The Old Folks' Party.

successfully . She wore a black dress spotted with white and her whitened hair was arranged with a hi gh comb . She was the the only one without spetacles or eyeglasses . Henry looked older and feebler than any of tbe company . His scant hair hung in thin and long white locksand bis

, tall , slender figure had gained a still more me-igre effect from his dress , while his shoulders were bowed in a marked stoop ; his gait was rigid and jerky . He assisted himself with a gold-headed cane , and sat in his chair leaning forward upon it .

George , on the other hand , 'had followed the hint of his father ' s figure in his make up , and appeared as a rubicund old gentleman , large in the waist , bald , Avith an apoplectic tendency , a Avheezy asthmatic voice and a full white beard .

Nellie wore her hair in a row of white curls on each side of her head , and in every detail of her dress and air affected the coquettish old lady to perfection , for which , of course , she looked none the younger . Her cheeks Avere rouged to go with that stvle .

Frank was tbe ideal of tbe sprightly little old gentleman . AVitb bis brisk air , natty eye-glasses , cane and gloves , and other items of dress in the most correct taste , he Avas quite the old beau . His white hair Avas crispy , brushed back , and bis snowy mustache bad rather a rakish effect .

Although the transformation in each case was complete , yet quite enough of the features , expression , or bearing , was apparent through the disguise to make the members of the party entirely recognizable to each otherthough , less intimate

acquain-, tances would perhaps have been at first rather puzzled . At Henry's suggestion they had been photographed in their costumes , in order to compare tbe ideal with the actual when they should be really old . " It isn ' t much troubleand tbe old folks

, mil enjoy it some day . We ought to consider tbem a little , " Henry had said , meaning by " the old folks" their future selves .

It had been agreed that , in proper deterrence to the probabilities , one , at least , of the girls ought to illustrate the fat old lad y . But they found it impossible to agree which should sacrifice herself , for no one ol the three could , in her histrionic enthusiasm , quite forget her personal

appearance . Nellie flatly refused to be made up fat , and Jessie as flatly , while both the girls had too much reverence for the sweet dignity of Mary Fellows ' s beauty to consent to her taking the part , and so tbe idea

was given up . It had been a happy thought of Mary ' s to get her two younger sisters , girls of eleven and sixteen , to be present , to enhance tbe A'enerable appearance of tbe party by the contrast of their bloom and freshness .

"Are these your little granddaughters ? " inquired Henry , benevolently inspecting them over the tops of his spectacles as be patted the elder of the two on tbe head , a liberty she Avould by no means have allowed Mm in Ms proper character , but Avhich she now seemed puzzled whether to resent or not .

" Yes . " replied Mary , with an indulgent smile . " They wanted to see what an old folks' party was like , though I told them tbey wouldnt enjoy it much . I remember I thought old people rather dull when I Avas their age . " Henry made a little conversation with the girls , asking tbem a list of fatuous questions by which , adults seem fated to illustrate the culf between them and

childhood m the effort to bridge it . " Annie , dear , just put that ottoman at Mrs . Hyde ' s feet , " said Mary to one of tbe little girls . " I ' m so glad you felt able to come out this evening , Mrs . Hyde ! I understood you had not enjoyed good health this summer . "

" I have scarcely been out of my room since spring , until recently , " replied Jessie . " Thank you , my dear , " ( to the little girl ) , " but Dr . Sauford has done wonders for me . How is ) r our health now , Mrs . Fellows ?" " I bave not been so well an entire

summer in ten years . My daughter , Mrs . Tarbox , was saying the other day that she wished she had my strength . You know she is quite delicate , " said Mary . " Speaking of Dr . Sanford , " said Henry , looking at Jessie" he is really a remarkable

, man . My son has such confidence in him , that he seemed quite relieved when I bad passed my grand climacteric and could get on his list . . Yon MIOAV he takes no one under sixty-three . By the way , Governor , " he added , turning round with some ado , so