Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1880 — Mrs. Partington at the Sociable. [ARTICLE]

Mrs. Partington at the Sociable.

There was no mistaking the oostume, and the fact that the venerable dame led a small boy by the hand confirmed the impression that Mrs. Partington was indeed in the assemblage. There was a lull in the buzz of conversation, and the party gathered around the new comer, eager to shake her by the hand. “Bless me!’’ said she, with a beaming smile, which played over her face like sunshine over a lake* “Bless me I how salutary you all are—just as you ought to be at a time like this, when nothing harmonious should be allowed to disturb your hostilities. You are very kind, I’m shore, and I am glad to see you trying to enjoy yourselves, We had no church sociables ip my young days but we had bees, and quiltin’ bees and apple bees, and”—“Bumblebees,” said Ike, breaking in like a boy on toin ice—“and though we had good times, and sock able enough, goodness knows, when the red ears were found they were nothing to the superfluity of this.” There was a alight disturbance in the oircle as Ike in his restlessness plaoed his heel on a circumjacent toe, but it was stilled as the j master of ceremonies came up to introduce the minister. “Glad to see you, *» said the minister, “I hope you m*y find the hour spent with us a hanuy one ” ”1 know l shall. Sir,” replied sue, “tor lW iiness depends yery much ou how we enoy ourselves, and enough of anything always satisfies me. How could I help enjoying myself in a scene of such life and animosity as this?” “Very true, madam.” And then the lights, biasing like a con-sternation,-and the music and flowers make it seen* like Pharaoh land.” The minister was called away, and the master of ceremonies asked Mrs. P. if she would like “an ice,” which she faintly heard. ‘•A nice r she replied, looking at him and hanging on to the long—if it were the top bar <4 a gate, “Oh, vety.” A rush by the contestants in a game here broke In between them, the band gave a crash, which seemed to start the roof, the mass of people waved to and fro, Ike started off with a new crony in quest of some suggested peanuts, mid Mri. Partington backed Into a seat, She looked pleasant! ly upon the moving spectacle through her own parabolas, her fingers beat time to the music, and her “oilfactorios” inhaled the breath of flowers and the smell of coffee from an ad j an cent room, till she was becoming “lost ” when she realised that a figure was standing before her. and a cold spfion was being thrast into her righthand.J It was the attentive manager again with an ice-cream which he invited her to take I “You are very surprising, sir,” said aho smiling: “I was unconscionable at the I moment. Thank you; I will. lam very I P*ri\aUy fond of icecream, and this is mamla, too, which is my favorite.” She ate with a sense of enjoyment caught tram I the scene and went away soon alter, when Ike had ioiaed her, with plethoric pockets, bidding the manager convey a goodnight from her to the party, saying she enjoyed a real sociable time.— B. P Shillaber *» the Avenue.