The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-07-09

tIEIu lGu1 du HOT going TO give ueT-
and that is silver-table
silver. I shall get her lamp or set
OF books or a rocking chair or-or-
anything, providing it isn't silverr'
Such an announcement against the
conventional was naturally greeted
with cries of "What in the world has
happened to you?" and 'For goodness
sakew and like expressions of astonish-
ment.
"Well, Pm just judging from my own
experience. OF course, she will be
hopping mad at first if don't send her
year or two you will hear her tongue
ringing with praises Of my far-sighted-
ness! Now, when I was married
was presented with enough table sill
yer to start respectable sized silver
shop. Silver and cut glass having al
ways been hobby of mine, 1 per-
fectly reveled in the thought of how
my table would shine and sparkle
with pretty things, after I came home
and settled down to housekeeping. Of
course, had several duplicates, but I
wouldn't think Of exchanging them for
something really needed"
The girls exchanged meaning glances.
"But wouldn't, truly I wouldn't.
I packed them all away in the little
safe that brother George bought me
for that very purpose. and which 1
had moved up into my bedroom"
NT Re wi CT M
inquired one Of the girls.
"Why, my dear, you have sat down
In front of it and written letter on it
any number of times, thinking it only
writing desk. In it also keep my
company pieces of value which 1 only
use on state occasions. Then I have an
odd-fashioned travelling bag in which I
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 it is all
such a worry!
Like every other housekeeper,
am afraid to leave my silver down
stairs in the dining room all night for
fear burglars might chance to pay us
visit. And after the days work is
done that silver has to be washed and
counted, and that has become a terrible
task.
"And then when leave the house
for visit overnight I am worn to a
shadow trying to contriye hiding
place for it that burglars won't sus-
pect. I assure you I'm beginning to
realize the truth of the old saying
BLESSED is he that hath nothing For,
unless it chances to be Mary AIMS
night in, Bob and l are obliged to de-
cline any invitation which will tear us
away from that blessed silver. I had
no idea when 1 got married that
should degenerate into a caretaker Of
silver, else should have applied for a
position in the Treasury at once, where
[ would at least be rewarded for my
vigilance" and she drew a long sigh
"Why, I've positively thought Of
little else than thieves and silver since
] I've been married. Every night for
a month after we came home from
our wedding trip had the nightmare,
in which I 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 I stood looking on at the
performance, powerless to make a
sound or do a thingw
"How dreadfulr' 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 it, dear, if you could contrive
to have sort Of family luncheon and
invite few of my relatives. I'd like
to have them see what a nice little
housekeeper I married; besides it
would sort of square US up, you know,
for the fine wedding presents they all
gave u.s."
I 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
contrived luncheon composed of only
such dishes as would give me chance
to use the silver and glass which they
had given us, thus delicately convey
ing to each one of them the idea that
housekeeping in general, and luncheon
in particular, would have been fail
ure but for their thoughtfulness.
'9Well, the day of the luncheon ar
rived, and with it 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 to show them that ours was
an ideal marriage -none of the marry
you-for-yonr-m0ney kind OF partner
ships. so common nowadays.
After we were all seated and fairly
launched pressed the bell for Mary
Ann. AS she passed the currant Jelly
Is Aunt Amelia in the cut-glass dish