aging the operatives now and then in the phrases
commonly employed by genteel young men,--for he had perused an odd volume
of "Verdant Green," and was acquainted with a Sophomore from one of the
fresh-water colleges. "Go it on the feed!" exclaimed this spirited young
man. "Nothin' like a good spread. Grub enough and good liquor, that's
the ticket. Guv'nor'll do the heavy polite, and let me alone for
polishin' off the young charmers." And Mr. Geordie looked expressively at
a handmaid who was rolling gingerbread, as if he were rehearsing for "Don
Giovanni."

Evening came at last, and the ladies were forced to leave the scene of
their labors to array themselves for the coming festivities. The tables
had been set in a back room, the meats were ready, the pickles were
displayed, the cake was baked, the blanc-mange had stiffened, and the
ice-cream had frozen.

At half past seven o'clock, the Colonel, in costume, came into the front
parlor, and proceeded to light the lamps. Some were good-humored enough
and took the hint of a lighted match at once. Others were as vicious as
they could be,--would not light on any terms, any more than if they were
filled with water, or lighted and smoked one side of the chimney, or
spattered a few sparks and sulked themselves out, or kept up a faint show
of burning, so that their ground glasses looked as feebly phosphorescent
as so many invalid fireflies. With much coaxing and screwing and
pricking, a tolerable illumination was at last achieved. At eight there
was a grand rustling of silks, and Mrs. and Miss Sprowle descended from
their respective bowers or boudoirs. Of course they were pretty well
tired by this time, and very glad to sit down,--having the prospect
before them of being obliged to stand for hours. The Colonel walked
about the parlor, inspecting his regiment of lamps. By and by Mr.
Geordie entered.

"Mph! mph!" he sniffed, as he came in. "You smell of lamp-smoke here."

That always galls people,--to have a new-comer accuse them of smoke or
close air, which they have got used to and do not perceive. The Colonel
raged at the thought of his lamps' smoking, and tongued a few anathemas
inside of his shut teeth, but turned down two or three wicks that burned
higher than the rest.

Master H. Frederic next made his appearance, with questionable marks upon
his fingers and countenance. Had been tampering with something brown and
sticky. His elder brother grew playful, a