Keeping House and House Keeping; A Story of Domestic Life

by Sarah Josepha Hale

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1845 edition. ... CHAPTER XV. THE RESULTS OF A FASHIONABLE PARTY. In truth, it was rather a difficult matter for Mrs. Harley to commence learning domestic arts at that time. The house was so thronged with company from one o'clock to three every day, it could not fail to have a dissipating influence upon the mind; besides, there were other vexations; for who ever gave a party without offending some one who claimed to be considered their friends? Mrs. Harley was very unfortunate in this respect. There were the Carters, whom she had entirely forgotten, and they had been loudly declaiming against such a direct sligb^and old Mrs. James told Mrs. Gerrish "s)V should as soon have thought of having been neglected by her own daughters, for she had always been like a mother to Mrs. Harley." Mr. and Mrs. Hatch, former friends of Mrs. Harley's mother, told Emma " they should never call again; for if they were not acknowledged as friends in public, they should not try to be in private ;" while, to make the matter worse, Emma added, " I am very sorry, dear Mary, for you, it makes you so liable to censure; for, between ourselves, do you know you committed an unpardonable error in not inviting Sister Billings?" "You don't tell me she is offended !" cried Mrs. Harley ; " why, I would rather have lost half my acquaintances than her friendship, she is so sensible and agreeable; but I thought she never attended large parties. I am sorry-- very sorry. How can I atone for it, Emma?" Say nothing about it, for pity's sake," said Emma. "It only makes a bad matter worse to tell a friend you forgot her. If you had only let me have seen your list, I should have added several others. You omitted the they ought, by all rules of courtesy, to have been invited." "But you know,"...

30 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2013

About the author

Sarah Josepha Buell Hale was an American writer and an influential editor. She is the author of the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb". She famously campaigned for the creation of the American holiday known as Thanksgiving, and for the completion of the Bunker Hill Monument.

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