Little Washington's Relatives
d let us show you the old trunk full of costumes," urged Martha,
tured Anne, looking carefully at the windows of the house, as the
it take you?" q
done over fresh, and a clean dress put on-dear me, we can't h
ut any one seeing u
orused th
room windows and get through that room to the pantry. There's a back stairs in the butler's pantry for the help to u
wait under the lilac bushes," whispe
the outside shutters that were generally kept closed when the dining-room was unoccupied. Then he d
ere inside the room, they breathed easier, but Jim's bowed legs could not scramble up and over the ra
as hardly still upon the five figures that passed through, when ladies' voices were heard as Mrs. P
Chopped walnuts were thickly sprinkled on the icing and most tempting did the cakes sme
hat trip from Washington!"
ies with us as to wait to eat them later," suggeste
e work of washing extra plates," came from thoughtful Martha, but
the dish disappeared up the back stair
sat and ate the delicious cakes, till but two-the very smalle
Martha generously, picking a large piece of wa
ets like we are," hinted Anne
m; he had that broken half and
here will be bread and jam with
end the thing!" said Anne sensibly, as she
the two cakes, in case any one of the five friends
alled Martha, lifting the lid to dis
ed wig," cried Anne eagerly, as she lift
War. John and Jim assisted enthusiastically and the laughter sounding from the attic drew the attention of old mammy the nurse, as she was
ef der all right," murmured mammy, drop
s in it. She picked this up with a surprised expression on her f
in de kitchen an' fin' out ef them cakes is
r own suggestion, and
an' nuttin for tea-an' da
foh dinnah an' serve it fer affernoon tea 'stead uv dose cakes. Tell Missus Parke why
s a smile gradually spread over her wide
ll do. You jus
hilluns uv nuff to eat-Ah means
v de baby. Dem little limbs ain' goin' t' eat up all de fancy eatin's
ter in time that the cakes were gone and there was nothing for tea! As she shook her gray head over the c
ged her current of despondency, and s
n de attick, Mis Parke. Shal
all dressed and ready for tea. I wish to
oom whence sounds of merriment came. She stood in the doorway,
t from an old apron. The black material was the remnant of a felt table cover, very popular a score of years before
t book on "Life of George Washington
othes worn by Parke ancestors before the Civil War, and the other dressed
and pocket lapels. The buttons were gold-embroidered on black velvet. A high
y of them as he could keep on. The effect was very funny, and caused the principal
scene was taking place when old mammy qu
nd, Anne, don't stumble over her dress when you carry the tr
path at the same time? And if we're to do it again,
do the chores," ordered George, pointing to some faded artificial
hoe in the very long Watteau pleats as she did so, a
y out from behind the high bookcase. As both bride and groom appeared, George play
oss the floor, and Anne followed, holding the train with one hand and scattering the s
the sight, but quickly dodged out of the door the
stepped on Martha's skirt, thus bringing the bride suddenly to a halt. Jim and Anne collided with Martha and the rehears
children, and when Jack's weight came against the upholstered back, t
d cried, and the others stood in surprise waiting for Jack to crawl out from u
is feet. Then all stood and laughed at the outcome of th
-cook baked some fine choklate cakes
mfortable. He looked back of him and then at his granny, then at his companions-in-disgrace, but th
d entangling articles of dress, and then they all hurried dow
venile party rushed in. They never entered a room-it was either a
washing and dressing after the journey, and preparin
tea, aunty, but not with soa
, too. How do you do, John? Come here and meet George and
velour portières, where a lean little body was completely hidden. Jim felt that, as Hercules the man-serv
visited the whole place, met John and Jim, and rehearsed for the wedding. So, yo
ding?" asked Mrs.
owever, and turned to George. "Is t
as Washington. She thinks Jack looks be
ake the general!"
he still amazed gu
y sometimes have very realistic fun-for instance when they burned down the old homestead, and again when they went on a survey trip. Last week they had t
the point where Martha Custis subdues the figh
sed in the early afternoon, there now were two lonely scorched cookies. Thin slices of buttered
re any jam?"
goin' t' stay locke
ke. "What are these sco
orge an' Martha. Dey k
little bite, to keep them up till tea was served. I found the dish of cookies the most convenient, and
ke our visitors feel that they were giving us any troub
sure!" laughed Mrs. Davis, who was accustom
ve you ladies of the jam
tek de place uv dem cakes!" added Katy significantly, placin
then looked at each other, wondering if they woul
linary department, watching for an opportunity to snatch a slice of bread and butter when his mammy's back was turned. And, oh joy! An apple was right there