Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-06-13

ent. but l know what l
Ill90 ll9lI am not going to give her
and that Is silver table
silver. l shall get her lamp or set
of books or rocking chair or-or-
anything, providing It isn't silver"
Such an announcement against the
conventional was naturally greeted
with cries of "What in the world has
happened to your and For goodness's
sakew and like expressions of astonish-
ment.
well. I'm just judging from my own
experience. OF course, she will be
hopping mad at first II don't send her
year or two you will hear her tongue
ringing with praises Of my far-sighted-
ness! Now, when l was married
was presented with enough table sill
yer to start a respectable sized silver
shop. Silver and cut glass having al
ways been a hobby Of mine, I per-
feetly reveled in the thought Of how
my table would shine and sparkle
with pretty things. after l came home
and settled down to housekeeping. OF
course. / had several duplicates, but
wouldn't think Of exchanging them for
something really needed"
The girls exchanged meaning glances.
But I wouldn't. truly l wouldn't.
packed them all away In the little
safe that brother George bought me
for that very purpose and which
had moved up into my bedroom"
II never saw It; where does 1t stand"
inquired one Of the girls.
"Why. my dear, You have sat down
in front Of 1t and written letter on it
any number of times, thinking it only
a writing desk. In 1t also keep my
company pieces Of value which l only
use on state occasions. Then have an
odd-fashioned travelling bag in which
keep the small table silver, such as
knives and forks, tea, after dinner
table and dessert spoons, the carving
set, individual salts. my dreamer and
sugar bowl. and all the little pieces
which are daily in use. And 1t Is all
such 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 terrible
task. p,
"And then when I 1--we ft the house
Tor a yirss,.6vernight am worn to a
shadow trying to contrive 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 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 a caretaker Of
silver, else 1 should have applied for
position In the Treasury at once, where
I 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
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 stood looking on at the
performance. powerless to make a
sound or do 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 1t, dear. II you could contrive
to have a sort Of family luncheon and
invite few of my relatives. I'd like
to have them see what 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 cup and
contrived luncheon composed Of only
such dishes as would give me a 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 fall
ure but for their thoughtfulness.
"Well, the day Of the luncheon ar.
rived. and with 1t the guests: all eager,
l suppose, to see how Bob's wife could
entertain. 1 had cut flowers for the
occasion, and had ordered the Ice cream
to be nodded In the form of hearts. l
proposed to show them that ours was
an ideal marriage-none of the marry
you-for-your- money kind Of partner.
ships, so common nowadays.
After We were all seated and fairly
launched I pressed the bell for Mary
Ann. As she passed the currant jelly
to Aunt Amelia in the cut-glass dish
that Aunt Sarah Lad given us for that
purpose thought detected peculiar
look on her face. In fact, she looked
up two or three times as though she
were going to speak. and then she set
tied back In her chair again. l began
to get nervous, for I didn't know but
that in opening the jar Mary Ann had
broken the glass, and accidentally
sprinkled some Of 1t in the jelly. But
when 1t came around to me I could
see nothing wrong with It. I've al
ways understood that 1t was a trying
ordeal for a young wife to be passed
upon by her husbands relatives, but
never did I imagine 1t was anything
like what I was suffering that day. As
each dish was passed with Its respect.
i've fork or spoOn-each gift from
some one Of those present-reposing
cnrelessly on 1t. watched to see thu
smile Of qualification which I couldn't
huff believe would shnxv ifealf npo,,