The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-01-18
strange action on the part of lady we
have never seen, and which l cannot

have never seen. and which l cannot
tolerate"
"But we are the grandpsrentsp'
"No, no?' shouted the little ones;
"they are not our grandparents. Our
grandparents are real nice, and wear
fine clothesw
Meanwhile the governess had opened
the reception room and asked the Wis.,
itors to step in, which they did. They
soon heard the slamming Of doors and
whispered but excited conversation
in the hall, and their son entered the
room, both his hands outstretched in
welcome.
"I'm so glad to see you, dear father
and mother! But why didn't you
write, so we could have been prepared ?
My wife's birthday is today and we ex-
pect company. OF course, you must
feel awfully tired after your journey,
and have given orders that a room be
made ready for you on the top floor
where the. noise cannot reach you.
Supper shall be served to you there,
and shall come up occasionally and
see that nothing is wanted. Just ex-
cuse me minute. I will step out and
bring in my wife and the children"
And they all came in presently. Mrs.
Alfred Parker, superbly dressed, con-
descendingly held out her fingertips to
her husbands parents, and pretended
to be delighted to see them. Even the
children, having received their orders,
now slowly came up and permitted
themselves to be kissed, but became
more interested when old Parker hand
ed them box after box filed with candy,
nuts, figs, etc., which he had retained,
expressly for this purpose, from the
stock Of his fornsr store, But the.
children's pleasure was short-lived; for
their mother took all the sweets away
from them, saying that such cheap stuff
was always adulterated, and not good
for their health. When her husband
noticed the panied expression of his
parents, he quickly hurried them up
stairs to their room, under the pretense
that they must feel very tired, and
then went back to his wife.
"That is a nice mess" said the
fashionable lady. "The worst thing
that happened to me in all my life.
It's almost impossible to be polite to
such vulgar-looking people"
"Oh, everybody is not descended from
such a lofty family as yours" was AL
fred's irritated reply. "But 1 admit
that it is awfully annoying, and we
must get rid of them somehow; even if
all of us have to 60 to some watering
place. A pretense is easily found, and
my parents will never be the wiser"
81 really do not know what to do
this evening; for 1 certainly dare not
introduce them to my refined parents
and to our other guests"
"Don't worry about that; have at.
tended to that matter. Father and
mother will remain in their room all
evening""
"That is some consolation" ad
mitted his spouse, and soon after
both were busy welcoming the arriving
guests. The old couple were sitting ir
, their lonely room. Plenty of gooG
things to eat and to drink had beer
, sent them by their adored son, who ha(
{ come up in person several times anC
told them to make themselves at home
J The old folks hardly touched the meal
but kept looking at each other in ute
| amazement, while the laughter ant
5 the clinking of glasses down stair
grated on their ears.
. Old Parker showed his plate with it
hardly touched contents away from him
Q sighed and said: "Well, mother, w
d wanted to surprise, but now we are tn
surprised ones. Perhaps we are coun
: trified-out of place in New York
Q but Alfred might have shown littl
t love for his old parents. I'm dumb
It founded Can you stand this anothe
r dayp shall try to do SO, if you can.
The old lady, who all the time ha
" hardly been able to keep the tears on
y of her eyes, now burst out crying an
Q threw herself into her husbands ARM
It The second morning after that the
were again on q train-homewart
q bound. Their son and his wife ha
q been profuse in pressing them to sta!
II but the old folks felt only too wellthe