The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-10

full OF sugar cakes baked IN tne COM
mon, little scalloped pans with which
every kitchen IN furDishpd Such
smiles rs 90 round az ;be.sightl Such
prompt dispensing Of The bread and
butter prelude such frequent alluE-
ions to tine siairv cakes" and such
guarded wandering as TO what they
would be liisol-ihe guarded wonder
inps and mysterious hints being Tor the
benefit OF the Youngest child, who, per-
haps, is at the New Years ten for the
first time, and must by no means be
enlightened before eating the fairy
cakes"
When they are eaten, the cause OF al
this gleelul anticipation is found to be
that tue cakes contain rare plums con-
cealed IN the middle. These plums
have been provided by mamma, and arc
tiny china figures; somelimes--dolls
little men md women with big hats
and fancy costumes, or the ordinary
iDch-long dolly with outstretched arms
and no garments), sometimes the eie-
phants, rabbits, mice or other animals
which can be bought--a whole family
in Il boX-ior % cents. In that case it
is always exciting to eco who will get
the mother OF the family.
1t almost goes without saying that IN
this household the usual children 8
party" with its crowd and its unwhole-
some food for body and mind, is I'M
known. Here the addition OF but one
child visitor makes a party" and the
tea is converted into gala feast by u
vase OF flowers from the conservatory,
or perhaps u quaiut China elephant in
the centre of the table, its howdah filed
with bright pansies, tiny dish OF bon
bons, the Sunday cocoa or 52me simple
connection which the cook can furnish
in honor OF the little guest.
All these things are triyialties and
seem scarcely worth attention; but it is
such simple joys rs these which endear
the home to children ana whose sum
contributes TO tho brightness which u
happy childhood leaves i'll the memory.
Coming to otherconsiderations: Who
shall preside ut "children's tea" is n
matter which must be determined by
tho resources OF the household The
mother is the best person ior the post,
il she has the time to attend regularly.
A aistcrly "bis sister," enough Older
than the little ones, ought to take
pleasure as the head OF the tea-table.
When there is n governess, the duty
would naturally deyolve upon her. She
can have her tea with the children or
not, according to othen circumstances,
but she should accept the presiding ut
the children's ten, rs one item in the
whole duty OF governess," and will
usually enjoy it.
Whoever does preside should encour-
age pleasant, rational conversation. The
table-talk should be sprightly, interest
ing aud general. When the children
are at the table OF the "grown.ups" they
should be 'seen and not heard" usually,
but here ut their own table they may
assuredly have their tongues at liberty.
Their experiences in their world OF
school and play are as absorbing themes
to them us the worlds affairs are to
their elders.
Sometimes the articles on the table,
either food or dishes, will prove fruit
full topic because Of something interest,"
ing about their production or manufac-
ture or associations. w
One evening "mamma's friend" who
was staying in the house, peeped into
certain school room where tea was in
progress. "Oh! you have honey for
tea" she said, entering. II think l
shall have to tell you something about
honey, 1t is made by the bees!"
The children had looked up brightly
MS the lady spoke, and scarcely had she
finished when they launched forth in
an eager talk Of the wise little bees
and the products oil their industry.
Even the youngest kinded into enthu-
siasm as she lisped out that the bees
made the wax for her dolly's new face.
The lady who. had thought to give n
piece Of startling information was en-
tirely nonplussed. The children EVIL
IDENTIFY knew bee life better than she
did.
"When did they learn all that about
hees?" she asked the goVerness later ;
and the governess remarked halt apollo
geticaIly that honey was a iaYorito dish,
and, consequently, had been'often talked
over during tea. "The children never
tire OF hearing about the bees" she
added" but had never expected they
would remember SO much"
The reading or telling OF stories is in
vogue at "children's tea" in some famll-
les, but as usual thing tits better to
lead the children into conversation and
have the long story only for an oc.
casional variation. The talk should
never be allowed to fall into criticism
of the food. ii We can but keep the
new generation from fault-fnding at
meals they will have reason to thank US
for deliverance from a habit which
causes much needless gloom and dis
comfort.
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