This was not given, however, till the close of the afternoon’s sewing, which had gone on as usual, though there was an atmosphere of ill-concealed expectation.

Simple refreshments were brought in and served in buffet style.  Home-made ice-cream was passed in little ice cups which had as decorations around the rim a circlet of glittering silvery tinsel.  “Silver Cake” and bonbons in silver wrappings accompanied the ice cream.

Last of all, the “shower” was borne in on a silver tray and set before the surprised guest of honor.  A little rhyme explained this turn of events to the delightfully mystified recipient: 

Because of many a happy hour With you, well spent, we give this shower, Just to remember in a way With love, your silver wedding day.

As an amusing little contest each lady was asked to write down ten things she had learned in the last twenty-five years.  The replies made good reading and furnished plenty of conversation till home-going time.

A CAPE COD LUNCHEON

In remembrance of a happy two weeks spent in a little bungalow on Cape Cod, one of the girls of the “bunch” gave a quaint luncheon for the others during the year following.

The invitations bore a tiny spray of bayberry sketched in one corner and read like this: 

May the bayberry dip and the odor of pine At this little reunion luncheon of mine, Bring back all our fun in the house by the sea, Where we were as jolly as jolly could be.

On the luncheon table homespun runners were used, crossed in the center where a brown wicker basket filled with the gray green of bayberry branches, brightened by the orange of bittersweet, stood on a mat of fragrant pine.

Green bayberry dips in the simplest of low tin candlesticks lighted the table and at each cover the place-card was a little outline map of Cape Cod with the situation of the summer camp conspicuously marked.

The menu consisted of clam cocktails, codfish cakes and tiny pots of baked beans, hot steamed brown bread cut in small round slices, blueberry tarts, and coffee.

The favors were wee bayberry “waxes” for the sewing basket, each with a bit of a bayberry twig peeping from its top.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SHOWERS

“How shall I announce my engagement?” The engaged girl we have always with us, and the next step after the engagement is the announcement of it.  Most girls like to have some kind of little social function to break the news to their special circle of friends.  Usually a mother or a sister or a chum does the entertaining, though a girl herself may perfectly well plan and carry out such a party.

There are several sorts of affairs which may serve as a setting for an announcement.  A favorite kind is a luncheon for a group of girl friends.  Even less work is an afternoon tea and to that a girl’s men friends may be asked also, though it’s really easier to have girls only.  Another kind of announcement party is the evening affair to which both men and girl friends are invited and at which the announcement should be “sprung” as a total surprise as in all other announcement affairs.