Year: 1876

The preparations were speedily made
and Mrs. Lane departed having charge,
her daughters to do everything in he
absence just as when she was at home
TO let alone the sauces and sweetmeats
and all the dainties which she kept TO
visitors-she had looked to them, an,
knew they would be sure and not to us
any of the company things"


She and Mrs. Darling had been very
dear friends in their girlhood, and, un
like many others, had kept their mutua
attachment after they were married.


Their husbands were chums at col
lege; had begun life at the same time
and under similar circumstances, ant
were now both Of them doing a goOt
and successful business.


Mrs. Darling had two daughters, o
about the same ages as Jenny and Fanny
Lane, and then there were three younger
children, black-eyed, fun-loving boys.


"Nellie is at hOme," Mrs. Lane had
said to her husband; 'for she wrote t.
hiC last WCch anu bCicNC L sidu
send her word that / am coming. Il
will be so much pleasanter to give hel
surprise"


1t was evening when she stepped from
the cars at the end of her journey, and
taking coach she went at once to her
friends home.


''The front rooms are lighted" she
exclaimed to herself with some con.
sternation as she stopped at the door,
81 should so much rather have found
them alone. Oh, dear!''


"Mrs. Darling opened the door her.
self, ushering her friend into the Ii
brary, and the two exchanged greet
ings with all the warmth of their
youger days.


They were so occupied that Mrs. Lane
quite forgot her first impressions until
she went out to the dining-room to par
take of the tea which Mrs. Darling as
sured her was in waiting.


Then when the cheerful murmur of
happy voices floated out through the
open parlor doors, her first impression
returned to her, and looking up she
said:


''You have company tonight, Nellie? ?
You must not let me keep you from
them any longer"


"Yes, the best of company" replied
Mrs. Darling with smile, ''my hus-
band and children. Fred has just gone
out, though; but he will be back by the
time you have finished your tea, and
then you shall see them all. Let me fill
your cup again."


"How odd," thought Mrs. Lane,
"that she should open the parlor just
for her own family"


The evening passed pleasantly; and
i'm the morning when Mrs. Lane arose,
the air of comfort with which every
bright room in the house seemed full,
was very refreshing.


The morning meal was simple one,
but its tasteful arrangement made it
very inviting, and Mrs. Lane partook
of it with keener relish than she had
known for many a week.


Dinner was all ready when Mr.. Darl-
ing came in from his office, and as they
sat down to the neatly Laid table in the
shaded dining-room, Mrs. Lane thought
she had never seen happier circle, or
eaten better meal, though there was
nothing sumptuous placed before them.


"Nellie," said she, when they were
left alone, 81 told you not to go making
company for me. l did not want you
to get out your best dishes, ner put
yurself to the least trouble on my ac-
count"


at is exactly what have not done,
Maria" she replied, "because 1 never
do it for anybody.


81 never saw any reason why should
take more pains for guest than for my
husband and children.


"We occupy the pleasantest room
ourselves, because we feel better when
our surroundings are cheerful, and we
always prepare our food and set our
table carefully and neatly. Our meals
are so much more enjoyable.


"Then let my company take me just
as am, sure if they come to see me
they will be satisfied to live as do"


"Well, if you can afford to use every
thing common and live in style all the
time, you will get along, but we should
come upon the town." said Mrs. Lane,
little sharply.


An expression of pain fitted across
Mrs. Darling's face when she saw how
her friend had misunderstood her, but
she went on, quietly:


81 did not begin housekeeping in this
way. L used to think that must shut
up the front of the house and keep the
best Of everything sacred to company.
So we occupied the smallest, least plea
SAINT rooms ourselves, used the plainest
and homeliest things, and even ate our
coarsest food when alone.


'sThe consequence was we were never
ready to receive company unless i'm the
most formal way, and then it always
made a great deal of trouble. We never
could appreciate any of those agreeable
surprises when our friends drop in I'M
announced, and when trying to enter
tain, guests were never so fully at ease
in our strange, unused rooms as really
to enjoy it much.


81 thought the matter over and made
up my mind that this was all wrong.
My dear husband was doing everything
he could to make our home pleasant
and attractive, while i was just keeping
him from enjoying it as he desired by
my miserable ambition to appear well
i'm the eyes of those who would never
thank me for my pains. l was making
him uncomfortable and worrying out
my life for those who had comparatively
no claims upon me; and besides 1 was
forced to see myself a wicked hypocrite,
forced to admit that my whole life was
a farce, while / was all the time strain
ing every nerve to make our friends
think we were living in a style which