登陆注册
15330100000017

第17章 THE PETERKINS' CHRISTMAS-TREE. (3)

"We have the cow," said Mrs.Peterkin, "so there will be as much cream and milk as we shall need.""And our own pig," said Agamemnon."I am glad we had it salted;so we can have plenty of sandwiches."

"I will buy a chest of tea," exclaimed Mr.Peterkin."I have been thinking of a chest for some time."Mrs.Peterkin thought a whole chest would not be needed: it was as well to buy the tea and coffee by the pound.But Mr.Peterkin determined on a chest of tea and a bag of coffee.

So they decided to give the invitations to all.It might be a stormy evening and some would be prevented.

The lady from Philadelphia and her daughters accepted.

And it turned out a fair day, and more came than were expected.

Ann Maria Bromwick had a friend staying with her, and brought her over, for the Bromwicks were opposite neighbors.And the Tremletts had a niece, and Mary Osborne an aunt, that they took the liberty to bring.

The little boys were at the door, to show in the guests, and as each set came to the front gate, they ran back to tell their mother that more were coming.

Mrs.Peterkin had grown dizzy with counting those who had come, and trying to calculate how many were to come, and wondering why there were always more and never less, and whether the cups would go round.

The three Tremletts all came, with their niece.They all had had their headaches the day before, and were having that banged feeling you always have after a headache; so they all sat at the same side of the room on the long sofa.

All the Jefferses came, though they had sent uncertain answers.

Old Mr.Jeffers had to be helped in, with his cane, by Mr.

Peterkin.

The Gibbons boys came, and would stand just outside the parlor door.And Juliana appeared afterward, with the two other sisters, unexpectedly home from the West.

"Got home this morning!" they said."And so glad to be in time to see everybody,-a little tired, to be sure, after forty-eight hours in a sleeping-car!""Forty-eight!" repeated Mrs.Peterkin; and wondered if there were forty-eight people, and why they were all so glad to come, and whether all could sit down.

Old Mr.and Mrs.Bromwick came.They thought it would not be neighborly to stay away.They insisted on getting into the most uncomfortable seats.

Yet there seemed to be seats enough while the Gibbons boys preferred to stand.

But they never could sit round a tea-table.Elizabeth Eliza had thought they all might have room at the table, and Solomon John and the little boys could help in the waiting.

It was a great moment when the lady from Philadelphia arrived with her daughters.Mr.Peterkin was talking to Mr.Bromwick, who was a little deaf.The Gibbons boys retreated a little farther behind the parlor door.Mrs.Peterkin hastened forward to shake hands with the lady from Philadelphia, saying:- "Four Gibbons girls and Mary Osborne's aunt,-that makes nineteen; and now"- It made no difference what she said; for there was such a murmuring of talk that any words suited.And the lady from Philadelphia wanted to be introduced to the Bromwicks.

It was delightful for the little boys.They came to Elizabeth Eliza, and asked:-"Can't we go and ask more ? Can't we fetch the Larkins?""Oh, dear, no!" answered Elizabeth Eliza."I can't even count them."Mrs.Peterkin found time to meet Elizabeth Eliza in the side entry, to ask if there were going to be cups enough.

"I have set Agamemnon in the front entry to count," said Elizabeth Eliza, putting her hand to her head.

The little boys came to say that the Maberlys were coming.

"The Maberlys!" exclaimed Elizabeth Eliza."I never asked them.""It is your father's doing," cried Mrs.Peterkin."I do believe he asked everybody he saw!" And she hurried back to her guests.

"What if father really has asked everybody?" Elizabeth Eliza said to herself, pressing her head again with her hand.

There were the cow and the pig.But if they all took tea or coffee, or both, the cups could not go round.

Agamemnon returned in the midst of her agony.

MRS.PETERKIN'S TEA-PARTY.He had not been able to count the guests, they moved about so, they talked so; and it would not look well to appear to count.

"What shall we do?" exclaimed Elizabeth Eliza.

