Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-09-28
SUSAN ENTERTAINS
How the Old Maid Surprised the
Sewing Society.
BY MAupE ). PERKINS.


pose there'n be mighty lot OF we'd
dings In Little River before next Jan
nary" remarked Mrs. Simmons with
a sly wink that included In its scope
all the married women OF the sewing
society.
Il don't know as that rightly fol-
lows. Hannah-there's been n sight
OF leap years that some folks could
have taken advantage OF II they'd
wanted to- observed Mrs. Sam
Brown.
Well. n I had to wait till leap
year to get engaged I guess I'd been
a single woman this very day" re-
turned Mrs. Simmons tearing a
breadth of pink gingham-
It's just as well you didn't walt
for leap year. then. Hannah" smiled
Susan WORTHY.
A little chuckling laugh ran around
the circle Sometimes Hannah Sim
mons sharp tongue found Its match.
Mrs Simmons flushed Angrily- II
was not SO amusing when someone
turned upon her In this MANNER. "Of
course you know mean II I'd had
TO ask a man to marry me 1 would
never have been married at aIi!" She
tossed her head
well. no one can lay that up
against me. either. or you wouldn't
be calling me an old maid today
laughed Susan cheerfully.
Il don't know who has called you
an old maid. susanl hope I've got
some manners in company"
WORTHY
eff there wasn't some old maids in
the community don't know who'd
help take care OF the married vim
mems children!" rasped Miss Doxie
Post who was bringing up three or
phaned nieces-
At this moment refreshments were
served and under the soothing influ-
ence OF tea and fresh gingerbread
hostilities were suspended for the
time
Susan WORTHY and Doxie Post walk
ed home together; they represented
the unmarried members of the new
ing circle.
so they're going to have the
monthly sociable at your house. Su-
SAN" remarked Doxie as they walked
along.
Yes and I've got q plan to enter
tain 'em In n way they won't soon
forget" declared Susan emphatic1lly-
Her brown eyes twinkied mischiev-
onsly and her round pink cheeks
flushed like a girls. III you'll keep
It dead secret III tell YOU
Miss Post promised and listened
eagerly to Susan's explanation When
the plump little woman had conclud-
ed Doxie shook her fair head doubt
fully.
Il don't believe none OF 'em would
ever write II OUT" she asserted.
They'd be ashamed not to-" de-
clared Susan Just you be there.
Doxie Come early-Jabez Foote
win be there,"
Doxie's fair faded cheeks flushed
redly and she looked displeased-
There wouldn't be anything strange
In his being there seeing that he al
ways comes to the open meetings of
the society"
81 didn't mean any harm. Doxie."
soothed Susan as she turned into her
own gate.
When the @ght of the monthly So
ciable OF the sewing society came
around. Il found Susan Wort1y's big
old-fRshioned house lighted from at
tic TO cellar and wen fiIled with the
members of the society and their hus
banda.
To Susan WORTHY and Doxis Post
were assigned the donors of being the
-lr.A
offset this unfortunate state OF affairs
there was Jabez Foote whose wife
had once been n member OF the so
ciey: since her death gabez contin-
ued his attendance at the monthly
meetings The minister was also
present: and he was n bachelor.
When the time came to play the
usual games that were a pleasant fea-
ture OF the monthly meetings. Susan
passed slips OF paper to all the com
pany with the necessary pencils.
Il do hope you've got a new game
FOR tonight. Susan" remarked Mrs.
Simmons as she tasted the point OF
her pencil
Yes. / have" smiled Susan "A
real amusing one
FlTe AWAY 0unA1- uIBcu refer
Simmons. Tell us what we're going
to do with these pieces OF paper.
Looks like You expected US to play
that old game OF Consequence
-AI OF ms folks that are married
know what the consequences are.-
chuckled Captain Sam Brown His
jovial mirth died a sudden death un-
der the cool glare OF his wife's eyes
~0f course meant pleasant conse-
Quencest" he murmured
well" began Susan. when all the
papers had been distributed: II
thought II would be some fun IL all
the married women would write on
their papers and tell Just the words
their husbands used when they pro
posed to them-and all the men write
the same thing on their papers. Ev-
erybody can sign HIS name and the
husband and wife who can most near.
ly recollect the same words get the
FIRST prize
There was an ominous hush in the
room
Mrs Sam Brown was the FIRST to
speak. Well amt SC old but what