Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-05-15
I've been thinking as well as sewing
yes, 1t is wearing, and far from com.

|
ITO yourself?" asked Marion
ITO all OF u.s." said Elsie. HAS 1t
ever occurred to you elegant young
women that while we have been but
terflies of pleasure, If not of fashion,
our dear mother has been here nursing
grandmother through long and tedi-
Gus, illness, and never letting us know
about it for fear of spelling our Wis.
its?"
Its hard to realize it when we are
away" ,murmured Elizabeth. with us
seem is believin',' and then mother
never complains, and always seems so
calm and pleasant. But she must be
tired out. Nursing is the hardest
. work"
We're selfish lot; at least Betty
and are" said Marion, impulsively.
II plead guilty, too," Elsie declared.
"But we must do something to redeem
ourselves. Mama must have vaca-
ton"
! "Oh, you know, Elsie, there's no
money to spare for any more jaunts- So
"More's the shame!' said Elsie,
quickly. Eve offered her part of my
earnings,-I can't save half ought to,
but she won't touch it, as she thinks
need it for fall and winter clothes.
But I've thought of another way-not
so attractive, but far better than no va.
cation. Why not invite her to visit us
for two or three weeks? OF course,
when we're at home we help, but the
brunt falls on her. Now let us big,
hearty girls take every bit of the
homework on our hands and make a
visitor of our mother. We can do
several simple, nice things for her en-.
tertainment. Let us make little sac
rifice for her, instead of her making
dozens every year for US.
"The very thing!" erred Betty. my
conscience does prick, and it will be
fun, too. Nobody but you, Elsie,
would think of such a thing"
1--WE must write formal invitation
and send it at once. Let me see! Get
paper and pens from my desk-my
very SWEETEST note How will this do?
''The Misses HerricK request the
pleasure OF a two weeks visit from
Mrs. Lucy Herrick, beginning on We'd
nesday afternoon next at four o'clock.
An early reply is requested.
Elsie Herrick.
elizabeth Herrick.
Marion Herrick."
The next -Tuesday-came a
note in the mail. Three heads bent
anxiously over the fine, pretty writ
ing. They read
Mrs. Lucy Herrick accepts with
pleasure the invitation from the Misses
Herrick to visit them at their charm
ing home She will arrive promptly
at four o'clock, Wednesday afternoon.
She hopes that at the end of the two
weeks the young ladies will return
with Mrs. Herrick for a protracted
stay at her own home"
Pretty neat, that last" Marion
cried, and they all laughed. Wednes-
day, directly after breakfast, Mrs. Her
rick was hurried off to spend the day
with her mother, four squares away.
Then the three, in morning dress,
worked with a will. They had lunch
instead of the usual country noon din
ner, to give themselves more time.
By four everything was in order,
and the girls, in pretty afternoon dress,
waited their guests-for grandmother
was coming to tea, also.
They arrived promptly, Mrs. Her.
rick in her lavender lawn, and Mad
am Avery in a thin black-and-white
gown with old laces.
The rooms of the cottage were
partly darkened and cool, with flowers
and vines everywhere.
| A few moments later three friends
of the mothers came-a surprise
planned by the girls.
| Every one seemed in a gala mood.
There was cool breeze on the piaz-
"a. so the guests adjourned ,thither
later II.
When supper time came, the moth
er could not repress a little gasp of
establishment. The table was beauti-
| fully decorated with ferns and white
roses, with Elsie's best embroidered
centerpiece of ferns on white ground.
The prettiest china and silver were in
use, and vines were on the walls.
Marion was model waitress in
white cap and apron. Elsie had the
few hot dishes for the first course. She
served coffee from the urn, a family
heirloom, and tea for madam from
Elizabeth's Chinese teapot The veal
pates had been the skeleton at the
feast, but they were success in spite
of dire misgivings, while Elsies deli
cious light rolls were highly praised.
Elizabeth gave for a second course
her famous vegetable salad, served
with thin slices of brown bread and
olives.
The last courses was sliced peaches
chilled, with whipped cream, and Eliz.