The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-05-31
WHO PAYS FOR THE LUNCH.

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WHO PAYS FOR THE LUNCH!
The Whippletons were a family
composed of husband, wife and three
children, the latter representing the
united efforts of the the first two to
found "real home" as Mrs. Whip
pleton put it, and in which the chill
dren may be likened to varied as
sortment of bric-a-brac which serve
to decorate (or demolish) the house.
Be it as it may, the Whippletons pos
sessed three of these objects dart, as
also a neat little home on Staten Is
land within easy reach of the ferry,
which the head of the family utilized
in order to get to his Office in New
York. There in the great city he
earned his daily bread, or rather help
ed other people to obtain what they
had earned by the aid of the law, for
he was an attorney and he had pros
pered to such an extent that his wife
was no longer obliged to dispute
dressmakers' bills and his bric-a-brac
shone and broadened under the nutri-
tious influence of pork and beans and
other delicacies of like nature.
At this point, in order to inculcate
in their progeny taste for music,
and as their modest household had
not yet assumed the dignity of hav-
ing piano located in one corner of
the parlor, the Whippletons resolved
to purchase one of those necessary
instruments ; for, though neither could
play even ragtime symphony with
out the aid of pianola, they thought
that the children could not fail to be-
come Paderewskis just by looking at
the piano, and imagining what sweet
strains it could produce were it ever
opened and played upon.
For the acquisition of the instru-
ment it was agreed by the husband
and wife that the latter should seek
the assistance of young lady friend,
who was good musician, having ar
rived at the stage where she ccaid
pronounce Wagner with true Ger
man accent, and who could select
piano with good tone and the other
necessary qualifications. Mrs. Whip
pleton visited her friend and made an
appointment to meet her at down
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nesday, and the little family was in
the greatest excitement over the con-
templated purchase.
When the all-important day arriv-
ed Mrs. Whippleton arrayed herself
in her best, gave cursory glance at
her purse, wherein she thought she
remarked a SIS bill and some small
change, took her little boy Harold by
the hand and sailed forth to meet
her friend.
The latter was on hand with un-
womanly promptness, and the two
set to work, in company with one of
the statesmen, to choose the piano.
Instrument after instrument was tried
by Miss Schubert, as her musical
friend was named, and when at last
they found one that suited them it
was lunch time. The thought then
occurred to Mrs. Whippleton that
since her companion had been so
obliging about aiding her to select
her upright, it would only be just to
invite her to lunch. This she did,
and Miss Schubert graciously accept
ed the offer.
AS they were preparing to leave the
store Mrs. Whippleton, by way of
precaution, again looked into her
purse to see if she had sufficient money
to pay for the prospective repast.
When she unfolded the bank note,
which she had taken for FIVE before
leaving the house that morning, she
gave gasp of dismay-it was only
a one A further search brought to
light the imposing sum of thirty-fve
cent, and Mrs. Whippleton, discon-
certed, wondered how hearty an eater
Miss Schubert would prove herself to
be. As for herself, she felt hungry
enough to eat a full dollars worth
alone, but she resolved to curb this
untimely appetite and content herself
with as little as possible.
"My dear Miss Schubert where
shall we lunch? 7" she asked careless
ly, inwardly hoping that her friend
might say it did not matter, so she
could conduct her to some modest
cafetier.
"Why, 1 don't know, Pm sure, +"
replied the other; "supposing we go
to Purcells."
Purcell's One of the most ex-
pensive places in the city, where you
pay fifty cents for a glass of water
and the privilege of sitting down
Mrs. Whippleton felt a cold chill
creep over her body, and her own ap-
petite vanish as if by enchantment.
eyes, Purcell's a good place, "'she
affirmed finally. She was commenc-
ing to be somewhat suspicious of
Miss Schubert, and she recalled to
mind several stories which represen-
ted musicians as a half-starved class
who could devour untold quantities
of food as often as they happened to
have the opportunity. But hoping
for the best, she plucked up new
courage perhaps Miss Schubert was
an exception !
They were soon seated at cozy
table, Mrs. Whippleton at the head,
with her friend and Harold on either
side. On the way to the restaurant
the latter had pressed his stomach
convulsively, several times and in
formed his mother how hungry he
was. Harold was not one of those
spiritual boys who live on the simple