The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-03-10
CHAPTER III.
A FAMILY DINNER PARTY.

t1al WAS luESe, SOLAplS Spai 'hten'.
The floor was of oak, uneven through
age. and perilously slippery. and the
walls of Dutch oak panelling, relieved
here and there by portraits in oils OF
horses and dogs. Four windows did
Not admit sufficient light for the room,
and ON the spacious hearth no IRE
could be made large enough for COM
fort in winter. The centre was 0c-
cupied by an enormous table, support
ed by legs about ten inches shorter
than those with which a modern din
ing table is furnished, and round it
Were ranged thirty-two chairs. fifteen
at either side and one at each end
cumbrous structures Of oak and en-
;bossed leather, mounted on wheels.
Indeed, never look at this table With
out recalling the ludicrous aspect pre-
sented by our friend Major Armstrong.
of the Suffolk Yeomanry, when dining
with us. Major Armstrong stands SIX
feet four, and the distance from his
plate TO his mouth is so great that
when he is engaged with the former
it appears almost as if he were dig
ging the ground with his fork. A large
sideboard, loaded with silver. COM
pleted the furniture Of the room.
When l entered, it was at once ap-
parent that this was q special occa-
sion. The table was lighted by more
candles, and spread somewhat more
luxuriously than usual, and. infallible
sign. old John, our one indoor manser-
want. had on his yellow silk waistcoat
a venerable and conspicuous article
OF his attire which / remembered from
my earliest infancy. but lad never be-
fore known him 10 wear except on
SunGays-and was moving about buSi-
~ between the sideboard and the Ia
bic.
1 disturbed NV relations in an exam
ination they We're making of the
quantity carved mantelpiece. My faith
eI at once stepped towards me, and
taking MY hand in his own, led me
towards beautiful and very eiabor-
ately dressed lady, saying:
Permit me to introduce my son.
Ernest, this lady is your aunt Ger
trude."
Now though in the first blush OF my
youth l had suffered from overmuch
self-consciouSness, 1 had fatrered my
self of late that had reasoned myself
out of that malady. and was as self
possessed as young man of nineteen
need be. Vain delusion. Whether it
was the striking beauty of my aunt,
the splendor Of her dress and jewels,
or my intense surprise at finding her
4 woman OF a. most thirty, whom l
had mentally pictured as about fifteen
years older than tnat, know not; but
certain it Isl had never felt so awk-
ward and foolish before. I cannot
quite remember what l said, but
believe few disconnected words es-
capped my lips to the effect that was
very pleased to make her acquaint-
ance. -,4@,.
My aunt noticed my confusion, and
with admirable tact endeavored to
allay it. Il am sure l am much graft
fed to see you and your father" she
said in soft voice. My husband has
often talked to me Of you both. and Of
his old home in England. Your house
is perfectly delightful, and l long TO
see more of it. You must show me
all over it when you have time"
Replying that nothing could give me
greater pleasure, and that l would do
so tomorrow if she was sufficiently
rested to undertake the task, l shook
hands with my uncle and felt rather
more at my ease.
My father having taken his seat at
the head Of the table with his sister
and on the right. and his brother on
his left, John removed the covers, and
dinner was served.
No" said uncle San, addressing
ny father, the change is not all in
myself as you suggest, though OF
course 4 mans ideas modify and ex-
pand a good deal in twenty years,
especially if his affairs are extensive
and he mixes much with business
nen. Positively, believe what have
told you, that EngliShn2l 2rc vastly
altered froL what they were when l
lived among item. They are lot 50
enterprising; they seem 10 lack 50 and
grit, and have fallen into slow way.
Everything in England is depressed
capitalists AFRAID to invest, la1orcrs
without work to 60. Coming fToil
Londol to-day, We saw man and 4
boy with two horses plowinS a celd.
Why, the scene would serve for a.
Illustration to one CT Pope's pastorals.
No wonder that farming in England
don't pay when you tickle and scratch
tine earth il such primitive fashion,
And Willie the laborers are killing
time in this wcy, your legislators are
talking about snail farms and allot-
neIts for laborers. Bosh, ny dear
sir, bosl. What is wanted is f6f at
least Il hundred landowners il each