Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-09-22
GrandmOther's Coming
Out" Party.

ssGrandmamma, dear, it's really
to be one of the very loveliest affairs
there has been this winter. It's nv
''Coming Out party, you know
and mamma SAYS it is to be just as
nice one as any of the girls have
had, and Gertie Flint's was awfully
swell. Now, grandmamma, don't
look shocked, that's only bit of
slang" and Dolly Laigh looked such
a sweet, bewitching sinner that grand
mother laughed as she shook her
head.
I. ''Remember one thing, dearie, ''she
said, ''you are only nineteen, and
don't want my Dollie spoiled. Be
sweet, frank and simple don't try
to copy girls in society, but just be
your own little self"
81 will, grandmamma darling, |
will, and if [ ever begin to feel too
gay and giddy l will just come up
here and you shall preach me one of
your nice sermons to make me good"
and DolIie kissed the true woman
who was her chief main stay in life.
"Maybe, my darling, if tell you
about my first party it may amuse
you bit. Yes, indeed, [ did have
a lovely party, although they were
not very common in my day, but you
know I was great grandfather Ben
hams only daughter; | had two
brothers but no sister, and father and
mother decided that their Dollie
should have party. They did not
call it coming out in my day
ooh, yes, grandmamma, do tell
me, / know it must be lovely" and
Dollie number two settled herself on
stool at grandmother's feet with
her brown curly head laid against her
knee.
"Well," began grandmother, 81
was just eighteen, one year younger
than you, but young girls then were
older at that age than they are now.
Father was one of the wealthiest
farmers in that district those times,
and as I was always fond of study
he let me take Latin of the minister,
and have a governess for French,
mathematics and history for whole
year, which was a great advantage
in my day. Oh, father did very
well by me, and I guess he never re-
GREETED it, for / was quick to learn
and bright as cricket those days,
not at all unlike this Dollie, although
maybe it seems almost impossible to
you now" And the old lady, who
at eighty was a beautiful example of
what old age may be, looked down
into the eyes that looked so lovingly
up into hers.
"Well, | had studied hard and the
crops were particularly good that
year, so one night, some time in No
vember, father said to mother, Lid |
dy'-mother's name was Lydia, but
father never spoke it so-'Liddy, |
don't you think we ought to give our
Dollie a party? She's got to be quite
a large girl, and think it's our duty
sides being our pleasure.
Of course | was all interest in
minute, and mother was almost as
much interested as I.
Jr,ee thing, Dts~Iu,
she said, I'VE do owe Dollie a real
nice party sides our pleasure, and if
you are agreeable, and nothing hap
pens to prevent, she shall have it.
g We'll, then, set the day, says
father, 'for I'm more'n agreeable
- How would Thursday week do?'
says mother. That's the-let me
see-the fifth of December
$50 it was all decided. Father
engaged the fiddler of that part of
the country. mother went to making
goodies, and | set myself to writing
the invitations. had lots of friends,
and as our house was large [ didn't
need to leave out any one. All the
boys and girls of that neighborhood
came, and, my dear, your GRANDPA
Their was the handsomest one among
them"
And the dear old lady sighed as
she looked up at the portrait of a
handsome old gentleman which hung
where she could always see it.
"Well, they began to arrive in
twos and threes and sleighfulls, and
mother and L were waiting to receive
them, mother in her best black silk
and I in as handsome pale blue sat
in as ever you set your eyes on
"Thomas Hayward, that's your
grandfather, was among the first, land
mother said that after he came she
had hard work to make me receive
| was so interested talking
with him. Maybe [ was, for young
girls will have their day. David and
John, my brothers, were there; they
each had their sweethearts, and we
did have gay time.
After they had all arrived the fid-
der struck up lively tune and we
tripped it gayly for two or three
hours. By that time mother had our
feast ready, and delicious it was too;
how we did enjoy it. Mother was
considered one of the best cooks
and she had taught me
so that / was not far behind her.
Well. we took a long time at that.