The age-herald., 1901-06-11
RECEPTION GIVEN TO
 MRS. CLAY-CLOPTON

and desirable to my youthful charge and host. was driven rapidly and pleasantly to Grand View" the charming su- burban residence of my friends. At the door the father waited my arrival to leave for the office whose duties claimed the entire day. Lauehingly lay ing his hand over the boys head with gesture that included the rich acres where f1ourished grain, fruits and vege- tables, and the house that crowned the hill, he said: "A1l we have is yours"
 Immediately I entered into possession.
 By that instinct with which women save the situation, said to siegfried: Wont you take care of me today, keep close to
 me and watch me good because l have
 been sick?'
 And sick had been, and with grateful
 ness had I seen through the tactful ruse
 that put me at my ease in luxurious
 home where just as I anticipated the
 best of cooks fed me on fragrant broth,
 parched wheat drink, and fresh fruit
 Mine host took my hand saving, I'll
 let you see my brownies-Curlie's little
 babies" A picture to please a woman
 sight he was kneeling before an ornate kennel where lovely water spaniel ca-
 ressed two of her offspring only few
 days old. Knowing her young master
 Curlie growled not when little hanos
 lifted out her babies and prattnng
 voice described their beauties, recosniz- ing doubtless that the baby boy hao
 charms akin to those of her thorough
 bred young brood.
 Inviting me to walk, keeping my hand the better to preserve that protection had asked in full knowledge that ms chivalry would maintain closeness wnich his sense of independence would re)ect, my host carried me to the peach orcharo which swept in even round-topped trees down a long graceful declivity, ana the ripening blush on early peaches ne poiii'- ed out. Then a wide extended strawberry bed was visited, and farther on forge garden where my prattler said grew peas and beans and figs the cook makes dinner wiv" Ere long we reached the border line of Gods Acre, the lovely OaK HiIl cemetery which adjoins this nome and farm. Here the boys countenance took on that singular elevation so natur- al to the child that has not long been lent of God to earth, and the fine brown eyes beamed as we stepped through the gap in the hedge to which his unhesitat- ing footsteps led. Once within it's pre- cincts. he knew the best kept lots where f1ourished sweetest flowers and his eager fingers pointed to the notices on the trees where ''dose figgers, one, two, free say 'don't pull the flowers but leave 'em to keep dead folks from being lonesome Coming suddenly to my mothers lot, It became my turn to speak; and sympa- thetic indeed was the tender listener who heard that under the tall shaft lay my father who left me when l was a child, and that under others were brothers with whom I had played, and an only sister whose life was just ten beautiful years. Rest here" said the tactful little one. Sitting in the cooling shade. with his soft palm in mine. his head against my shoulder, we looked out on beautiful scene in it's May garb sweet fields in liv- ing green sweeping away beyond the cem- etery to dark woods whose deepening emerald told where the Alabama river flowed under their cool leaves. Birds sang overhead. blue skies bent beneficent above, and I felt that while Wordsworth may be right as to Heavens not being a place, 1t yet must be a condition where reigns, where are gathered all we love and not one missing. where none misjudge and misunderstood.
 How easy to believe in the salvation of little children who die in homes where love is, where the serpent of greed, tinsel and outside worldly ambi- tions have not entered-how blessed to revive our own faith in God the eternal Father made real to our once childish mind by the father here who was our shield against the million forms the devil has since assumed.
 Resuming our stroll, suddenly we ar rived at 'the sojers' graves where people bring flowers once a year and never do forget"
 After a while came into view the rail road track that divides the cemetery and disturbs it's echoes with the rush of travel and commerce The one disappointment to my little friend was that the train was not in evidence as he wished 1t to be for my entertainment, and he failed not to urge another days visit or another walk to a spot made fascinating by that noise and speed to an indefinitely far off point that so appeals to the male part of crea- tion in every stage of existence.
 Vending our way back, strong breezes leBSeneQ the neat or the sun now nlBn overhead, and welcome were the ham mocks on the front porch.
 Across the hills were the spires and roofs of Montgomery, with much of the panor- anna of this busy Southern city, smoke stacked. telegraph and telephone-wired, with the capitol dome surmounting and dominating all-the capitol where new laws are being made for Alabama, and MT. Long of Walker and his hearers are having fun, the stenographers. clerks and pages are making money, and a few good men and true are building names that en- dure
 I dared tell siegfried's parents that his charm as host excelled their own. They pretend since then to doubt my word and have made some delightful experiments to disprove it. hold to my opinion, and reflect that if Jean Pane Richter could say, "I love God and little children" surely I can afford to be loyal to one little child who in an ideal home gave me an ideal day. VISITOR.
 Fete Champetre.
 The fete champetre to be given this ayapirO at o,c1ocL af tha residence Of