Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-12-20
DORINDA:S PARTY.
A Christmas story.

Miss Dorinda had determined to have
party. And as there were very few
people who were so certain to get their
own way as Miss Dorinda, the party
was an accomplished fact before it be-
gun.
Miss Dorinda permitted herself to be
born and resided in the sleepiest old
town Of Virginia; it was supposed that
the Rappahannock river ran by it.
but it didn't. it simply dozed along
that it might be in harmony with the
people about it. 1t could not be spoken
Of as Il lively town-althoush it once
got up an Improvement company and
5000 were spent i'll advertising it in the
Northern newspapers; the result was
not an improvement. Two forlorn
families came down there and built
two small houses. This was all right
as far as it Went, but they were so de-
PRAYED that they never allowed for
gardens around the house, and, as Miss
Dorlnda said: Where in the world
are they going to get vegetables to
eat? And where, in the world, If they
want to be neighborly, will they have
any flowers to send people!"
Every day at ? o'clock newspaper
arrived from the North and Miss Dor
india and her paternal parent, who
thought that God made one perfect girl
and that was Miss Dorintla, and that
the rest of them were mere copies and
/, bad ones of her. would carefully read
every part Of that paper and be duly
shocked, pleased, scornful or Mortified.
Miss Dorinda grew to be great on the
subject of the laboring man., and She
said when her father, the most delight
full old daddy in the world. talked po-
hdcal economy to her, 'Now, you dear
old thing, that's all very well in black
and white, but when it comes to help
ing along the laboring man it's the
women who have got to do it. They
have got to do it some way I don't
just know how. But if it is ever my
privilege to meet the laboring man, /
will show you" 80. @ ...,
1t was concluded by somebody in the
North that the railroad tracks along
the country needed mending, and so
there came down a whole gang of
rough-looking men. who worked and
toiled during the hot summer DAYS,
and when evening came sat around the
few saloons, on the steps OF their
boarding houses, Oh. wherever they
could go to rest or find amusement.
AS the days went by they got used to
seeing standing on Col. Beverley's
porch tall, slender girl, who had the
bluest eyes and the brownest hair and
who used to look at them as they went
by with interest in those. eyes. After
q while they took to dofling their caps
to her, and ono evening She walked
down and said: EFF any one Of YOU
men would like a rose would be very
glad indeed to have you come in my
garden and let me give you one-indeed,
1 should esteem it great pleasure u
The little tlady's quaint manner and
pretty face won over two OF three of
the bravest and they followed her in
through the iron gates. and she gave
them roses and sweet Williams. black
eyed Susans and mignonette' and citron
aloes, and all. the lovely et-smell.
ing flowers that you find in Southern
gardens alone. After that it got to be
q custom as they. went home for all
OF them to go in, and they never had
more courteous hostess, or one who
pleased them better than Miss DORM
"a. And you can imagine how happy
she was when it reached her ears that
Battling Tom, the sullen one, started to
strike little Jim and then drew back
growing out: II can't hit yer while
yer got the young lady's flower on.
Take it out O yer buttonllole-then
won't see no woman's face comm
between you an me-"
The days came when the flowers
stopped blooming. when the air grew
little chilly, and Miss Dorinda could
not entertain her friends as she had
done, but she was u bit Of a diplomat.
SO She asked one of the men il he
wouldn't help her make d violet pit
so that she could have a bunch Of VIC.
let's to give to her mother. in winter
mornings. Next to the Mckinley bill
lin fact, I think, ahead OF. twas their
interest in Miss Dorind:i's violet Dit,
and every evening found them looking
at it, putting down q thermometer to
see If it was warm enough tor, the. ton,
der little blossoms, carefully laying the
straw over it and then bidding Miss
Dorinda good might and expressing q
hope that the madlme-tlla was what
they called Dorlnda's mother47would
have n good night. ,.G. "'. ~. -. -. ~
Now, Just before holidays they seem.
ed to lose interest in the pit. Dorinda
watched for them, and they didn't come
by, and then she started out Jerry, 4