ALICE'S LETTER TO HER READERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2004, 21 July 1892, Page 41

ALICE'S LETTER TO HER READERS.

It was such a quaint little room, with a blight fire burning in a corner grate, and the walls covered with pictures that had been cut from illustrated papers and journals. At one time the room had evidently been a nursery, and many au hour the children must have been interested and amused looking at the pictures, and many a grown-up person too, for there were pictures for all. On the wall near the window was the representation of a nurse in soft gown and cap show ing the new baby to a group of interested boys and girls. The delicate Fhawl is lifted from its sleeping face, and the unconscious little fati anger is undergoing the minute&t scrutiny. Separate and collective opinions are being given, while each heart is moved in a strange way towards this little one that has come to stay for always amongst them whether they will or no. Nurse is bending over her precious charge tenderl • , while the eldest girl, a head taller tr i a her brothers and sisters, is craning her cock over the shorter beads with an expression of unqualified delight, and through her smiling parted lips you can almost hear the words, " Isn't it a beauty ? " The instinct of the woman is unfolding, and next to mother baby will find its warmest welcome here. Her eyes promise it fondling aud protection. Tho second girl looks doubtful as to whether this Christinas gift which has come with their Christmas tree is an unmixed good. She looks a little surious, as though she might ask the question as to whether they could not have got on just as well without this new brother ; but a smaller child looks wild with glee at the prospective playmate. Baby does not look so very small — he will soon grow, and then „ But the smallest child of all is banging back disdainfully. " What a little mite to make so much fuss about ; aud mother will always be nursing and petting it, and not love me any more." The little heart swells with its first jealous pangs, and feels powerless against the stianpo rush of misery that seems to b'otouttbe hope of any happiness to be. The child of four years is a3 desolate in those moments of its first displacement as it will ever be again when it must make room foj a later favourite. Over here we have an eLlcr brother come home for the holidays. He has only just arrived, aud is standing in the hall. There has been such a helter-skelter down stairs to meet him by four sisters and one small brother, and all are holding on to him and excitedly talking together. His eldest sister, half a head shorter than he, has her arms upon his shoulders, and is talking right iuio Lid bright face some important piece of ii'iws thai will cot keep another minute. Two oilipr sisters are lioldiiig on to his left ami, each telling him a different thing, while the youngest girl, his little pet, is seated upon his portmanteau, with both her arms clasping his leg, with uplifted face impatiently waiting to be kissed. The little brother, pushed to the edge of the crowd, looks ready to do battle if lie can't get nearer to the hero of the hour. "It's just the way with these girls, talking all at once — a boy with big sisters never gets a show." Here we have three little girls caught in a shower. It is an " ill wind that blows nobody good," and three happier faces il would be bard to find, for they have got an uinbrtlla. They are sitting down beside the road all cuddled together, gazing out at the raindrops as though they had seen a vision of delight. It is a big, old cotton gingham, with two of the spokes Bticking out, but beneath its shelter they are in fairyland. Mother lent ie to them to take to school, fearing it would rain, while they only feared that it would cot. All the way there it was aggravatingly dry. A gleam of sun ehone occasionally in the most tantalising manner, and the umbrella almosb as high us they were, began to get heavy,

