Warren sheaf., 1896-07-16

they's presents, why, I don't know Of
my man that ever deserved better Of
his neighbors than he did"
Aunt Hannah's voice faltered q lit
! tie, but she had taken the first step
OH what she felt to be dangerous
i ground, and was not going to recede.
"What il they is presents, Elviry?
/ I don't ask 'em to bring none, no
lmore'n bride does when she asks
you to the weddin'; but guess the
bride don't live these days that wouldn't
be dreadful disappointed if she didn't
get none: and own I'd be some dis.
appointed, too. I like pretty things"
Aunt Hannah's voice took wistful
tone-.'an' I've never had none-only
what airnt. Jed would a got me all
wanted if he'd only lived; but, you
see, when we was married 'twa'n't the
fashion to give weddin' presents Why,
all had was half dozen teaspoons
your grandma gave me, and pair of
claw sugar-tongs your Grand-Aunt
Peck lef' me in her will. An look at
Lidy! Why, she had more things to
start with than me an your mother
We had in all our lives. Then, if say
it, as shouldn't, I've always done my
share; there amt bride married in
Saranac Corners these 20 years that
| haven't took her somethin', if 'twa'n't
more'na a set of mats or crocheted tidy.
] and lots OF times twas store things
An it does seem, though wouldn't
say it to everyone, that it ain't hardly
fair that, jest because was left alone
this way, shouldn't have none OF the
| pleasant things I might have had if
I'd had all the rest. An so, Elviry,
I've made up my mind that there amt
any earthly reason why I shouldn't
have silver weddin', an I'm a-goin' to
| have one"
Whatever misgivings Elvira might
have felt when the project was first
disclosed had melted away in the
warmth Of her aunt's feeling; and,
knowing that the slowly matured re-
solves OF a placid nature are hard to
shake, and trusting to the real regard
LOT the neighborho0d for the kindly,
helpful widow, whose social and pleas
ure-loving temperament had before now
exposed her to the criticism of her
friends without really affecting their
liking, she offered no objection, and,
| yielding a ready assent to the plan,
was soon in the midst of a delightful
discussion OF details, in which Aunt
Hannah's too often repressed love Of
| social functions found full express
sion. sas + saE
Early on the following afternoon
Aunt Hannah started out to give her
| invitations with a faint flush on her
cheeks, by way of tribute to the con-
ventional usage she might be trans
crossing, but with little formula
prepared, which included no explana-
ton and permitted no comment. The
invitation to be present at the 25th
anniversary of her marriage with Mr..
Jedidiah Rounds was as carefully word
ed as if she had studied it in the pages
of the 'Home Manual" as she prob
| ably had; and only waiting to add that
she should be dreadful disappointed
if they didn't all come," she hurried
from house to house. This unwonted
haste on the part of leisurely Mrs.
Rounds might have made her neighbors
suspect that she was little uneasy
herself as to the impression her invita-
tions might produce, but she gave no
| other grounds for such a suspicion;
and, indeed, when she reached home,
after having made the circuit of the
neighborhood, the pleasant stir of action
had taken possession of her, and she
set about her preparations for the great
event with as untroubled a mind as
if she were planning for a church
sugar party" The momcntous ques-
ton now was whether the "entertain-
ment" should be confined to The ele-
| giant but unsatisfying ice-cream aud
| sweet cake, or should boldly cater to
the tastes of the stronger sex by ad-
| nitting the golden doughnut and the
.faky pie.
The next day was Saturday, the day
when the Corners" went to the village
| Aa,&A