The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-02-07
Her Hospitality


Mrs Semmens prided herself on her
hospitality. She fairly beamed when
ever she spoke of having guests, and
she especially emphasized the fact
that she liked to have callers drop IN
unexpectedly. SheTinsisted that it
was real proof OF hospitality when
you could welcome friends into your
family and treat them as members OF
your household. When you could ask
them to sit down to your table and
serve them with what had been pre-
pared In the regular way, she said,
that was the best hospitality.
So when Sally Mcbride came to
visit Mrs. Semmens she sighed with
real contentment. Here at last was
one place she could feel at home! She
hadn't bothered to write Mrs. Sem
mems the exact day she would arrive.
for she knew Mrs. SemmenR wouldn't
make any fuss over her. anyway, and
she felt perfectly free just to drop hi.
When Sally went downstairs after
arranging her toilet for dinner she
was quite surprised to find Mrs. Sem
mems In the heat of battle engaged in
ordering the servants around like
lightning.
Sally detected evidence OF hasty
busting. She saw maid fling down
q rug In the reception hall as she
entered. Altho 1t was time for dinner.
she noted that the dining table was
bare OF silver and china. While the
butler was hurriedly wiping of dishes
at the sideboard.
She was puzzled. It looked very
much like frenzled preparation for
guests. : II it had been in any other
home Sally would have been embar-
raised at having caused an upheayal
In the households affairs. But with
Mrs. Semmens that was impossible!
Sally put aside the thought, confident
that something had interfered with
the progress of work. and they were
merely hurrying to complete what was
necessary before dinner time.
Mrs. Semmens was very jolly at din
ner, She told Sally that she was get
ting only what the family was to have
had and that she'd have to make the
best of it--as she must know that she
wasn't company!
Sally replied that she knew she
wasn't company and it was the incest
place to visit she knew of for that
very reason. So she ate the lobster
patties with chip potatoes and the
dainty salad and all the other choice
things, with never a thought that prac-
tically everything on the table could
have been got up at moments rotice
IL for any reason that had Ssen neces.
sary.
The next day Saii- --Gi friend Of
hers. and the friend was bride. A
happy thought struck her. Who was
so hospitable as Mrs. Semmens?
Where could she 80 well entertain
these friends as at Mrs. Semmens'
house? It wasn't as tho Mrs. Sem
mems hadn't specially told her to ask
any one she wished at any time! The
table was always large enough, Mrs.
Semmens had said. and II 1t wasn't 1t
could be made 80 readily.
Consequent Sally took the bride and
her husband along with her. They
were delayed. so that Sally rang the
bell OF the Semmens home just before
the dinner hour. She ushercd' her
guests In and sought Mrs. Semmens
to, tell her. She felt she ought to do
az much as that, tho 1t wasn't really
necessary.
Mrs. Semmens gasped family at the
news, and the smile OF hospitality died
IN her face.
You'll hare to helpl" she said.
without preliminaries~ Hurry and
yank on that tablecloth and put on
the best silver. I'll phone over an
oeder for something to eat and run
and tell Maggie to take them upstairs
to the den o. to q room to prinp a
iittle--anywhere, so they will get out
OF the library. It's not been busted to-
dAy--and wcaidn't have them go
away and talk about III for the
world"
Sally stood helpiessly by. as Mrs.
Hemmens, with her sleeves rolled up,
pitched In. The everyday dishes were
swept out of the way and china and
out glass were spread on the table.
Ell thought you said we could just
sit down with the family and" be-
gan Sally, obviously. conscience
stricken.
Mrs. Semmens stood erect a silent
second, looking directly at her visitor.
IF you haven't any respect for
guests" she said GROSSLY. Il have!"
Sally has her own definition for hos
pitaiity now that that OF Mira. Sem
mems II no exception.