The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-20
Dick S.o,v
A Tale Of an Afternoon Tea

come to your house. Will you mind If
| stand here?
Hostess-Nct at all. In fact, I'd like
1t. l want to hear all about your auto
mobile trip. How did the accident hap
pen?
Dick-Why, you see, l bought the
machine
Hostess-Good afternoon, Mrs. Van
Kemp. And how is
Mrs. Van Kemp-Isn't 1t delightful
that you have such a glorious after
noon! l was so pleased. said to
Elizabeth, I'm glad Miss Sterling
has such a good day" And she agreed
with me. What lovely decorations.
Hostess-Thank you. Oh, Dick.
what's Mrs. Adams mothers name?
Here she comes and I've forgotten.
Dick-Cowper.
Hostess-How do you do, Mrs. Cow.
per? Is your daughter with you?
Mrs. Cowper-Yes, she'll be here in
a minute. Stopped to speak to your
mother. We were just congratulating
each other that you have such a nice
day. What lovely decorations,
Hostess-Thank you. Have YOU
been out in the dining room, Mrs. Cow
per?
Dick-Great Scott! Her name is
Milton.
Hostess-Dick! You said Cowper.
Dick-Well, it was some old poet.
that's all | knew. I'm sorry.
Hostess-How do you do, Mrs. Car
ter? Are you
Mrs. Carter-Indeed, no. How full
your rooms are! This morning at
breakfast it looked so stormy | asked
Mr.. Carter If he thought it was going
to rain. He said in his deliberate way
you know how slow he is-never
hurries about anything, and I'm just
the opposite, and entirely
Hostess-Thank you. Oh, Miss Full
Ter! l was afraid you hadn't come
home yet.
Miss Fuller-I.ast night. 1t looked
as If 1t were about to pour rain when
we got into the station, and l said,
Won't it be too bad if it rains like
this tomorrow" Is that Miss Adams
over there? l must speak to her.
Hostess-Jennie, my dear! How
good of you to come out after being so
ill!
Jennie-Such a beautiful day as
this couldn't stay in. Mother insisted
that l wasn't able, but said was so
glad you had a pleasant day, and |
wanted
Hostess-And here's Alice. 1t seems
good to see
Alice-Yes, bnt such lovely weather
wouldn't hurt anybody. Aren't the decs
orations lovely? No. I'm going out to
the dining room.
Dick-Most of the party had lots of
baggage, and it took time to stow it
away, but
Hostess-How are you, Mrs. Allen?
Where's Mary?
Mrs. Allen-She's been in the hos
pital for a week. Appendicitis, you
know. l wanted to stay with her, but
she said it was such lovely day that
| mustn't.
Dick-Some thought we were never
going to get started, but
Hostess--Mrs. Houston! And Miss
Houston, | am So
Mrs. Houston-Thank you. So are
we. This is our second tea this after
noon, but it is such fine day.
Miss Housewives, indeed, we told
father to get dinner down town. We
shan't want any dinner tonight. What
a crowd and what lovely decorations!
Hostess-Thank you. Alice is out
in the dining room. Pardon me, Dick.
Dick-Don't mention it. Some of the
crowd were certain we were in
Hostess-And Mrs. wilkinson! This
is surprise!
Mrs. Wilkinson-I knew you'd be
surprised. | was in - yesterday. l
went to funeral.
Hostess-How lovely. No, l mean
Mrs. Wilkinson-What a crowd! I
am so glad you have such a beautiful
day. It's so late that I'm going right
out to the dining room.
Hostess-What were you saying,
Dick?
Dick---I was trying to start my
auto
Hostess-Isn't it terrible how they
act? Why, Irene Haskins, where have
you kept yourself all
Irene-Yes, am l not naughty? I
haven't been anywhere. What a
crowd there is here and what a beau.
tiful day!
Hostess-Thank you. Did you speak,
Dick?
Dick-I just remarked that the auto
mobile blew up and we were all killed.
Hostess-It must have been delight
full.
Dick-And after that I had the
mumps. Sam broke three legs. Harry
fell down the well. George had hydro
phobia.
Hostess-Yes, know the scenery is
beautiful. Mrs. LIE Vert! l was so
sorry not to be at your shower!
Mrs. LIE Vert-It was such bad
weather last evening, but to-day is so
very beautiful. Your rooms are so
full. Is that Mary over there near
those decorations?
Hostess-Thank you.