The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-06-12

silver. ! shall get her lamp or set
OF books or a rocking chair Or-or-
anything, providing IL isn't silver!"
Such an announcement against the
conventional was naturally greeted
with cries of what in the world has
happened to you?" and For goodness's
sake!' and like expressions Of astonlsh-
ment
"Well, I'm just judging from my own
experience. or course, she Will be
hopping mad at first If don't send her
silver, but after she's been married
year or two you will hear her tongue
ringing with praises Of my far-sighted-
ness! Now when ! was married /
was presented with enough table sill
yer 10 start respectable sized silver
shop. Silver and cut glass having nj.
ways been hobby Of mine, l per
fectly reveled in the thought Of how
my table would shine and sparkle
with pretty things. after ] came home
and settled down 10 housekeeping. or
course, had several. duplicates, but i
wouldn't think Of exchanging them for
something i really needed
The girls exchanged meaning glances.
But I wouldn't, truly | wouldn't.
] packed them all away in the little
safe that brother George bought me
for that very purpose, ana which !
had moved up into my bedroom
II never saw il; where does II standF
inquired one Of the girls.
"Wby. my dear, you have sat down
In front of il and written n letter on il
any number Of times. thinking IL only
writing desk. In II also keep my
company pieces Of value which ! only
use on state occasions. Then have an
odd.fashioned travelling bag in which l
keep the small table silver, such as
knives and forks, tea, after dinner
table and dessert spoons, the carving
set, individual salts. my creamer and
sugar bowl, and all the little pieces
which are daily in use. And il Is all
such a worry!
Like every other housekeeper,
am afraid 10 leave my silver down
stairs in the dining room all night for
fear burglars might chance to pay us
n visit And after the days work is
done that silver has TO be washed and
counted and that has become terrible
task.
And then when leave the house
for n visit overnight ! am worn to n
shadow trying 10 contrive hiding
place for il that burglars won't sus-
pect. ] assure you I'm beginning to
realize the truth Of the old saying,
Blessed is he that hath nothing For,
ahnnnnG "a -
night in, Bob and ] are obliged to de-
cline any invitation which will tear us
away from that blessed silver. had
no idea when | got married that
should degenerate into n Caretaker Of
silver, else ] should have applied for a
position in the Treasury at once where
i would at least be rewarded for my
vigilance" and she drew long sigh.
"Wby, I've positively thought OF
little else than thieves and silver since
I've been married. Every night for
month after we came home from
our wedding trip / had the nightmare,
In which l could see thieves blowing
up the safe, packing my wedding sill
yer in that tea cloth with the Mexican
drawn work corners that mother gave
me, and disappearing through the win
dow, while / stood looking on at the
performance, powerless TO make a
sound or do n thing,'
How dreadful" exclaimed the girl
with the auburn hair.
And then, too. you never know and
never can guess what all the silver
pieces are for. Listen! After we had
settled down Bob said to me one day:
I'D like IL. dear, If you could contrive
20 have a sort Of family luncheon and
invite few Of my relatives. I'd like
20 have them see what nice little
housekeeper ! married.; besides IL
would sort Of square us up YOU know.
for the fine wedding presents they all
gave u.s."
/ agreed to this heartily. and, think
ing to show my appreciation of their
generosity toward US when We were
married, put on my thinking cap and
contrved luncheon composed of only
such dishes as would give me n chance
TO use the silver and glass which they
had given us, thus delicately convey.
ing 10 each one OF them the idea that
housekeeping in general, and luncheon
In particular, would have been fail
urc but for their thoughtfulness.
"Well, the day of the luncheon ar.
rived, and with IL the guests: all eager,
suppose, TO see how Bob's wife could
entertain. ] had cut flowers for the
occasion, and had ordered the ice cream
TO be nodded in the form OF hearts.
proposed 10 show them that ours was
an ideal maniagc-none of the marry.
you-for-your-moncy kind of partner.
- ships. so common nowadays.
After we were all seated and fairly
launched ] pressed the bell for Mary
Ann. AS she passed thc Currant jplly
TO Aunt Amelia in Nie cut-glass dish
that Aunt Sarah had given us for that
purpose l thought detected peculiar
lsok Oh her face. In fact. she looked
up two or three times as though she
were gcing 20 speak. and then she set.
tied back IN her chair again. began
20 get nervous. for / didn't know hut
that in opening the Jar Mary Ann had
broken the glass, and accidentally
fprinkled seine OF II in the Jelly But
when II came around TO me I coulo
see nothing wrong with IL. I've al
ways understood that IL was n trying
ordeal for young wife 10 he passed
uI'on hy bcr husbands relatives. ba;
s.rf. a. ...,o.s... "a ,-...