Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-05-27
THE HOUSEHOLD.
Advice Conccrning unexpected
fsmHsts.

Years ago, when was first married,
mn old lady friend gave me some excel
lent advice in regard TO company. Her
family was small (only herself and hus-
band), yet a person could never go there
for friendly visit and find her unpre-
pared. No apologies were ever made,
although things were of the painest, as
the family were obliged to practice great
economy, their means being limited. But
the cordial welcome and the
ease with which visitor was
entertained made people feel that
they never came at ethe wrong time.
When / first began to preside over
house Of my own, thought | would not
allow myself to be disturbed If a friend
dropped in Unexpectedly. But it took
time for me to shake myself out of the
rut in which / had been led for some
years. Some time after my marriage |
was talking on the subject to my elderly
friend previously mentioned. She said;
Company never disturbs me. II rich
people come TO see me l know they have
things good enough at home. II poor
people come know have as good as
they have.'' This, then, was her
secret which, added to her natural
ease of manner, made young
and old always enjoy themselves
when visiting her. AS my family
cares increased. found if wished to
enjoy life at all must often let the NOR
row take thought for its own affairs. II
/ knew the company was coming, Of
course / had my meals prepared before
hand, go that | might have the more
time to spend with them; but if they
came unexpectedly, l simply set my
table and make no excuse. think one
Of the most pleasant meals / ever en-
joyed was at a time when | had prepared
. dinner for five and had cent out TO the
good man to come in and partake
thereof. He sent me in word he would
bring q gentlemen with him. Another
plate, knife, fork, and napkin were put
on the table, chairs were set and we
were just about to occupy them when
our family physician walked in
with another gentleman. For Just q
moment / will acknowledge feared there
would not be enough to Ego around. +"
But more plates, etc., were added. There
was plenty OF nice bread and butter in
the pantry, part OF sheet OF warm
gingerbread was cut and put on the
table. As we chatted over our dinner
and the doctor brought up the remin-
iscences Of his army life, Goubt il any
OF US gave Q thought to the rapid disap.
pearance Of OUR "boiled dish" Al
another time my husband brought in
gentleman to dine who was at the
| time stranger to US both. / noticed
| he hesitated a moment as he entered the
dining-room; but did not think of il
again until some time afterward, when
he told me that frequently, when q host
| invited him in to partake of meal, he
would find he was not always welcomed tc
| the lady Of the house, and he hesitated
| fearing I wac one of that kind. He how.
ever, staid long enough to find out his
| mistake. Years ago, on very warm day
In July, . lady drove to the house OF Z
gentleman to see him on business. Ar
| riving there his wife informed her ht
was away and would not return unit
evening, at the same time inviting her
| TO come In and take tea with her ant
await his return. The invitation wal
accented. They converscd for a while
and when the proper time arrived the
hostess prepared her simple supper
Good sweet bread and butter and cuI
Of fragrant tea, that was all, but said thu
lady afterward: at was the best suppe
I ever ate." Agassiz once called OF
Oxen, the great German natural
ist, who invited him to stay Il
dinner, There were two dishes
potatoes plain and potatoes roasted
but 30 much did Agassiz learn of thu
great man that in after-years he wrote
"Never before were such potatoes growI
on this planet, for the mind of the maj
seemed to enter into what we ate, social
ly together, and devoured his intellec
while munching his potatoes. 1 repea
it, never ate such dinner before o
since" Sisters, depend upon it. ou
guests will not think as much of US
we spend the time they are with us il
preparing refreshments for the inne
man. Far better is it to give them
hearty welcome and let them feel for tn
time they are members Of the family
and while they remain with US will b
used as sch.--tMrs. L. Howard in Rura
New York.