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

-O~o-~~O~~-@~N~-~
81 don't know what you girls are
going to give Mabel for a wed
ding present. but know what
am not going TO give her-and that Is
silver-table silver. l shall get her
lamp or a set OF books or a rocking
chair or-or-anythlng, providing 1t
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
saker' and like expressions OF aston
ishment
We'll. I'm just Judging from ny
own experience. or course she win
be hopping mad at first II don't send
her silver, but after she's been mar
ried year or two you viii hear her
tongue ringing with praises Of my far
sightedness. Now when 1 was mar
ried l was presented with enough
table silver to start a respectable-sized
silver shop. Silver and cut glass hav.
ing always been a hobby OF mine
perfectly r,geled In the thought OF how
my table EOuld shine and sparkle with
pretty things. after came home and
settled down to housekeeping. OF
course, had several duplicates, but l
wouldn't think Of exchanging them for
something 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 purpose. and which I had
moved up into my bedroom"
Il never saw It; where does It
stand?' inquired one OF the girls.
why, my dear, you have sat down
In front Of II and written a letter on
It any number Of times, thinking 1t
only writing desk. In Il also keep
my company pieces OF value which |
only use on state occasIonA Then l
have an old-fashLoned 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 cream
er and sugar bowl, and all the little
pieces which are in daily use And It
Is all such a worry!
Like every other housekeeper. 1 am
afraid to leave my silver downstairs
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 terri
bic task.
And then. when l leave the house
for a visit over night I am worn to a
shadow trying to Contrive a hiding.
place for It that burglars won't sus-
pect. l assure you I'm beginning to
realize the truth OF the old saying.
Blessed is be 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 l got married that
should degenerate into caretaker OF
silver, else 1 should have applied for
a position in the Treasury at once.
where I would ut least be rewarded
for my vigilance" and she drew a long
sigh
why, I've positively thought Of lit
tie else than thieves and silver since
I've been married. Every night for n
month after we came home from our
wedding trip had the nightmare, I'm
which l could see thieves blowing up
the safe, packing my wedding silver
in that tea cloth with the Mexican
drawn-work corners that mother gave
me, and disappearing through the win
dow, while l stood looking on at the
performance, powerless to make
sound or do a thiDgv
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 ike II, dear. II you could cOntrive
to have sort Of family luncheon and
invite a few Of my relatives. I'd ike
10 have them see what a nice little
hOusekeeper / married; besides, II
would sort OF square us up, you know,
for the fine wedding presents they all
gave us
II 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 a luncheon composed Of only
such dishes as would give me a
chance to use the silver and glass