30

date:

names-on-the-page: Patience, Mrs. Pollard, Mr. Hutchings, Mrs. H, Mrs. C, Mrs. A, Mrs. P

transcription: This brought on a lively discussion.

Patience: "Ye rattle like rush brushes."

This was given at the request of Mrs. Pollard who
asked for a word from Patience to accompany a pipe
she was to give Mr. Hutchings for Christmas:

"Draw ye thrice and blow a silver cloud;
once a deep draft of spicy wisdom another
for a foolish whimsey, and then a third for
Friendship's sake. For wisdom or for folly,
what care a friend?"

Patience: "The Babe shall smile upon thee on the Holy Eve."

Mrs. H: "How can we recognize the smile?"

Patience: "Canst paint the young moon's bridal fairness?"

"Watch ye for a dimple then."

"Sages' learning is but a shrunken clout
for naked fools, while fools are swathed in
winding sheets of homely wisdom."

Because weighty discussions had been going on during
the whole of this sitting Mrs. C. suggested that this last
was just Patience's nice way of "taking them down a bit."

Patience: "A scarlet kirtle would set thee up!"

"Oh, quills of sages were plucked from geese."

This called for more comments, the sitters having
no doubt whatever that it was directed at them.

"So patient coddling would hatch a weavel."

Mrs. P: "What a brilliant woman she was and how curious
she must think us, everything has changed so since
her time."

Mrs. H: "You remember how she reveled in Mrs. A's china
closet?"

These remarks were later recognized as references
to other gifts and found right.

Patience: "Get thee to the strong box, Mistress. 'Twill
make the cupboard groan."

"Apron, tidy, towel and scissors: but all thou
hast is money."
Mrs. H: "What has Mrs. C for me for Christmas?"

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