A Little Girl in Old Boston

ane tied a white sash about my

a-well, a queen couldn't have looked

the fireside, but Doris was snuggled up in bed and soundly asleep. She had risen at her father's call, made the breakfast, and sent the men off in t

in her glory then, one o

n dollars a yard now. Think of that! Thirty dollar

We played fox and geese! And do you know I thought the geese were dumb to let the fox get them all. And then he took the geese and soon penned my fox in a corner. Then he told me about the fox and the goose and the mea

ful! Oh, I should have felt just awful in my gray cloth or my blue winter frock. And I owe most of the delight

at did

te new. Mrs. Morse's cousin brought the recipe, and she has promised it to mother. And there were jams and jellies and ever so many things, and then all the plates and meats were sent away, and the birthday cake with seventeen tiny candles was lighted up. And cake of every kind, and whipped cream and nuts and candies. Then we went back to the parlor and played "prov

it wrong?" aske

school. On all great occasions there seems to be dancing. It is stepping and floating around gr

gay and glad and rejoicing and full of butterflies and birds and ever s

n eyes question

he delicious music! All the young men were so nice and polite,-so kind of elegant,-and it makes you feel of greater consequence. I don't mean vain, only as if it was worth while to behave prettily. It's like the parlor and the kitchen. You don't take

uld so much rather t

was-pretty?" she

ey thought Doris a beautiful name, but Sally said the family name ought to be grander to go with it. But Adams is a fine old name, too-the first name

arning about nouns. Oh, dear, how much there

e a deal of cooking. It made a stout race of people as well, and one heard very l

then they besieged him for an opinion on the question of dancing. Warren presented his petition that

dices of people very strong. Yet the young people skated and had out-of-door games, and indoor plays that we consider very rough now. And you remember that our ancestors were opposed to nearly everything their oppressors did. T

my question," said

your mother's sake. I think she dreads leaving the old ways. A

oked disa

to show us the new steps. And one of the amusing things was a draw cotillion. The girls drew out a slip of paper that had a you

oung men who were th

very nicest and bes

y. And he is one of the real quality, you know. I was almost afraid to dance with him, but he was so nice and told m

" said her father. "Meanwhile the ghos

do?" asked Do

re not all Puritans that came over-were going to keep an old-time festival at a pl

have a merry time. Miss Arabella took

marched Morton and his party into Plymouth, where they w

as strictly now. But one must admire

he would not go against her wishes while he was yet under age. Young people were considered children in their subjection to their parents until this period. And girls who sta

ok up her knitting. She felt rather tired and sleepy, for she had gone on with the party the night before, after she was in bed. A modern girl would be just getting ready

ix the cakes and we will go to b

demoralized

s the next morning, or evening at the latest. But people in the middle classes

he other, that met when there was occasion, and mingled and fused agreeably, then returned each to his proper sphere. The Morses were well connected and had some quite high-up rel

raisins, and mottoes for the little girl. There were so many nice things she was dying to tell B

ally. "I would like to go to a party-well, I suppose eve

are Morris' cousins and not mine, but I've been there; and Morris said l

mother thinks I am only a

last winter. Being grown up is ever so

t, you know, and she has plenty of good times, although she has t

and living away somewhere-New York, for instance. They ha

s me pre

chen, so Betty could go on w

She likes Boston so, and it's lonely up in New Hamp

other will have

ch account," laughed Jane. "Give your little girl a g

can't

have to do

aised it. Doris came home in high feather. She ha

kind of grave exultation. "Don't you think Aunt Eli

ockings was considered rather

Mary yet, but the elder lady said no news was good news. Then she insisted on looking over the clothes for the Monday's wash and mending up the rents.

la, and had no parents, what a small amount of da

I'd had any money that would have been on interest, so that I could have some security against

little now! Not but what she had earned a rest. And Foster Leverett, who manage

a," she said at the supper table. "Your mot

s. She brought little James, six years of age, who couldn't go the long distance to school

now there was getting ready for Thanksgiving. There was no time to make mince pies, but then Mrs. Leverett didn't care so much for them early in

oris, and helped her say tables and spell. He had be

en in America are much smarter than English ch

ning you could hardly tell where the snow line ended and where it began; but by and by there came a bluish, silvery streak that parted it like a band, and presently a pale sun vent

There were no broken paths, and boys and me

son," declared Uncle Leverett. "We are not

them out in a big sleigh with a span of horses, her heart beat with unwonted

r social aspect. Commencement, election, and training days were in high favor, and every good housewife baked election cake, and every voter felt

led to distinguish him from his two uncles, was a nice well-grown and well-looking boy of about ten. Mrs. Holli

hutters open. It was a large room, with a "boughten" ingrain carpet, stiff chairs, two great square ottomans, a b

elf was adorned with two pitchers in curious glittering bronze, with odd designs in blue a

stant places visiting. Electa and Mary had both married young, though in the early years of her married life Electa had made long visits home. But her husband had prospered in

in interest and tare and tret. To be sure he could neither read nor talk French. This year he had gone to the Latin school. He hadn't a very high opinion of Latin, and he did not want to go to c

be very wonderful for a

of Boston," she said, thinkin

eman. And we don't care much for them," said the uncompromising young republican. "I should li

oyish ambitions, but he wished Sam's hea

e room for all. Betty was to be at the end, flanked on both sides by the children; Mrs. Hollis at the other end. The

e to make one of the family circle. Doris thought he looked very handsome in his best clothes, his elegant brocaded w

but one he could not well decline. And when Doris glanced up with such eager admiration and approval, his heart

brief while he could devote to play, and he ate accordingly. D

"No wonder she is so slim and peaked. I'd give her some gen

urned s

n't had a sick day since she came here. I think she h

ildren, who certainly do give their keeping credit. I think she's been

o by looks," commen

watching to see that no untoward accidents happened, and presently allowing himself to be caught. And, oh, what a scattering and laughing there was then! His arms were so large that it seemed as if he must sweep everybody into them, but, strange to relate, no one was cau

thought she might take a little good out of them, as they were by far too light for school wear. Sam was sure he could tell by them, and he resolved to capture her. But

ett opened

hen that children should "be seen and not heard," and that indoors was no place fo

a very nice boy's voice and felt prou

if he alone had been asked. And as he tore off the bli

hind grandfather every time, a

ed shoes as they went danc

ained tone, very sweet. Mrs. Hollis couldn't sing at all, but she was very proud to have the children take after their father. There were times when Aunt Priscilla sang for herself, but her voice

o grandfather roasted some corn for Bessy and Doris. They had not the high art of popping it then and turning it inside ou

Hollis took her baby in her arms, grandfather carried out little Foster, and they were all packed in snugly a

a light supper, for, what with dinner being a little late and very hearty, no one was hungry. But they sipped their tea and talked over the children and how finely Sam was getting along in his studies, and Mrs. Lever

ing in schoolmates and their brothers, and that she might have fire in the parlor on special occasions. But, to compensate, some of the ne