Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-03-30
UNLIMITED GUESTS.

Among the treasures In the No.
vember HOusehOM was a sensible
article, each sentence sermon, on
the Duties of Guests. The writer
presuppOsed the visitor to be vel
come at the Preside; a being to
whom attention was due, nay, free
ly given.
But what shall be said TO the
guest who, fOrgetful of the ameni-
ties Of life, dares to presume upon
the affability of an acquaintance to
such an extent as to invite himself?
Entering your home unsolicited, he
can be tolerated in its sunny at
mosphere only as a cold and dlsa-
greeable shadow. He can seldom
be truthfully welcomed.
The unlnvited guest possesses
neither "infnlte tact" nor the Gear
dinal virtues" AmenabIe to no
law, he discerns not the unwritten
principles of refinement. Even the
Golden Rule is a canon unObserved
in the dungeons of ignorance from
springs. Selfshness and ubiquity
are his chief characteristic.
How often has some gentle hdus.
frau been seriously annoyed by the
sudden arrival of self.invited Wis
itor! The housewife may be dill
gent, and, at most times, be pre-
pared to entertain. But exigencies
occur in every household, and, as
if "mallce armed" the unwelcome
guest seems to choose the very
hour Of misfortune in which to
pounce down upon the unprotected
family. AS to the evil results
which may follow such lll.timed
visits, let a bOna.fide illustration
prove.
Mrs. L. was the wife of a strug.
Cling city lawyer whose limited IN
come Indicated only careful expen-
ditures. They chose a spacious
! home, though the higher rental
meant "nO servants" The self.in.
vited guest was her bete-nOire, be.
cause, as she laughingly expressed
it, she had but two small hands
with which to accomplish every
thing.p Yet she entertained well
and often, those upon whom she
chose to bestow her hospitality.
a party of four had been the re-
cipients of her kindness for the
week and were to depart on the
morrow. Being true hostess, she
strove to keep the grinding wheels
of domestic care behind the scenes
and so postponed the FrIday'
busting duties till they had taker
their departure.
The last goodbye fondly uttered
she bravely began the task of "set
ting things to rights" A dlspatcf
from the metropolis-"Sister Mabe
exceedingly ill~ And Mr.. L. gone
to a distant court. But perhaps
she might set intercept him. NJ
telephone no one to send; no al
tentative but to dress and run dowT
to his office. Too late Then sh'
must fash the message on!
"The wire IS down to Berne
madam" said tho operator. "Fron
that point there is no line. 1t il
useless to attempt to reach you
husband"
Disheartened, she retraced he
steps to prepare for the journey tn,
instant Mr.. L. returned. She dareC
not go alone. No need to marke
now; the lett-oyers would be sufli
cient for their needs. Her che
thought was-would she reacl
Mabel in timeg
Again she took up the morning
work, making slower progress now
The dinner hour advanced, but tn
dinlng.room was scarcely touches
when the bell rang deflantly. An
swering its summons, she saw tw'
ladies', richly dressed one, a nelc
OF Mr.. L. by a former marriage, th
other-a total stranger! The nice
coolly informed her that they hat
come to the city on an excursion
train, and prosposed to spend tn
day with her.
That meant dinner for three
and one q stranger-and only tn
leftover to serve ! What wOul'
have proven ample for two (sai'
two having been made One), wOul'
be meagre fare for all. At thl
hour in the market she could no
procure even Juicy steak. lie
only resource was the stale ham a
the corner grocery, and, than
fortune, she could get oysters.
"Why did they not have tn
common sence to dine at restau
rant ere they presented themselves
But some people do not care to b
intelligent when it means tronbl
for them or drain upon their purse
cried Mrs. L., bitterly, as she rack
ed her brain to cOncoct some pass
able dessert from the odds an
ends at hand. "Even the kltche
fire rebels against this outrage"
The meal prepared, the crownin
trial was to preside over it wit
customary dignity and grace.
~ might have written you," sal
Alicia, carelessly, surveying th
hurriedly spread board with
supercIIious air, "but | though