Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1891-12-02
When zee 90 Tisitimg.

over duties of the visitor. | often see
the duties of the hostess laid down, and
great preachmenis they are, to be sure, but
seldom do we hear the other side of the
story. When YOU are invited and accept
the kind bidding, you beth.nk yourself
/ first Of your clothes, in nine cases out OF
ten. That first duty of making credit
able appearance is naturally paramount
when you feel you are leaving the sane
tum of home and going among strangers,
who will certainly notice, aud mayhap
criticise, all that is new to them IN your
outward makeup. But the irreproacha
/ bic silk, the delicate lawn and the filmy
lace are in due time accomplished, the
plentiful store Of linerie and gloves, aud
the well-shaped boots and slippers, are
tucked into cosy corners Of your Sarato-
ga, and with ticket bought, and route
we'll conned, | invite you to consider
whether or no your duties are ended
You are going to be made much of, enter
tanned and taken care of, aud in return
you must do more than LOOK nice. Ii has
been a practice of mine never, if possible.
to accept heightened hospitality, for the
very reason that find the part Of a
guest, when properly played, rather IA
tigung. But for little visiis-say Of two
or three days, week, even fortnight
one can SO conduct ones If as to be mis-
sed and regretted after one is gone, which
is nice and soothing to ones self-love, IS
it not? | think little about my hostess
before | finish packing, and slip in some
suitable trihe of work, which shall occu-
py my spare moments during my stay,
and become my parting souvenir to her
when | leave. Is she dainty housewife? !?
Then the modish linen tray cloth aud
doyleys, adorned with drawn work, and
her initial, shall reach the appreciative
corner of her heart. Is she weakly and
an invalid Then the gift rounds into a
chushion-cover for her sofa, or a hand
kerchief pocket to fasten on its arm, aud
both must have tiny sachets concealed in
their whereabouts, scented with her pet
perfume, which is easy to discover unsus
pected. Is she the man-girl, with high
collar and broadt0ed shoes Then a ten
MS belt, or a raquet case may reach her
complaint, and secure me graceful mem
ories. Is she busy mother, whose wee
ones drag upon her timer | can teach
the children many little kind, rgarIeu
game, and merry songs, and deft handi
work that shall secure her a priced lei
ure for hours, and while | amuse aud III
struct them, can fashion two or three
cute little morning caps, or lace coniec
tions for afternoon, such as her husband
will admire, but which she could never
take time or thought for. Or am So
journing with large family whose work
is manipulated by one willing but dila
tory Biddy. l can select some little dai
ly duty-dusting the drawing-room,
watering the plants, feeding the birds, FL
ling the vases, and beg gently that | may
be al owed to attend to it all myself
"The flowers, Miss Nellie" said a genial
housemother to me one day, as we sat on
her verandah among the flower
stands "While she was with US she took
the whole care Of them, and they never
did so we'll" "Dear, dear | wish Jan
ct had been able to stay the whole win
ter with Us. She brought those young
ones into shape, taught them to play
quietly, aud be SO gentle with the little
ones, said busy father, as he gazed
from three fine boys to the train carrying
Janet to her northern Scottish home
And so it is; the careful, tactful help,
given without any fuss or obstrusiveness,
was treasured to the credit of Nellie aud
Janet.
Once | had dear old lady visiting
me, who used 0 insist upon setting aud
clearing away the table for every meal.
At first my maid grumbled and protest
ed, looked scornfully at the unique ar
rangement Of knife, fork and spoon, bat
after a little she began to relish the rest
/ from those six daily tasks. and ceased to
-lep in the way and fret and fume as
the old lady trotted carefully in and out
from pantry to dining.room, and from
dining room to kitchen. And, when the
white-haired, smiling visitor had taken
her departure, had often to recall the
maid to the forgotten duty, when | came
into the dining-room, at nearly dinner
hour, and found the cloth not laid, and
was amused to hear her mutterei solilo-
guy 81 wish that old lady would come
on six months visit twice year"
Not very pare hospitality, perhaps you
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