Page:Samantha on Children's Rights.djvu/261

 She looked sort o' wonderin' and went back to her work. I see, on lookin' closter, that it wuz a dress of pale-blue satin with a deep velvet train, and she wuz puttin' on the waist strings of gems of all colors, and that skirt! I am tellin' you the livin' truth, that velvet train wuz as long as from our bedroom to the parlor door, and I d'no but it wuz as long as from our bedroom acrost the hall into the spare room, 'tennyrate it wuz the longest skirt I ever see or expect to see, all lined with pale-pink satin.

Miss Greene Smythe sez, "I am to be Queen Elizabeth in full court dress. Here is my collar," sez she, "and my crown," and she showed a immense collar of white lace and a crown all covered with precious stuns in flowers and figgers, it fairly glittered and shone like the posy bed in the early mornin' when the dew is shinin' on it.

"I have combined," sez she, "a Bazar, a reception, and a fancy dress ball, for there will be dancing after supper is served."

"What time is supper?" sez I, for I scented trouble ahead.

"Oh, about one," sez she.

Sez I aghast, "Do you mean one o-clock at night?"

"Yes," sez she.

"What time do you begin the doin's?" sez I.

"Oh, the Bazar will be opened at ten, the reception at twelve, the dancing beginning after supper, about two o-clock."

"For the land's sake!" sez I; "for the land's sake!" and I leaned back in my chair perfectly overcome by the programmy. And sez I, "What time do you end up?"

"Oh, we may be through about sunrise, but if it is