but on the way home it did rain. True, they had nearly reached home ; that was a pity, but then to prevent the misfortune of arriving too Boon they sit down and enjoy their pleasure to the full. Over there is another childhood seene — but, alas, illustrating the inborn depravity of the human race. It is evening, and the spot a lonely one, with tall rushes growing beside a pond. Two little maiden?, one about four and the other six years old, have Btrayed from opposite directions, both to give their dolls an airing before going to bed. The elder girl has stolen the younger child's doll, tempted beyond the power of the feminine breast to withstand its finery of lace and bright colours. She is holding it behind her back, and presenting her own black, ill-dressed doll in its place, with that tenderly persuasive expression so natural to some of us when we are taking in our friend. The younger child looks a good bit scared at the black apparition, and with dogged resolution, her bands drawn back, refuses to be imposed upon. There are scenes of olden time, where men in velvet and ruffles are paying court togorgeouely attired maidens— so gorgeously attired that if men proposed more willingly in those days than they do in these they must have had larger incomes. We have progressed. When the men quote the staid sweetness of our great-great-grandmothers to us, and would have us so, do they mean just so, with powdered hair and high -heeled buckled shoes and painted lipe, and low neck bodices in the daytime? And I am sure this ancient maiden in the pink satin brocade, which trailsbehind her in the dirt, has a very couquettish look in her dark eyeß with which Bhe glances sideways at her lover — as coquettish as this modern lady, •who is flirting with a redcoated rider at the hunt. I like the look oE these simply-clad girls and young men who, in a merry party, are mowing the lawn for fun, far better than the prim folks, who through overabundance of furbelows can scarcely walk, much less run. Here is the picture of a jealous woman. I know she is jealous by the half wistful, half angry look upon her face. It is upon the night of a ball, and she is beautifully attired. That dress with its elegant finish cost her a world of thought. It fits the rounded figure like a glove. But what is the use, if her rival looks fairer io ftis eyes ? She has hidden her pain all the evening, too proud to seem to watch him. Sometimes she thought him almost tender to her, then again he seemed as kind to that other one, whom all say is so beautiful. Hope and fear have grown too strong for her, and slipping away unseen, she has found her way to the garden, where, half hidden by the foliage, she can look in through the open window and watch them unseen, and set at rest for ever this sickening uncertainty. The light is streaming full upon her sweet face, framed with a glory of golden hair ; her gown is gathered carelessly in her band ; a wrap hides tbe shapely shoulders. H<r eyes are very wistfnl, but a slight curl of pcorn rests on her lips. It is true then. This man who has seemed to caro for her is not an earnest Beeker for her lov6 — his vanity leads him from flower to flower. Well, let him go then. It is better to know it now than to love on unsatisfied. There are too many stories upon the wall to tell you in a day, or many days. Here is the picture of a Sunday school picnic. A crowd of happy mothers and children are grouped in one spot, the centre of attraction being their minister on a swing. With high hat and immaculate collar, and frock coat tails flying behind him, he is evidence of how far a Christain spirit can carrj a nan to selfsacrifice. I had the pleasure the other day of seeing at the establishment of Mr T. Ross, Princes street, some lovely underclothing, which was part of a trouseau going to India. The garments were marvellously worked, the order having been executed through Mr Ross by the nuns of the Dominican Convent. The work was all hand sewn and much more beautifully done than by machine, although the tucks were numerous and extremely fine. Each garment was exquisitely trimmed with real Torchon lace, and they were finished with ribbon in amber and pink. Mr Boss appears to make a specialty of ladies underclothing, which is made to his order, and he has some lovely specimens on view. In corsets I noticed an American make of stay, with shoulder straps. Frequently my correspondents have inquired for means to keep themselves erect, and here is a solution to the difficulty. On Tuesday night the Kaihanga Club met at Mrs Rattray's, and as it was a visitors' night an unusual number of people were present. Mrs Rose was chairwoman for the occasion, and there was a most attractive programme, being chiefly of a musical chalactcr. A very enjoyable quartet, called " Tell Robin, tell Kitty I'm coming," was excellently rendered by Mesdames Mills, Rose, Williams, and Miss Martin. Miss J. Rich played a violin solo which was in itself a musical treat. Miss Kenyon recited "Who'll buy my love knots," Mrs Denniston gave a reading from Tennyson, Mrs Williams sang a solo, as also did Mrs Mills C" Snowflakes "), Mrs H. Williams played a pianoforte solo, a number of young ladies — the Misses Webster, Driver, Spence, Roberts, Cargill, Martin, and Fulton — acted "Ten Little Niggers " in the most laughable way, picturesquely got up in scarlet and black. Among those present were Mrs J. Mills, wearing a handsome black silk with trimmings of bugles and heliotrope silk ; Mrs J. Williams, also wearing a stylish black silk ; Mrs Davidson, black and pink ; Miss Kenyon, a green costume trimmed with velvet ; Mrs Rose, brown serge trimmed with astrakan ; Miss Dymock, pretty white gown finished with ribbons and lace ; Miss Stephenson, pale blue Surah with trimmings of silver; Miss Martin, dark skirt and red iilk bodice. Also present were Mesdamos Melland, Pirn, Michi«, Sise, Dymock, Boyd, Rar.tray, and the Misses Roberts, Butterworth, Haggitt, Cutten, LeCren, Stephenson, nd many more. Not many parties have been given during the week, the Montague-Turner Company having been the chief attraction. Every night the circle was well filled, but on Friday it was crowded by a fashionable audience, among whom Mrs Ogston looked very nice in a cream pongee silk; Mrs Fitchett wore pongee silk spotted with heliotrope ; Mis Siev wright, black; Miss Sievwright,

white muslin ; Miss G. Roberts, low-cut black dress ; Miss L. Koberts, pale pink; Miss Neill, charming pink silk; Mrs Hales, red silk veiled in black lace, with claret plush opera cloak ; Mrs Bothemby, pale blue silk and claret plush opera cloak ; Miss L. Mackerras, sea green nun's veiling trimmed with silver. On Wednesday Mrs Moore gave an afternoon tea in honour of Mrs Gray (Port CbalmereJ. Among those present were Mesdames Chamberlain, Kennedy, H. MacNeil, Finch, the Misses Mackerras, and several more. On Friday a tea was given by Mrs Carew in honour of Mrs Truby King, who is on a visit to Ounedin just now. Among the visitors were Mesdames Mackerrow, H. MacNeil, Fincker, E. Smith, Alexander, and a number of others. To ensure pukllonMon la the forthcoming Issue lotter a should reaoh tho Witness office not later than Saturday night.) IDewrlptlons of balls, La., muit be endorsed by cither out own correspondent for tho district or by tho secretary to tho bid oommlttee. The MS. of any correspondents who do not comply with this rule will be sent to the secretary for endorsement prior to appearing.] WEDDING AT HAMPDEN. A very interesting ceremony cook place at Hampden on July 7, when Mr F. (4. Culling, eldest son of the late Mr J. Culling, of Hillgrove, was married to Miss M. Wiley, eldest daughterof the late J. It. Wiley, formerly of Sydney. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father Donnelly, of Palmerston, at the residence of the bride's mother, at 2 p.m., a number of friends being present to witness it, all of them coming long distances. The bride looked very nice in cream serge trimmed with cream merveilleux satin and lace to match, with veil and wreath of orange blossoms. She was attended by two bridesmaids— Miss E. Peters in a very neatlyfitting costume of navy blue, and Miss A. Lefevre in a pretty white embroidered muslin dress. Mr J. Peters acted as groomsman. The ceremony over, a number of friends sat down to an excellent spread provided by the bride's mother. After dinner the married couple went for a drive, and at 10 minutes past 6 they took their departure for

Dunedin amidst showers of rice. The friends enjoyed themselves in dancing to an early hour. — A Guest.