The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-09-09
THE LITTLE
FOUR COMBINE.
5S255515551515155S551SSG
BY Victor Gage Kimbert.

It was the last Saturday in May. Lit
tie Mrs Fletcher stoDd half irresolute-
ly before her from; door, from which
she had emerged after sweeping the
piazzas, and then called to child in
the next yard.
"Kathie, Kathie Raynor, tell your
mamma and Mrs. Brown and Mrs.
James to come over here right away,
will you please?" And then going
into the clean, sweet smelling sitting
room she sat down in the nearest
rocking chair 10 await their coming.
Within five minutes three curious
women stood before her-only curl
GUS, for their anxiety at her sudden
summons was dispelled at her easy,
comfortable attitude. Whirling three
chair toward them for their accept
ance, she said laughingly-
did you think the house was afire?
No." and she glanced at the women,
one with busting cap still on her
head, another with busting cloth in
her hand, and the third with sleeves
pinned to the shoulders and telltafe
bits of flour on her arms. 1t was
almost too bad to take you from your
work, but / just had an idea that
thought would be better shared, and
wanted to lay it before you at once.
You see, it is like this: the hot wealth
er is just coming on, and believe the
thing we dread the most is the ever
lasting Sunday dinner that has to be
planned for, and which keeps us
sweating instead of resting; and
have been thinking it would be nice
to only get one Sunday dinner a
month and have good time the other
three Sundays. What do you Think"
A look of blank astonishment, then
a ripple of laughter, from the three
was her reply, and then Mrs. Raynor
spoke
Theoretically, it is probably very
nice, but practically, fancy my hus-
band would decidedly object to fast
ing, not only as matter of principle,
but of health as well"
ooh, have no intention of fasting,
or requiring the rest of you to lose
your dinner. My idea is this: here
are four families of about the same
size, whose Sunday dinners are the
one dinner of the week because then
the Johns are home, and where each
family pays about the same for the
dinner. Mrs. James perhaps pays
more for beefsteak, or chicken, while
another pays more for fruit, but taken
on the whole the general bills bear~a
strong resemblance, though the items
vary. We are all friendly, enjoy be-
ing together, and SO my plan is that
we take turns in preparing Sunday
dinners, and spend the intervening
Sundays at the homes of the others,
with no care nor worry. 1t will be
worth a small fortune to me to dress
for church in the morning and have
no changing till night. What do you
think?" And again she looked at her
visitors.
Il think it would be fine" said Mrs.
Brown, "and then l could keep my
Sunday school class. l have had to
give it up through the summer months
on account of the heat, and Sunday
dinner, but l could get a substitute
for three Sundays. Just think, only
three Sunday dinners in three months.
Count me in ON this arrangement,
with many thanks"
You may count me, too" said Mrs.
Raynor.
But Mrs. James hesitated.
Il really do not know what to say.
would be delighted to make some
arrangement to have the Sundays
more enjoyable and less fatiguing. and
really it is not so very much more
work to prepare a dinner for a dozen
than for half that number. but | am
afraid that Dick would not like to go
away for dinner. he counts on Sunday
dinner"
That's all right, my DEAR" said
Mrs. Fletcher, laughing; but Dick
James likes to go visiting as we'll as
anybody | know, and on the surface
that is all that need appear; you will
simply be invited to take dinner with
one or the other of US, and when 1t
COlucS JOuI tul Ii, AODOuy hCCQ bC any
the wiser. In the afternoon We can
go out to the park, across the lake.
or anywhere our sweet wills incline.
and have a pleasant and profitable
day."
But" said Mrs. James. tentatively.
"how about the hostess, who will have
the dishes to do, ct cetera? Win it
not look suspicious for the rest to
leave her and go off ,ogether?"
"Well, you will not leave me, for
have arranged with Granny Wisner to
come and help me and wash up the
dishes on the Sunday entertain. Poor
soul, she would have been delighted to
have come for the sake of a really
good dinner, but I told her l would
give her quarter, and she half cried
as she said it would keep her the next
week. Iexpect that was an exaggera-
ton, but l know every extra cent
counts with her. and 1t is almost an
act of charity to help her get some
tbin0 IN do or cOurSa M ono elca