Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-22

But" said he, Il have Always peeu
agin permiscuous dancing.
but we amt perniscuous," said TIL.
ly James. "We are all friends and
%neigllbors."
Most all" said strout; but his re-
mark was unnoticed by all excepting
Quincy.
well, under the circumstances
concluded the Deacon, Il don't obJect
to your finishing up with an old-fash-
toned reel, and mother and me VIII Jlne
in with you, so as to countenance me
proceedings
The call was now made for supper.
a procession was again formed, eacn
gentleman taking the lady who had
accompanied him to the party. Ihey
all filed into the ~dining-room and took
their places around the long table. me
most of them looked at its contents
with surprise and delight. Instead OF
seeing only homemade cakes ami pies,
and dishes of nuts, and raislns, and
apples, that they had expected, occupy
ing the centre of the table, they gazed
upon a large frosted cake, in the CEN
tire of which arose what resembled the
spire of a church, made Of sugar and
adorned with small American flags
and streamers made of various colored
silk ribbons. Flanking the centerpiece
at each corner were large dishes con-
tanning mounds of jelly cake, pound
cake, sponge cake, and angel cake. On
either side of the centerpiece, shaped
In fancy moulds, were two large dishes
of ice cream, a third full of sherbet,
and the fourth one filed with frozen
pudding. In the vacant spaces about
the larger dishes were smaller plates
containing the homemade pies n
cake and the apples, oranges, dates,
figs, r%aisins, nuts, and candy taken
from the pound packages brought by
the members of the surprise party.
Piled upon the table in heaps were the
fifty boxes containing the souvenir
gifts that Quincy had ordered.
AS they took their places about the
table, Quincy felt it incumbent upon
him to say something. Turning to the
Professor he addressed him:
Professor Strout, l think 1t is my
duty to inform you that | have made
this little addition to the bountiful sup.
per supplied by you and the members
of this party, on behalf OF my friends,
Mr.. and Miss Pettengill, and myself. I
trust that you will talks as much pleas.
TIRE in disposing of it as / have in
sending it. In the language of the
poet | would now say, Fall to and may
good digestion wait on appetite!"
Quincy's speech was received with
applause. The hot coffee had arrived
and was soon circulating in cups mugs,
and tumblers. Everybody was talking
to everybody else at the same time.
and all petty fueds, prejudices, and ami
mosities were. apparently, forgotten.
The young fellows took the cue from
Quincy. who, as soon Is he had finish
ed his little speech. began filing the
plates with the good things provided,
and passing them to the ladies, and In
a short time all had been waited upon.
When both hunger and appetite had
the company.
I'm those small paper boxes" said
he, you will find some little souvenirs,
this very pleasant evening, or you can
eat them and remember how sweet
they WERE A general laugh followed
this remark. Sin making your sselec-
Hon. continued Quincy, 'bear in mind
that the boxes tied up with red rib
bon are for the ladies'. while those hav-
Ing. blue ribbons are for the gentle.
men,"
A rush was made for the table, and
almost instantly each member of the
company became possessed of a SOU
venir and was busily engaged in unity
ing the ribobns.
Again Quincy's voice was heard
above the tumult.
.In each package" cried he, twill
be found printed on a slip of paper a
poetical selection. The poetry, like
that found or valentines. is often very
but the sentiment is there just
the same. In the city the plan that
we follow is to pass our own slip to
our left-hand neighbor and he or she
reads it."
This was too much for the Professor.
81 don't think said he, "that WE
ought to foller that style of dom
things jest because they do it that
way in the city. We are pretty indie
pendent in the country, like to dc
things our W way"
ooh! it don't make any difference
to me-" said Quincy; Tin the city when
we get q good thing we are willing tc
share it with out partners OF friends
you could eat it, and of course the
poetical selection is part of the souve
mir"
A peal of laughter greeted this sally
which rose to a shout when Strout
took his souvenir out of the box. II
proved to be a large sugar bee, very
lifelike in appearance and having &
little wad Of paper rolled up and tuck
ed under one of the wings.
AS Strout spread out the slip Of pa
per with his fingers, loud cries of "Ear
it," READ it," and Pass it along!'
came from the company. The Profes
sol stood apparently undecided wha
course to pursue, when lilly James
who was standing at his left, grabbe,
it from his fingers. and running to II
the end of the table, stood beside youn.
Hill with an expression that SCENE
to say, This is my young man, and
know he will protect me-"
Loud cries of Read it, Tilly!" cam
from all parts of the table.
Not unless Professor Strout is will
ing" said lilly with mock humility.
All eyes were turned Upon Strout
who seeing that he had nothing t
gain by objecting, cried out, ooh. g
ahead; what do | care about such nor
aousafo