Phemie Frost's ExperiencesStephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)
General
Phemie Frost's Experiences
Stephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)
Fiction
A young lady was standing by the pianoforte, singing "Auld Lang Syne."
Greeley stood by her, holding her bouquet in his hand. How smiling, how
satisfied he looked as the heart-stirring old song rang over him! Close
by stood his only sister, Mrs. Cleveland, a fair and real handsome
woman, dressed in blue silk, with a white lace shawl a-shimmering over
it. She looked happy as a blue jay on an apple-tree bough, and made
everybody welcome over again when Mr. Greeley had done it once--just as
a kind, warm-hearted woman ought to stand by a brother she is proud of,
and looks like.
Near by were her two daughters, just the nicest girls you ever saw. One
of 'em in a pink satin dress with lace over it, and the other in blue
satin with lace--just lovely!
When the lady who did "Auld Lang Syne" went away from the pianoforte,
every lady in the room began to clap hands, they seemed to be so glad
that Mr. Greeley had found time to have a birthday. Then Miss Cleveland,
in the blue dress, sat down, looking sweet and modest as a white dove;
and she sang, too, real sweet; and then the people began to clap hands
again. It seemed as if music just set them off into tantrums of delight
because our great white-headed Vermonter had ever been born.
I joined in with a vim; for if there is anybody I like and am proud of,
it is the man who was standing there smiling among his friends, with
that great, lovely bunch of flowers in his hands, and a little one in
the button-hole of his coat.
The wife and two daughters of our statesman and friend were over in
England, so that his family connections didn't spread as if he had been
President of the United States. But then he had a great many honest
friends, and that made up for it considerably. There stood Mr. and Mrs.
A. J. Johnson, who had carpeted their stone steps, set up a tent over
their hospitable door, and turned their parlors into a blooming garden,
just to show the respect they had for him; and they did it beautifully,
making his friends theirs. At any rate, I can answer for one; for any
person who does honor to a Vermont man who has glorified his State, can
count on the faithful friendship of Phœmie Frost during his natural
life.
At eleven o'clock, exactly, we all crowded around Mr. Greeley, and shook
hands with him over again. Then we shook hands with Mrs. Johnson, who
looked sweet, and was nice as nice could be; and with Mr. Johnson, and
so on. After that, we all flocked out, with cloaks and hoods on, feeling
that an evening like that was a refreshing season which will not be
forgotten by some of us, so long as we live.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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