Show Entertaining a Guest Forty years ago every town ip New Eng land had its lyceum and as ono of the winters win-ters recreations a course of lectures delivered deliv-ered by clergymen politicians and men distinguished dis-tinguished in literature Hospitality was freely > to the lecturer and not infrequently in-frequently if ho was a notable man several families invited him to become their guest The late Richard H Dana Jr tho author of Two Years Before tho Mast used to tell a story illustrative of tho effort made by hosts to entertain their distinguished guests Mr Dana once lectured in a country town and then walked home with tho president of the lyceum a farmer After a long silence tho farmer said Mr Dana I blievo you wrote a book onceYes Yes Waal I never read it myself my folks have though Dead sllenco again fell upon tho two until their arrival at tho farmers house where Mr Dana was introduced to tho invalid wife who had not been to tho lecture My dear said the farmer I believo youve read Mr Danas book Tho wife stared and then recovering herself her-self answered I blievo Ive heard speak of itApples Apples were brought in and with them came tho farmers daughter a little black eyed sharp looking school girl Susan Liza said tho farmer youve read Mr Danas Two Years Before tho Must havent you Susam Liz replied quickly No sir and there was dead silenco till bedtime Youths Companion |