The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1903-07-25

WhIcn tney nau given us, mus oe4lcatee
" conveying to each one OF them the
idea that housekeeping In general. and
luncheon In particular, would have
been a failure but for their thought
fulness.
well. the day OF the luncheon ar
rived, and with it the guests; all eager,
l suppose, to see how Bob's wife could
entertain. l 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-m money kind OF part
nerships, 50 common nowadays
After we were all seated and fairly
launched pressed the bell for Mary
Ann. As she passed the currant Jelly
to Aunt Amelia In the cut-glass dish
that Aunt Sarah had given US for that
culiar look on her face. In fact she
looked up two or three times as though
she were going to speak, and then she
settled back In her chair again l be
gan to get nervous, for l didn't know
but that in opening the jar Mary Ann
had broken the glass and accidentally
sprinkled some OF II In the Jelly. But
when IL came around to me could see
nothing wrong with it I've always
understood that II was a trying ordeal
for a young wife TO be passed upon
by her husbands relatives, but never
did l imagine 1t was anything like
what | was suffering that day. As
each dish was passed with It's respec-
tive fork or spoon-each a gift from
some one OF those present-reposing
careleEsly on II. | watched to see the
smile OF qualification which couldn't
but believe would show itself upon
the face OF the donor. but to my sur
prise and modification, each helping
seemed TO evoke the same peculiar
smile that l had observed on Aunt
Amelia's face when she helped herself
TO the jelly.
Il began to feel like a martyr at the
stake, and resolved, then and there,
never to invite another relative OF
my husbands to break bread with
me again. l noticed that they all
seemed to have a dreadful time, some
how. managing their tea In the new
cups which mothers sister sent us
from New York. However, / thought
that possibly this was the first time
In their lives that they had ever been
to a swell luncheon, and pity rather
than fear filed my heart. From then
on l pretended not to notice their awk-
wardness, and only prayed that the
meal would soon come to an end. AZ
the Ice cream made its appearance,
with the spoons Aunt Mary had given
us lying alongside. on the cut glass leo
cream saucers that my own uncle had
given US, l again Strengthened up and
grew laxative.
~ think those spoons, Aunt Mary,
l called TO where she sat. at the other
end OF the table. are Just as sweet as
they eau be! What odd handles they
have. tOO-so Iongr 1 thought would
show her that the kind Of Ice cream
spoons that had been accustomed to
were entirely different
Yes, my dear she answered sweet.
ly, that's 80 they can reach to the bot
tom Of the glass to stir up the lemon
ade.'
II could feel the color rush to my
cheeks. l was 50 huStered that Just
said. SILLY. why. Of course
That's what l told you l thought
they were for put IN that husband Of
mine, but you said you knew better.
and as 1t was only a trinfng matter,
anyway. 1 made up my mind that |
shouldn't allow It to get Us into our
first quarrel And he smiled at me
from across the table. Now that you've
met Aunt Amelia. why don't you find
out what the spoon with the holes In
the bowl Is for. I've had my doubts
all along about It being for Jelly.
well, was going to tell you. my
dear, when the maid passed II to me
with the Jelly; then | was afraid you'd
think me a meddlesOme old woman. so
concluded to let It 60 spoke up Aunt
Amelia in such a friendly way, but It
really is a spoon for cracked ice. /
never saw one before myself. and 20 I
bought 1t because I wanted to give you
something that wouldn't be apt to b.,
duplicated The dear soul! She put
It 50 sweetly that I Just got up and
went over to where she sat and gave
her a kiss.
"'And now with a glance at my
husband. that were all 20 well ac-
quainted | don't suppose It would be
out Of place II should ask some II
the others 10 explain the uses OF their
gifts, would itT At this they all laugh
ed good naturedly.
Well began Uncle Harry. those
forks are used for oysters, the clerk
told me they were for strawberries,
but | reckon it's all the same
That's what made the oysters so
hard to manage, I guess. noticed
that they kept slipping up on the
tines thought I.
THAT spoon that Bob used for the
fruit Is really a tomato server went
on Cousin Emma, for I was with
mamma when she bought It,
And that bowl over there, with the
Oriental SPOON Is for mayonnaise