Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER VI. IMMORTAL YOUTH. " 'Tis the case with common natures, Use 'em kindly, they rebel; But be rough as nutmeg-graters And the rogues obey you well." Aaron Hill. A MOST astonishing thing happened now. Aunt Rachel determined to give a party—a juvenile one, no less. She gave me a shock to begin with, for the vision it called up was not reassuring. I could scarcely imagine her smiling benignly on a circle, and passing from one to the other with pleasant words of encouragement. But she had got home a new dress, a gorgeous robe of summer brilliancy, and superabundant trimmings. She felt impelled to show this, and shine accordingly. Aunt was rather amiably disposed towards our rector and his wife, and she stated to me authoritatively that she would ask the whole of their family—eight in number. A gracious codicil was thrown in to the effect that invitations might be issued on my part to some other children amongst our acquaintances, with the proviso that no boy over fifteen should be admitted. The f$te was to be held out of doors in our pretty rose- garden, where tables and seats were to be arranged for the enjoyment of a delicious sweetmeat repast. So far the programme was promising, for I objected equally with herself to awkward lads of fifteen and upwards, and felt likewise that the freedom of the open air was an indispensable adjunct when she was to be mistress of the ceremonies. But in working out the plan collisions arose. Aunt wanted to begin operations at three o'clock. I proposed five. It was well enough for her who saw as little of the young ones as possible to be thus generously disposed towards an early reception. But I, who was inseparably linked with the turmoil and troubles of children all day long, would have found a couple of hours of this ...