Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29


rest Of your beautiful keepsakes after supper"
AND so, very presently Betty and Janey
found themselves occupying chairs at the
table with Bill at the head and the three chill
dren opposite, Buddy in his high chair at the
end nearest his mother.
Sometimes we begin at the bottom, but this
time we're going to begin at the top" Bill said.
Nov, which of you two young ladies is the old
est?"
Betty looked at Janey.
II be; I'm 81" said Janey promptly, and it
seemed almost proudly.
"I was AZ my last birthday" said Betty, sit
ting serene and Priscilla-like in the high-backed
chair. Janey smiled her engaging caved-in
smile, and cast knowing look around the
table.
"Janey gets in first on this it's very evident,
laughed Bill but Betty is sure second, be-
cause I'm only 40 and Dear Heart is some
where between 38 and h. never can remem-
Der exactly where"
They all laughed at this, and Buddy said
"Haw! haw! haw!" in a funny way, and then,
scared at his own temerity, laid his round cheek
on his mothers arm and grinned across the
table at Janey.
HE thinks he's funny when he does that"
his mother explained.
They had mashed potato and red Jelly and
very tender green peas fixed with cream and
served in saucers, and red raspberry pie and
was all on the table, so you could know just
what was coming.
What part of the chicken do you prefer,
Janey?" Bill wanted to know, as he began to
serve.
"Oh any part that's agreeable to you," Janey.
stammered little over the big word and the
honor Of being served first.
II see-some dark and some light meat-an
right?"
YES" smiled Janey
oAnd
''The same as Janey, please, only-if you see
bit Of the liver-don't bother but If it's right
where you can find it."
Sure, it's right here-Dear Heart, this
chicken had liver, didn't it?"
1T certainly did, big one"
Dear Hearts big brown eyes scanned the
heaped-up platter.
II see It'll" cried Caroline excitedly pointing
-"over there by the edge"
Bill bounced on the liver and transferred 1t
to Betty's plate.
Il don't know when I've had taste Of
chicken liver" she said, gently apologize
Whose turn is it to get the wishbone?" Bill
questioned, hastily
Ruth claimed it and Caroline got the heart.
Dear Heart dtshed up the peas and passed the
jelly and pickles, and the dinner proceeded with
delightful spirit.
DO you take cream and sugar in your cof-
fee?" she asked her guests, and when they said
they did-"Two humps three?"
only to think Of It'll"
Janey looked that into Bettys eyes without
speaking.
Didn't tell you real cream?" Betty whis-
pered in Janey's ear-"and butter in plenty"
They soon lost track Of how many times the
butter was passed to them, or they were urged
10 nave another helping of something or their
coffee cups filled again. How sad that no mat
ter how one tries, one never eat but one
meal ahead!
This is the best cooked chicken I ever tast-
ed" Betty averred, land the biscuits, too"
Janey nodded, her mouth full Having no
teeth she found it advisable to attend pretty
strictly to the business in hand, in order to
keep her plate down even with the rest. She
did exceedingly well, considering her limitations
Even Betty with plenty of teeth, had some
dlInculty when her plate was constantly being
heaped with good things.
Il don't think eat more'n other folks but
eat slower she said.
We've got all the time In the world" Bill
assured them. 81 amt half through"
Nor l." said his wife. "It's better To eat
slow and long. try to teach the children not
to swallow their food whole"
Mother is always very particular about
that, too" said Betty, far-of look coming
into her eyes. She had listening look, too.
HE little boxed-in stairway opened down into
the small dining-room, and from where she
sat she could see up its carpeted length bv
turning her head little. She did this several
times and finally she leaned toward it and
voice.
A sudden hush fell on the little group around
the table. Bill took q drink of water and
choked, and his wife's eyes filled with tears so
that she dared not wink. To them it was I'M
utterably sad to see this aged creature calling
up the stairway for her mother
EQIak BE