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Literary
August 4, 1919
The West Virginian
Fairmont, Marion County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
Mamma Palmer prepares her home for her esteemed writer friend Miss Talbott's visit. Delayed at the train station, she returns to find her children asleep on the porch steps in pajamas, amusing Miss Talbott and leading to shared laughter and a relaxed friendship.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
The Story Lady
Mamma Palmer had a very wonderful friend who was a writer.
Mamma was very proud of her and when she received word that Miss Talbott was coming to see her the whole house had to be cleaned, the guest room had to be redecorated and a new rug was brought for the living room.
On the day of her arrival the children were carefully dressed and sent to the living room to stay and mamma drove off in state in the new car to meet the wonderful Miss Talbott.
When mamma arrived at the depot she found that the train was late. She tried to phone Jane and tell her to keep an eye on the children, but she couldn't get the house for some reason.
The train came at last and with it Miss Talbott. Mamma had not seen her friend for a long time and she couldn't forget that she was a great person.
Evidently Miss Talbott couldn't forget it either. So it was a very quiet drive home and mamma wondered if it was going to be that way all the time. She stopped the car in front of the house and the two friends walked silently toward the porch.
Now the Palmer porch had three broad steps leading to it and when mamma reached the bottom step she stopped with a gasp. For there in his pajamas and sound asleep, on his play rug and pillow was Peter! And more than that on the next step in the same attire was Patty and on the next one was Prissy.
And at the top on the porch was Pan the dog.
Mamma and Miss Talbott tiptoed around to the side steps and sinking into the porch swing laughed and laughed.
Miss Talbott quite forgot she was anything but plain Clara Talbott and leaned on mamma's shoulder and wiped her eyes on mamma's handkerchief. Their laughter brought Peter to his feet.
"Son, son," mourned mamma,
"what made you do it?"
"Well," explained Peter, "when you didn't come for so long, I was afraid we'd get our clothes dirty an' Jane was busy an' I could not find anything else but our nighties to put on, an' then we got sleepy an' this was the coolest place we could find an' I thought we'd wake up before you came an'—an' I'm awful sorry."
Mamma hugged Peter and patted Clara Talbott's hand.
"I'm not," she said.
—Helen Carpenter Moore.
Mamma Palmer had a very wonderful friend who was a writer.
Mamma was very proud of her and when she received word that Miss Talbott was coming to see her the whole house had to be cleaned, the guest room had to be redecorated and a new rug was brought for the living room.
On the day of her arrival the children were carefully dressed and sent to the living room to stay and mamma drove off in state in the new car to meet the wonderful Miss Talbott.
When mamma arrived at the depot she found that the train was late. She tried to phone Jane and tell her to keep an eye on the children, but she couldn't get the house for some reason.
The train came at last and with it Miss Talbott. Mamma had not seen her friend for a long time and she couldn't forget that she was a great person.
Evidently Miss Talbott couldn't forget it either. So it was a very quiet drive home and mamma wondered if it was going to be that way all the time. She stopped the car in front of the house and the two friends walked silently toward the porch.
Now the Palmer porch had three broad steps leading to it and when mamma reached the bottom step she stopped with a gasp. For there in his pajamas and sound asleep, on his play rug and pillow was Peter! And more than that on the next step in the same attire was Patty and on the next one was Prissy.
And at the top on the porch was Pan the dog.
Mamma and Miss Talbott tiptoed around to the side steps and sinking into the porch swing laughed and laughed.
Miss Talbott quite forgot she was anything but plain Clara Talbott and leaned on mamma's shoulder and wiped her eyes on mamma's handkerchief. Their laughter brought Peter to his feet.
"Son, son," mourned mamma,
"what made you do it?"
"Well," explained Peter, "when you didn't come for so long, I was afraid we'd get our clothes dirty an' Jane was busy an' I could not find anything else but our nighties to put on, an' then we got sleepy an' this was the coolest place we could find an' I thought we'd wake up before you came an'—an' I'm awful sorry."
Mamma hugged Peter and patted Clara Talbott's hand.
"I'm not," she said.
—Helen Carpenter Moore.
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Friendship
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Short Story
Family Life
Children
Friendship
Humor
Hospitality
What entities or persons were involved?
Helen Carpenter Moore
Literary Details
Title
The Story Lady
Author
Helen Carpenter Moore
Key Lines
"Well," Explained Peter, "When You Didn't Come For So Long, I Was Afraid We'd Get Our Clothes Dirty An' Jane Was Busy An' I Could Not Find Anything Else But Our Nighties To Put On, An' Then We Got Sleepy An' This Was The Coolest Place We Could Find An' I Thought We'd Wake Up Before You Came An'—An' I'm Awful Sorry."
"I'm Not," She Said.