"We are not a family for an emergency," said Agamemnon.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 大隐隐于市:布衣神相

    大隐隐于市:布衣神相

    我,一个自幼跟随爷爷长大的少年,同爷爷经营着寿衣店,世人将爷爷尊称为神相。怪异事件层出不穷:城隍庙中的阴兵统领,满身疑团的伙伴夏梦。追寻着爷爷的脚本寻找着父母死因,这是我的宿命。
  • 小王子(语文新课标课外必读第一辑)

    小王子(语文新课标课外必读第一辑)

    国家教育部颁布了最新《语文课程标准》,统称新课标,对中、小学语文教学指定了阅读书目,对阅读的数量、内容、质量以及速度都提出了明确的要求,这对于提高学生的阅读能力,培养语文素养,陶冶情操,促进学生终身学习和终身可持续发展,对于提高广大人民的文学素养具有极大的意义。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 寻道之道

    寻道之道

    这是一个凤凰变成麻雀的故事,这是一个主角宠儿变成配角路人甲的故事。蓬莱守门仙童,一朝醒来竟变成了异界的大罗金仙,机缘天天来,境界日日涨,一跃成神,再跃神王,三跃开天辟地,与天齐寿,四跃——道境溃退,道体朽烂,神志消亡!这时她才发现所谓的合道成神竟然是一个最大的心魔幻境,不得已夺舍重来。然而再来一遍,哪条路才是真正的通天大道?主角曾经是天道的宠儿,走到尽头之后,却突然变成天道弃儿,世界配角。她曾经拥有的一切,都变成了给新的天道宠儿准备的礼物。她也跌落神坛变成了路人甲,险些为新主角生,为新主角死。如此,还需要修道吗?当曾经的一切都证明是个错误,她又应该何去何从?
  • 中国皇帝全传

    中国皇帝全传

    本书汇集历代约400余位皇帝的小传,上起始创“皇帝”名号的秦始皇,下迄末代皇帝溥仪,以史实为主,以政事为主,兼涉轶闻、生活,后附历代皇帝一览表。
  • 天邪恋

    天邪恋

    少年与少女从小生活在一起,在旁人的眼中他们两个注定会是一对。可是突然有一天少年和少女出去游玩的过程中,少女被一群神秘的黑衣人带走,自此少年便开始了寻找之路……多年之后,少年在深渊之下意外的获得的一本书。而就在这时他又遇到了少女,只不过………
  • 星际西游记

    星际西游记

    我叫陈玄奘,是一个人族,来自大唐星系长安星,是一个落魄小子,但与大唐皇室二皇子李世民从小一起长大,称兄道弟。李世民有一个未婚妻,叫西经,是西天星域佛族的公主,李世民怕西经长得丑,便让我亲自去看看,如果长得漂亮就带回长安,长得丑就帮他退婚。但是,你想知道她漂不漂亮让那边的人发个图像回来不就好了,为什么让我亲自跑一趟?“现在P图技术太强,别人我信不过。”李世民这样说道。好吧,你是大哥听你的。于是我就带着买来的美猴王与两个护卫开着人族顶级战舰“白龙马”西行而去……魏征相隔无尽光年梦斩龙王,薛仁贵一枪挑碎星系,长孙无忌箭落星河,程咬金一斧劈碎十万神族舰队,秦琼尉迟恭臂挡轨道炮,无人能近……
  • 易烊千玺:抹不去的回忆

    易烊千玺:抹不去的回忆

    爱一个人就是希望他能够幸福,就是要他一定要幸福,把爱着的人放在心中最柔软的地方,寂然欢喜。亲爱的,你告诉我愿意珍惜这场相遇。经年的遇见,你用浪漫的柔情暖一场相逢。那么再遥远的距离,也无法阻挡我对你的思念与牵挂,再寂寞的等待也是一种温暖的牵念。
  • 重生之莲花池

    重生之莲花池

    兔子开新书啦~《重生之恶女逆袭》求收藏求票票!!&&&&&白明溪重生回到六年前。决心摆脱那个满嘴爱她,却在结婚后半年就将女人带回家的男人……咦,这个莲花池空间是怎么回事,莲花露水能治病,池水可化石为玉。然而莲花池真正的秘密却是……重生回来,扫清极品,摆脱渣男,原本以为能够过上想要的生活……然而道路在她重生的那一刻,已经悄然改变……&已有完结文《星际大领主》&说明一下:打赏和氏璧以上加更~
  • 早安,国民男神

    早安,国民男神

    正常版简介:17岁,她被国内最大连锁酒店总裁俘获,成为他养在金屋的情人。他承诺:从今往后,你是我的女人,再无人敢欺负你。20岁,她意外成为恒丰财团四少爷的秘书,与他擦出爱情火花。他誓言:离开他,只要你愿意,我便给你所有。她出身卑微,受尽欺凌,20年都活在了一场精心策划的阴谋中。凌萧:景悦,我有一万种想要见你的理由,却少了一种能见你的身份。冷唯爵:景悦,我一直爱着你,爱的连我自己都毫无知觉。-----------------------花奶奶版简介:冷唯爵:“喂!姓凌的你从我老婆身上下来今天星期三该我了!”