Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1910-06-17
Playing Lady
Come -to-See"


There was a very genteel knock on
the door of the sewing room, In re-
sponse to which the caller received a
cordial invitation to enter.
The caller wore very large and
uncomfortable black hat, which
showed an exasperating desire to
eclipse its wearer completely, and a
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 their
cloud of drapery. The caller held her
daughter informally under her left
arm.
How do you do, Mrs. MARTINI"
said the caller in a very high-pitched,
refined voice. "I'm Mrs. Peanut. I'm
playing lady-come-to-see. This is my
daughter, Rosalie Arabella Peanut. l
brought her to call on you"
I'm very glad to see you both,"
said the hostess. Wont you come in
and take off your hat?'
Mrs. Peanut looked shocked "Oh,
no, couldn't do that" she said. THAT
wouldn't be etiquette. We're making
calls, you know, and when you make
calls you never take off your hat
You just go in and sit down minute
and then you say: o, must go. I've
been here such a long tiIne.'"
81 wouldn't think of urging it, then,'
apologized Mrs. Martin. But hope
you will take chair and sit down at
least for few minutes"
Yes, I'll do that" said Mrs. Peanut,
gathering up her skirt and stumbling
! to a chair
She laid Rosalie Arabela down on
'he floor while she arranged her dra-
rol,cs. When she was settled to her
own satisfaction she picked up the
blonde infant and set her upon the
maternal knee.
What beautiful hair you daughter
/ has," said the hostess presently; "but
! isn't 1t rather strange that she should
have such light hair when yours is so
! dark?"
Mrs Peanut smoothed the pale
crown with an affectionate hand. 1T
is funny" she said But then she
caught her hair from her aunt"
"Oh," said Mrs Martin, with slight
gulp. "Tm 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 involuntarily
at the touch of slang. but hastily
smoothed out her brow, fearing that
even this tacit criticism might over
step the bounds of etiquette.
"She's awfully unhealthy" confided
Mrs. Peanut. "Shes sick so much of
the time that I don't think I'll ever
raise her All my children are sickly,"
she continued with pardonable pride.
They catch everything. Quite few
of them are sick with scarlet fever
now"
Dear dear!" said Mrs. Martin in a
distressed tone. 81 should consider it
quite calamity If even one child of
you speak as though you had sew
eral."
Il have ten," responded Mrs. Pea
nut triumphantly, "and they're all
lying in row just as red as beets."
Mrs. Martin rose and took from the
table box of dainty waters. do
have wafer" she urged. 81 think a
mother with so much on her mind as
you have needs some refreshment."
Mrs Peanut helped herself daintily
Lets pretend we're having tea" she
suggested. "That will be like 6
grown-up peoples call"
"Yes, let's do that" agreed Mrs
Martin. "And If the children arent
too sick, you'd better take the rest o.
the waters home to them"
"Oh, all my children aren't sick,
said Mrs. Peanut, as she took another
wafer and held 1t to Rosalie's rosebud
) lips for a moment. Then she trans
ferred it to her own. "You know I've
got twenty-five of EN-"
Mrs. Martin gasped. "Twenty-five!'
, she calculated. why. that seems lik'
a very large family"
IT'S the largest | ever knew" sait
Mrs. Peanut, complacently. "But some
of them are very little. They cam,
) out of my last birthday cake"
p A moment later the caller scrambled
down from her chair and tucked
Rosalie under her arm again
81 must be going" she said. "Mr
eeanut'll be getting uneasy about me
| left him at home to take care of tn,
children. He's cut of work just now
and it's real convenient for me. He
Just lovely with the children"
81 should think it would be hard o.
you with such large family and you
husband out of work." said the hostess
"Oh, keep boarders when Mr.. Pea
nut can't get any work." responde,
the caller airily "And he's out O
! work most of the time. He's such
4 stupid man"