
nam, with merry light in her dark
eyes, turned to her guests, saying: My
friends, methinks not one of we hath
ever seen the sunset from our house
top. l pray We come now with me, for
the prospect is such that mayhap ye
will never see again; put up your work
| beseech We, and come with me. "
With scarcely concealed surprise the
guests returned their work to the re-
cesses of their silken work-bags and
followed the light-footed hostess up the
narrow winding stairs.
Verify, the prospect was such as had
never been seen before; on the broad
gambrel-roof was spread the supper.
table, glittering with glass and silver
and transparent china-the collation.
not a whit behind that of other days
while the smoking tea-urn, in spite of
the colonel's commands, betrayed lis
fragrant contents.
Explaining her husbands prohibit
ton, and that she was determined her
guests should not be summarily de-
prived of their favorite beverage with
out warning, the lady acknowledged
she had kept the letter of the law
while disobeying its spirit, and bade
her guests be seated, command which
was readily obeyed, and the clatter of
knife, fork and spoon played a pleasant
accompaniment to the confusion OF
tongues, as the different articles on the
table were duly praised, recipes asked
for and various experiments in cooking
detailed. The matrons slipped theil
tea, admired its bouquet and bewailed
its disappearance, for each wife present
knew that the command, "No more
tea," might be issued in her household
within the week.
Before sunset the tea-drinking was
finished, and the guests in little knot:
of twos and threes walked slowly home
ward, while Chloe and Pompey re-
moved every vestige of the surreptitious
feast. When Colonel Putnam rode ur
to his own gate, candles were lighted
in the house, a substantial hot supper
awaited his return wherein coffee anC
milk took the place of tea, and hi