Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-02-12
Trying Times.

What worries me is said the.
young wife, blowing nervonsiy at
the leaves OF the fern in the window,
will there be enough to 90 round7"
They're nc-e OF EN- what | call
hearty eaters, said her husband.
II the evening goes the least bit
wrong, ] shall never hear the last OF
it,"
TAX no notice OF nothing. urg-
ed her husband It'll be all the
same 'nadresl years 'ence."
Mice lonf time TO wait, that
Who'll bc here first, d'you think,
dear?"
Well, said the husband thought
fully, Aunt Polly's motto is Miss
nothing. So She very likely be
the first to arrive
Ready to pick holes in every
thing"
A triple knock at the front door.
Conversation ended instantly; in
swift dumb show the young wife or
dered her husband to answer, while
she turned up the lamp and lighted
two candles on the nantelpiece.
She adjusted q smile of welcome
with the aid OF mirror, and turned
as her husband conducted into the
room stern little woman in black,
with beaded bonnet and q cape
which looked like part of coat of
mail. Aunt Polly accepted a kiss
from the young hostess absently,
and looking around the room, shifted.
What a SMELL" she said. Some
thing burning surely?"
Perhaps it's the fire" suggested
her aephew. MY dear. will you
take my Aunt Polly upstairs?"
1T certainly can't be the fire,
said Aunt Polly. because there
isn't one worth speaking of"
Il was afraid the room would get
too warm presently" said the young
hostess subnissively. Perhaps
it's the supper"
"P'raps it is, said the old lady
grudgingly. You've got 20 lr stair
carpet down, then. Whatever made
you choose that pattern, above all
Encouraging Aunts.
Two more aunts and q sister-in-
law arrived before the young host
ess could release herself from un-
stairs. She came down with the
last guest, feeling that now was very
near the most critical moment in her
life. The three aunts glanced at
each others caps, and their lips gave
a straight line of annoyance.
Can ] give you a hand, dear,
bringing in the plates?" asked the
sister-in-law.
Stay where you are," said the
young woman cheerfully.
Il s'pose you find it very lonely
being all alone in the daytime after
all your business experienced"
II have my homework to do,
said the hostess, bringing in the
joint.
What very neat darn in the
tablecloth!" remarked the sister-in
Law. with ecstasy, l wish could
darn neatly"
You needn't move the cruet
stand just to show that up," said
one of the aunts. Don I peer about
SO, miss; il looks bad" To the
young hostess suddenly: Don't
you use that cheese dish gave you,
my dear?"
Il keep il for special occasions,
she replied alertly. John, you sit
here and carve; your Aunt Polly
and your Aunt Ellen will sit one on
each side of you. Aunt Louisa, you
here, and Ada, you here. John will
say grace.
Thankful for, amen," growled
her husband at his end of the table.
Aunt Polly, you're the oldest; do
you like the outside of the"
THE merest shred" said the old
lady modestly.
Aunt Ellen, how about you? APP
petite pretty hearty, eh?"
rs it muttin?' asked Aunt FL
len with sudden fear. Her nephew
replied that lamb il was. "Ishould
have thought. said Aunt Ellen,
shivering, that my side of the fam
lily would have known that | never
so much as look at muffin"
I'm sorry" remarked the host
ess, pale. John ought to have told
me-"
I'm not blaming you, my dear.
You re comparatively new. But |
must say that If a nephew was any
use at all, he would have remember
ed what my one failing was"
Never somuch as give a thought"
declared her nephew.
Effects of Muffin"