Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-03-18


down in the carriage with the japanese
lanterns and the funny little tissue
paper caps"
We were getting ready for the char
ity dinner at the mission chapel, and,
Hof course, Polly was doing the trim
mings. Polly always does the trim
mings.
But where" said /, gazing on the
great masses of green and pink. "will
they find room for-the potatoes, for
instance:"
Potatoes" said Polly, scornfully, as
she took mass of blue forget-me-nots.
which she calls that" off her pompa
dour, and laid it ON another grocery
box. Those, Mr.. Heavyfeather, will
be considered afterward, of course"
Like matrimony, after courtship,
suppose I sighed. picking up a long
stemmed rose and holding it gingerly
by the tip end
Yes" said Polly, "or housekeeping
after the honeymoon
COR the bill after the dinner, -.
There won't be any bill after this
dinner" said Polly, "because the dea-
con donated the potatoes and things.
and kind lady donated the roses and
lent us her teacups.
How thoughtful of herr I re-
marked. Il am sure those starving
little slum youngsters are just yearn-
ing for-roses served in china teacups.
Who was the lady. Polly? A De,sarte
pupil with fluffy hair and a pink tea
manner?"
ION the contrary" said Polly, pull
Ing the thorns off a long green stem
with the dexterity of an expert. "she
was a nice, commonsense little thing
with turned up nose and a violent
interest in her meals. 1 distinctly saw
her take three helpings of chicken
salad at the ladies' aid meeting"
The kind" | suggested, "who would
spend ten minutes before breakfast
curling her hair and two minutes max
ing sloppy coffee"
"Yes," said Polly, "and who would
spend the whole afternoon planning an
evening bonnet for herself instead of
planning an evening lecture for her
husband; and the whole evening say
ing pretty things and flirting with you
instead of going over the grocery book:
and her whole life making things inter-
esting and pleasant instead of cutting
down the expenses
"And her declining years" l added,
lin the divorce court instead of -
"Darning socksr' broke in Polly.
mot half so many divorces" she went
on, "are caused by cold coffee as by
cold dispositions. Whoever heard of a
man seeking a separation because his
wife let the biscuits burn while she
kissed him in the morning? Nobody!
But there are dozens of good cooks
signing for the husbands they forgot
to kiss while they were busy making
batter cakes. 1t is never the woman
who makes good biscuits who lures a
man away from his fireside and his
bachelor comforts, but the one who
wears rose in her hair. Potatoes!'
and Polly jammed rose down into the
epergne with Scornful shove. lyon
keep potatoes in your kitchen. don't
you-on the shelf? Potatoes are cheap.
You can get them and hire Mary Anne
to cook them for 81 week. But Won
don't want them hanging round your
drawing room, nor your dressing room.
1or your den. Now, roses are accept
able anywhere; you like them at the
breakfast table in the morning. at your
desk at noon, and in your button
hole"
Il didn't know said I. chat the
modern woman liked to be carried
around in mans buttonhole- like an
adjunct"
'She doesn't said Polly, ''care to be
done brown and digested or left ON
plate-to be forgotten the moment she.
ceases to be useful
And" went on. ignoring Polly's
outburst. 'if she wants to be orna-
mental as we'll as useful-even potato
has blossom, you know
"a sproutv' interrupted Polly.
(which" 1 continued, "a king once
thought lovely enough to wear in his
buttonhole"
Polly picked up a fuii-biown- rose
With jerk that sent hundred leaves
auttering about us like a pink snow
Storm n
Roses" said l looking at the empty
stalks significantly, "are so apt to fade
and wither."
And potatoes" replied Polly. 'get
hard and old and knotty and develop
eyes. -
That's SO, said l. "and it isn't well
for woman to have too many eyes,
Besides said Polly. gathering up
the fallen leaves and putting them ana
the stalks in a little pile, "a rose las a,
heart"
so has a potato" remarked.
"But you have to dig through so
much exterior to find it" declared
Polly. And the average man is too
lazy to dig. He wants the good things
in life's repast set out on his plate, not
hidden under it,
And yet said 7. discovering the
heart in a woman who doesn't wear
hers on the surface, and who seems
cold and unfathomable. is like discov-
erfng birthday gift under your plate
in the morning. The surprise is very
sweet"
Perhaps" said Polly. meditatively,
holding rose against her cheek. SO
that you couldn't tell which was
which, "but how many men are going
to hunt for the surprise? Nine times
out Of ten the poor little potatoes vir-
tues remain hidden to the end of her
days. when she is left on the matri-
monial kitchen shelf along with the
onions and the cabbages. A woman,
and Polly put the last rose in the
epergne and stood off to admire the
effect. like rose. is meant to be Or
pauental. II she can be useful. too,