The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1925-01-15
The Old Bears

| ~~~@~~~~~~~@~@~~p~ @@~~~~%1
"Goodnessl" sighed Helen, 4 feel as
If I'd entertained a college house party
or something equally exciting.
@Aunt Jane wrote me sh. was COM
ing up just for a day, and felt it
would be a shame tor her not to meet
all her old friends, SO arranged to
have them all here as a sort Of sur
prise.
Il felt trifle diffident about the
matter and asked Carrie to help out.
When Carrie learned Aunt Jane had
snow white hair and dressed in layen-
| der she wanted nothing more. She
dotted on dear old ladies in frills and
lavender and could count on her to
entertain them, while l merely man
aged the scene shifting, like dinner.
You know, when you have eight or ten
old ladies', you expect some OF them to
be somewhat tired from the trip over
and better TOR the rest.
$50 / planned Light dinner-rice
omeIet and tea and toast, and such
tnings-easy on the teeth and stom-
ach, and had every room in the house
ready to receive at least one dear old
soul who might want to slip Off ana
rest minute.
Carrie came over and unearthed all
the old photographs, thinking they'd
be interested in "reminiscences.
'We borrowed plenty of light, pretty
wraps and scarfs, just to be prepared,
for you know how old ladies are for
feeling drafts.
"Aunt Jane blew in-that's the very
word-just as / was breaking eggs for
the omelet. She was attired in Iayen-
der, all right, and her hair was snowy.
On her head was the most fetching hat
/ hope to see this year-full Of bright
violets-and at her waist bunch Of
genuine florist violets, fragrant as a
meadow full Of growing ones.
Something told me to tell her my
plans, though had intended it to be
surprise.
rye invited eight or ten Of your
old friends in,'' said casually, beating
the eggs. Aunt Jane came closer to
see what was doing. Then she smiled
comprehendingly.
Say, she said tersely, put that up
for breakfast Then she sailed into
the pantry and got down a couple OF
cans OF lobster and some asparagus
tips.
"'Here's start she said, but I'll
telephone for bit more She began
to beam thoughtfully. 'Barbara's daffy
about Salads she exclaimed. Wen
have to have new one for her. Some
thing rich and tasty
'-Sne came back shortly, breathless
anu pink With exgrtion. I've ordered
SOME roast goose from Emory's. also
ripe olives ana rrench pastry she
said NOW, be sure to have the coffee
good anu strong, so we can stay up
nice ana late ana nave a rouslng time,
for I'VE got TO get back early in the
morning and won't have any more time
10 visit them ALL
$50 Aunt dane lowered around sug-
costing little more pepper here and
a little more butter there. Then the
bell rang.
Aunt Jane tripped to the door be-
fore could get my apron of and Car
RE and l peeked and listened long
enough to hear Aunt Jane accuse
laughingly, Betty Long, who was that
man that brought you over? And
white-haired Betty Long blushed be-
meath her applied pink cheeks and
Aunt Jane said, Well, hustle in, you're
letting the draft in. Run upstairs and
put your duds in the front room -
that's my usual room and it'll do--and
hurry down and help, seeing you are
SO unpardonably early
without a word Carrie slipped up
the back way and just as the bell rang
again and Aunt Jane rushed madly to
let her guests in, Jane appeared with
a bundle of pretty woody things,
shawls and wraps.
Whereu hide emp she begged.
"HereZ / took them. Now do go
softly and remove the baskets Of old
photographs and open window in the
living room-and-'
'sAnd just then Aunt James voice
sang out cheerily. Helen, have you
that newest Hawaiian dance?
"And from that moment on it was a
busy day, providing sufficiently lively
entertainment" sighed Helen.
at was nice for Aunt Jane" laughed
Helen's good friend.
ooh, / don't know" replied Helen,
YEARLY. "She came to me when 1t
was half over and said, Helen, didn't
realize my old friends have grown so
set in their ways. You just ought TO
see our live bunch at home!"