The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-11-10
MOTHER FAIR CHlLD'S
> > TEA-PARN.
VxIHEN MIRA Sylvester Chadwick
wv built Q cottage at Palfrey and
" DORA READ oOoDAie

determined to spend her summers
there. she had NO intention Of estab-
fishing herself in isolated grandeur.
A very splendid-looking woman she
was, with coils Of thick, gray hair.
fine, ruddy complexion. dark eye
brows and full. bright, brown eyes.
With her three handsome daughters
about her, she inevitably suggested
the old comparison Of q full-blown
damssk rose eneircled by buds. She
dressed richly, too, for her one son,
the apple Of her eye, liked to see his
mother In fine. new clothes; but under
this distinguished and fitly adorned
exterior, she carried one of the kind
cot, least exacting. most genial ma
lures In the world.
Palfrey, though . plain, uncultured
community. in which pride and inde-
pendence luxuriated unchecked, fell
promptly under her spell, and forgot
to- eye with suspicion the lady who
liked TO accept friendly services a. we'll
as she did to render them.
While the house building was In
progress she was frequently on the
ground, and became acquainted with
most of the men in the neighborhood,
all Of the children, and good part Of
the wives. The young girls seldom
ventured upon the charmed territory,
at least while the owner was present;
her matronly, silk-clad figure, her
well-modulated voice and graceful,
confident gestures frightened the rus
tic young things away. Butnot q frag.
ment OF information respecting the
family escaped their greedy ears. and
It was surprising to see Of how much
fact and fiction they contrived to pos
sess themselves.
In the course Of time the house was
finished, and the Chadwicks moved in.
II was then thrown open for three sue
cessive afternoons, and an informal
invitation extended to everyone. The
bolder spirits-chiefy wsll-seasoned
matrons-ventured first. These ha~
ing spread q reassuring report, the
hard~working men folks and sharp
faced spinsters followed their lead,
while half-bold. hsH-bashful youths,
and maidens undergoing kind OF
blissful embarrassment, formed the
main part Of the company on the third
day
MrA Chadwick's house was n revela-
tion in itself. Her oldest daughter,
Alice. possessed artistic ability. Olivia,
the second. played and sang very well,
while Juliet, who was barely IS, had
wonderful powers as Q mimic Each
Of the three entertained the guests In
her own way, with the most delight
fa readiness and good humor; they
passed cake and ice cream, played with
the children. laughed OF accidents,
and when the visitors were gone,
though the Tongues buzzed merrily,
not . word was said that reflected un.
kindly on eccentricities Of costume or
infringemeuts Of etiquette. Everyone
Of these young ladies had inherited
something Of the mothers rooted
graces Of character.
"Oh. dear! OF. dear! how dreadful II
Is to be poor!" cried Mary Fairchild,
on coming home fresh from the splen-
dors Of Amity Lodge. as the new house
was called.
II DOM see anything 30 dreadful"
remarked her brother Dick, philoIoph.
ically. He had been plantin corn, and
wore overalls and Jumper. and was
eating hot doughnuts.
"You ought to look in the glass,
then" returned Mary, and went on,
quickly: You'd change your mind. !
guess, II you could see their piano. and
splendid books. and walls just covered
with pictures. and the girls with real
tortoise-shell brushes-oh-dear-'
Their hair is no prettier than yours
II they do brush It with turtle-shells. y
said Dick. soothingly.
-Sonsense!" replied bis sister, with
an impatient shake Of her rebellious
brown locks -You ought TO have seen
their brother. looking as II he'd come
straight ont OF a bandbcx."
II have seen him lots Of times, and
les an uncommon good chap re
sponded Dick, the imperturbable, be.
ginning 10 whistle.
Mary Fairehild was not really poor
except by comparison. She lived IN
n comfortable, though very old-fash.
.oned, house, her father being a dairy
farmer, whose name appeared In big
letter. on the village milk wagon. He
himself frequently appeared on the
front seat, which began TO be q trial
20 Mary. Mrs. Fairchild was an ad
mirable. judicious woman, with gif,
for quietly achieving her ends wher
you were least expecting II, and ths
young people, who were both pupils IN
the high school. enjoyed q wholesome
active n.e with a fair share Of "adraD-
,egeI"
OF course the Ctadwichs were not
dependen. upon Palfrey for their 70
c.eiy; they entertained q succession
Of what JuHet called '1ong-haired ar
lists. and long-tongued lawyers, hnt
their long4uher!ng viv.s;" but thej
maintained their cordial attitude 10
wards the country people, and Mar.