The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-10-07
Playing LADY
Come -to-See"


There was a very genteel knock OF
the door of the sewing room, in re
Spouse to which the caller received
cordial invitation to enter.
The caller wor a very large anl
uncomfortable black hat, which
showed an exasperating desire t.
eclipse its wearer completely, and
voluminous black silk skirt, some Of
which was gathered up in one small
hand, the rest being occupied in wrap
ping itself about the feet that ap
peared occasionally from under theil
cloud of drapery. The caller held hel
daughter informally under her lief,
arm.
"How do you do, Mrs. MARTINI
said the caller in a very high-pitched
refined voice. I'm Mrs. Peanut. In
playing lady-come-to-see. This is m,
daughter, Rosalie Arabella Peanut. +.
brought her to call on you"
I'm very glad to see you both,'
said the hostess. went you come IL
and take of your hat?"
Mrs. Peanut looked shocked. "Oh
no, 1 couldn't do that" she said. cha
wouldn't be etiquette. We're making
calls. you know, and when you make
calls you take of your hat
You just go in and sit down a minute
and then you say: %, I must go. I've
been here such a long time"
II wouldn't think of urging it, them
a%pologized Mrs. Martin. But l hope
you will take a chair and sit down al
least for a few minutes"
Eyes, I'll do that" said Mrs. Peanut
gathering up her skirt and stumbling
to a chair.
She laid Rosalie Arabella down or
the floor while she arranged her dra
peries. When she was settled to hel
W satisfaction, she picked up the
blonde infant and set her upon the
maternal knee.
What beautiful hair you daughter
has," said the hostess presently; "bu'
isn't it rather strange that she should
have such light hair when yours is sc
dark"
Mrs. Peanut smoothed the pal.
crown with an affectionate hand. at
is funny" she said. But then she
caught her hair fro0 her aunt"
"Oh," said Mrs. Martin. with a Sigh,
gulp. "Im sure it's very pretty any
way. She's a charming child"
"Yes'm, she is all of that" agreed
Mrs. Peanut.
Mrs. Martin frowned involuntaril,
at the touch of slang, but hastily
smoothed out her brow, fearing tina,
even this tacit criticism might over
step the bounds of etiquette.
"she's awfully unhealthy" confided
Mrs. Peanut. "She's sick so much Of
the time that l don't think I'll evel
raise her. All my children are sickly,'
she continued with pardonable pride
"They catch everything. Quite a few
of them are sick with scarlet fever
now"
Dear, dear!" said Mrs. Martin in a
distressed tone. Il should consider IL
quite a calamity If eve M child OF
mine were i'll with scarlet fever, and
you speak as though you had sew.
eral."
II have ten," responded Mrs. Pea.
nut triumphantly, "and they're all
lying in a row just as red as beets."
Mrs. Martin rose and took from the
table a box of dainty waters. "Dc
have a wafer" she urged. II think a
mother with so much on her mind al |
you have needs some refreshment."
Mrs. Peanut helped herself daintily. |
Lets pretend we're having tea," she |
suggested. "That will be like a
grown-up peoples CALL"
Eyes, let's do that" agreed Mrs.
Martin. "And If the children aren't
too sick, you'd better take the rest OF
the waters home to them"
ooh, all my children aren't Sick
said Mrs. Peanut. as she took another
wafer and held it to Rosalie's rosebud
lips for a moment. Then she trans
erred it to her own. "You know I've
got twenty-five of EN-"
Mrs. Martin gasped. "Twenty-fve!"
she calculated. why, that seems like
a very large family"
Its the largest l eve knew" said
Mrs. Peanut, c~omplacently. "But some
of them are very little. They came
out of my last birthday cake"
A moment later the caller scrambled
down from her chair and tucked
Resale under her arm again.