The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-11-23
THE RETURN VISIT.


There seems to me to be one
thing wrong about your slummering,
Edith,' said Mr.. Garfield, as his
wife finished the story of her after
noon spent in the tenements. "None
Of the people you visit return your
calls"
"Of course not," said Mrs. Can
fed, who did not quite like her hus-
band S jokes about her philanthropies.
7'Why of course ~ asked Mr..
Garfield. isn't that the custom in
polite society? Why should not the
caids of Mrs. Michael O'Tool and
Madame Macaroni and Mrs. Owskey-
wowskey rest with the bunch you
cherish and sigh over when you count
up your social duties? I am sure
those women are less absurd and
very much more interesting than
sone people now on your calling list.
Ana besides, IT there is any religion
in thisthing, I think that would be
what rdigiousIy might be called the
square zeal. This thing of going
down to see Mrs. Owskeywowskey
and asking her if her husband drinks,
and what she puts into the soup, and
not lettingher come here and ask you
the same, ioes not strike me as reci-
procity."
Mrs. Canield thought little, and
then said, George, can't tell half
the time wien you get to joking
about my clarifies whether you are
just little lit serious or not. Are
you, now, justa little bit in earnest ~
Certainly = replied her husband.
Every much nore than little bit.
If the thing is worth doing, it is
worth doing on the square. How
does that verse n the Bible read,
And ye visited ne? Isn't there a
verse that says that? Well, how
about paying the calls? Isn't that
sort of impliedl You might ask the
minister about that"
"No," said she. 81 don't want to
ask any but you. Would you be
willing should ask Mrs. Grenovskis
you did not get thelname quite cor
rect-to come and spend the day
here ~
"Why, yes, and the old man and
the kids, too. 1 probably shall be
busy, but
mo, you shall not be busy. I
will see to that. They shall be in
vited on Decoration Day. He will
have holiday and so will you. And
we will bestow our flowers on them"
"All right, Edith. I'm no gutter.
I'll see it through"
They came, the whole family, the
dresses starched stiff and the faces
scrubbed till they shone. The mar
row-chested tailor and his thin, pale
wife were shy, but not uncouth. The
children were painfully polite. The
dinner occupied them, with little for
conversation, till 6ve-year-old Alexis
sank back with a sigh, and said,
"Gee but I'm fullP' which greatly
distressed his mother, but pleased
Mr.. Garfield. And after the meal
the whole juvenile portion of the
family formed a procession, and
marching round the table in way
that showed Industrious drilling,
solemnly saluted first Mrs. Garfield.
and then, at the other end of the
table, her husband, shaking hands
with each, and saying, "T'ank you
for the dinner, an all -
1t was the funniest, sincerest little
comedy ever invented, and the men,
ory of it delighted Mr.. Garfield for
many day.
But it did more than that. Mr..
Garfield secured for the tailor posi-
ton that paid a little better wages,
and, what was more, gave him light
and air. And he made suggestion
concerning his wife which proved
fruitful.
''You know" said he to Mrs. Can
field, II believe half the matter with
that woman is her teeth. I noticed
when she ate. and I don't see how
she can live and nourish baby with
so little opportunity to chew her food.
And didn't you say she suffered from
neuralgia besidesl Now if that club
of yours wants to do something worth
while, buy her set of teeth. Don't
you have an artificial teeth fund, with
all the rest? Well, you can create
one. Til give FIVE toward it, and I'll
see Doctor Deming, and he will make
the teeth at cost"
The thing was done, and it proved
a success. The next visit of the
Grenovskis showed more of color in
the cheeks of both father and mother.
And the procession, which formed at
the gate in the regular and rehearsed
order, passed Mr.. Garfield, who hap
pened to stand nearer, and saluted
first Mrs. Garfield, and then in regu-
lar order her husband, saying,
"T'ank you for de teet', an all !'-
Youths Combani0n.