Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-03-02
THOSE WEDDING PRESENTS.


BYE. SIS.
The quiet little village Of k wa
unusually quiet, and the closed doors
and closely-drawn curtains of the silent
houses gave evidence that nearly ali
the members of the Ladies Aid Society
were spending the afternoon at the
parsonage. where curtains were being
put up. and carpets put down, furni-
ture busted, and books arranged, pic
lures hung, and bouquets gathered and
all things made ready to welcome the
new minister and his bride, who were
expected that evening.
"There, said kittie Ala=sden as she
shook the broken stems and leaves
back into the basket that had held her
flowers, and placed the last bouquet In
the vase waiting for it; I've finished
the bouquets, and I do hope the bride
VIII be pleased with what we have
done"
"She ought to be, said Mrs. Martin.
al know if L were in her place I'd
rather have the house all cleaned and
fixed for me than to have lots Of we'd
ding presents. "
$50 had /, A" said Kittie.
81 hadn't, said Bessie HaltOn; II do
hope If 1 ever get married I'll have lots
of wedding presen 1 think that a
house furnished WI Just what you buy
is horrid dreary, and it must seem so
nice to have a lot of little nicknacks
around to remind you of your absent
friends"
"It's very sure every one don't think
as you do, said Miss Barker, a lady
who, if one might Judge by her age,
was not likely to be troubled with we'd
ding gifts. Your near neighbor, Mrs.
Wilton, got ever so many, and has
never shown or spoken of them to any
body, and know 1 have never seen
my gift to her since the day 1 sent it to
her mothers, and I've looked for 1t
every time 1 called there.
Il have never seen what gave her
either" said Mrs. Myers. Have you,
Mrs. Martin ?"
Neither your gift, or my own" re-
spOnded that lady promptly. 1--WE often
wondered what she did with them"
Il declared" said Mrs. Lyons, turn
ing round on top of the small table she
was using as n step-ladder, while she
placed the word "IFeIcOme" over the
parlor door. 1 was saying to my sister
only yesterday, that Mrs Wilton had
never had nly gift in sight any time I've
called since she kept house. Most
likely she thinks our presents were not
nice enough to put in her new house. I
always thought she was proud"
"Why, Mrs. Lyons, Annie Wilton is
not proud, said Bessie. al think she
is awful nice, but didn't You see her
presents when you went to the we'd
ding?"
mo; she was married IN the church,
and had the use of the hotel dining-rOOm
for the wedding supper, because her
mothers house was so small"
mo one would have thought, to have
| seen the smiles and bushes on her
face when her husband stood at the
head of the table and thanked US
all for what we had sent that they felt
| above using them, either" interrupted
Miss. Barker
"NO, they would not, acquiesced Mrs.
| Martin" It's a little thing to take no
tice of. perhaps, but honestly, 1 can
not feel just the same towards Annie
that did before. Not because she
/ does not use my present, but because
she looks and speaks so odd whenever
/ her wedding presents are mentioned"
a have noticed that, too" said Mrs.
/ Myers. "If our gifts were not all valu-
able, they We're the best we could af-
/ ford, and I think such things should be
| treasured for the kindly feelings that
prompts the gift, not its market value
] in dollars and cents"
! $50 do I, " said Bessie, sorry for the
! turn the conversation had taken" and
/ 1 am sure Annie Wilton is not one that
values a gift by the price Of it. But if
/ we don't hurry up Mr.. Marks and his
bride VIII get here before we are ready
! for them"
Bessie's last remark was we'll timed,
and IN finishing their work the CONVEX
satiOn was forgotten by all but Bessie,
| who pOndered over it, wondering if it
| could be that her friend was ashamed
Of her wedding gifts because they
were not costly.
81 can't believe it, D" she thought, as
/ she walked down the shady street, on
her way home, "but I'll find out, if I
have to ask her"
Bessie had promised Mrs. Wilton she
would "runin" on her way home to tell
her Of the preparations that were made
| at the parsonage, as that lady was IN
/ able to attend, so, when that subject
was eXhau ted, and Bessie, after speak
ing Of the bride, said:
@DOyou know, Mrs Wilton, you have
never told me about your wedding, or
shown me any of your wedding gifts ?"
She did not suspect any hidden mo
tive In the remark but, after hesltatlng
a moment, laughed and said:
a VIII make amends at once by tell
| ing you about it now. l was married a
/ short time before you moved here.
/ MIR. Wilton was in business, where he
/ Is now, but we wanted to buy this house,
/ and knew we would have 90 be very
/ economical to do so. I had 8 little
money Of my own I had saved to buy
things for my new home. You know
what mean, those little things that
seem so useless, and yet give 2 house
a hOmelike, cosy look. We had intended
to be married quietly, at home, but
! Cousin Nell was there that spring, and
both she and mother wished me to be
married in church, and have a wedding
supper. 1 did not feel as We ought TO
afford It, but Frank left it for me to de-
eide. and they were both so urgent,
mother, because she feared some of
my friends would feel sighted, and
Nell. because this little place seemed
dull to her, and she wanted some amuse-
ment, I suspect But any way, was
at last persuaded to have the party.
Nell tried to console me, when
looked at my hattened pOcket-bOoks by
telling me I would have wedding pres
ents enough to ornament my house,
and I did she added, with little
laugh.
You have seen my two clocks, that
willow rocker. my silver castor, and
this hanging-lamp; they were wedding
presents. So was that large rug, the