The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-09-09

"How have you arranged, supposing
there should be extra company? You
seem to have this thing thoroughly
adjusted without our taking any
trouble to think over the matter"
We'll, my plans are very flexible,
assure you, and can be altered, modi-
fed, amended, or what you please, as
conditions arise requiring it, but SO far
as unexpected company is concerned,
We could pay the hostess of the day
amount for the extra guests. And for
undesirable company, these dear rela-
tives who do not care how much we
bake and broil so that they are COM
Portable, what easier than to say, We
are going out to dinner next Sunday
long enough before hand to nip their
project in the bud. I know we all
enjoy having our friends visit us, but
there are limits to everything, and
when a certain few make 1t point
to always be on hand for Sunday din
ner, l think a mild lesson is in order"
Mrs. Brown flushed little.
You have noticed it, too, have
you? Well, do get pretty tired some
times; of course know to whom you
are referring, and though | do care
for them in way, still when those
distant cousins come and bring their
friends, utterly unexpected, though l
can look for them most any time, and
and keep home from church, and
make it the hardest day in the week,
do wish they would be more consid-
crate"
We'll, there is new rule in order
now, and shall expect you all to din
ner one week from tomorrow. We
will decide in the meantime who can
best entertain US the next time, and
the invitation can be given in an Off
hand manner at dinner, and no male
biped will suppose for moment that
he is being managed" said clever Mrs.
Fletcher, clever, because she knew
she was the one woman of the group
whose pocket book never was empty,
and who could furnish the first dinner
and give the others chance to save
up in the meantime for the day when
they should serve.
She knew perfectly we'll that she
should talk the matter over with
Ned. and was sure of his cooperation
in anything she wished. for he was
one OF the husbands who did not need
managing, and if the other men could
have known the blessing of such COM
radeship as existed between him and
his wife, sane, loving, considerate,
they would have wished for 1t in their
own home. But training and DISPOSE
ton was against it, and so perfect con-
fidence was an unknown quantity in
their homes. Only in little things, but
the fneness of the gold was dimmed,
the beauty of the home-life impaired.
to the extent that mutual confidence
was imperfect.
Was the combine successful? Most
emphatically so, as any one of them
would tell you, could you see her per-
himself because three of his teachers,
who had been wont to take vacation
through the warm weather, alleging
that they simply could not care for
the classes and Sunday dinners, did
not even suggest substitute, and
the very infrequent Sabbaths they
were absent he secured Mrs. Fletcher,
who had no regular class, to fill the
vacancy.
Rested, cheerful women ready for
the next weeks work, instead of
dreading it, was a partial result, and
four we'll satisfied households through
out the summer spoke much for the
combination
One day Mrs. Raynor asked Mrs.
Fletcher how she came to think of
such a delightful arrangement.
well, did not exactly think of it,
it evolved as most things do. When
my sister and both lived in the same
city, it was an understood thing that
every other Sunday only one should
get dinner. One day | thought how
nice it would be to enter into some
such plan with a neighbor; gradually,
as thought it over, | decided that
four would be the right number, nei-
ther TOO many nor too few, and select
ed you three to help me, as first
choice. Ii for. any reason either of
you had thought it impossible, should
have selected some one else. for was
determined to try it, and equally de-
termined you should enjoy it II could
persuade you"
"Well, can say right now that
never enjoyed summer more Some
way. that free coming in made me
feel as if was free from RESPONSE
bility for time, and gave me strength
to rest. for it takes strength to do
that and she laughed a little con-
STRANGELY.
= 1T certainly does. and 1t takes
sense as we'll. So many of us take
our cares with US continually, instead
Of just considering them when 1t is
necessary. that we get wrinkled and
old long before We need" was the re-