The Old Folks' Party.

But Frank reminded him that this Avas a hint as to his get-up , and that he must stuff Avith p illows that the proverb mi ght be fulfilled , " like father like son . " And then they Avere rather taken aback by Henry ' s obvious suggestion that there

Avas no telling Avhat the fashion in dress would be in A . D . 1925 , " eA'en if , " he added , " the scientists leave us any A . D . by that time , " though Frank remarked here that A . D . Avould answer just as Avell as Anno Darwinis , if Avorst came to Avorst . But it Avas decided that there was no use

trying after prophetical accuracy m dress , since it Avas out of the question , and eA'en if attainable would not suggest age to their own minds as Avould the elderly Aveeds Avhich they were accustomed to see . " It ' s rather odd , isn ' t it , " said Jessie gravely , " that it didn ' t occur to anybody , that in all probability not over one or tAvo of us at most will be alive fifty years hence . "

" Let s draw lots for the two A'ictims , and the rest of us will appear as ghosts , " suggested Frank , grimly . " Poor tAvo , " sighed Nellie . "I ' m sorry for them . HOAV lonely they will be . I ' m glad I haA'en ' t got a very good

censtitution . " But Henry remarked that Jessie mi ght have gone further and said just as truly that none of them AA'ould survive fifty years , or eA'en ten .

" We may , some of us , escape the pang of dying as long as that , " said he , " but that is but a trifle , and not a necessary incident of death . The essence of morality is change , and Ave shall be changed . Ten years will see us very different persons . What though an old dotard calling himself

Henry Long is stumping around fifty years hence , Avhat is that to me 1 I shall have been dead a half century by that time . " " The old gentleman you speak so lightly of will probably think more tenderly of you than you do of him , " said Jessie .

" I don ' t belieA'e it , " answered Henry . " In fact , if Ave Avere entirely trne to nature next Wednesday , it would spoil the fun , for we probably should not , if actually of the age we pretend , think of our youth once a year , much less meet to talk it over . " " Oh , I don't think so , " protested Nellie . " I ' m sure all the storv-books and poetry

say that old folks are much given to re-viewing their youth in a pensive , regular sort of way . " " That ' s all very pretty , but it ' s all gammon in my opinion , " responded Henry . " The poets are yotmg people Avho knownothing of how old folks feeland argue

, only from their theory of the romanti c fitness of things . T belieA'e that reminiscence takes up a A'ery small part of old persons' time . It would furnish them little excitement , for they have lost the feelings by Avhich their memories would have to be

interpreted to become vivid . Remembering is dull business at best , I notice that persons , even of eventful lives , prefer a good novel to the pleasures of recollection . It is really easier to sympathize Avith the people in a noA'el or drama than with our

jsast selves . We lose a great score of recreation just because Ave can ' t recall the past more A'ividfy . " " How shockingly Henry contradicts to-night , " Avas the only reply Nellie deigned to this long speech . " What shall we call each other next Wednesday % " asked Mary . " By our first names as noAv ?"

" Not if we are going to be prophetically accurate , " said Henry . " Fifty j'ears hence , in all probability , Ave shall , most of us , haA'e altogether forgotten our present intimacies , and formed others , quite inconceivable now . I can imagine Frank over therescratching his bald head Avith his

, spectacle tips , and trying to recall me . ' Hen . Long , Hen . Long , —let me think ; name sounds familiar , and yet I can ' t quite place him . Didn ' t I knoAv him at C , or Avas it at college ? Bless me , hoAV forgetful I ' m growing . '"

They all laughed at Henry ' s bit of acting . Perhaps it Avas only sparkles of mirth , but it might have been g lances of tender confidence that shot between certain pairs of eyes betokening something that feared not time . This is in no sort a loA'e story ; but

such things can ' t be wholly preA'ented . The girls , however , protested that this talk about growing so utterly aAvay from each other was too dismal for anything and they wouldn't believe it anyhoAV . The old-fashioned notions about eternal

constancy were ever so much nicer . It gave them the cold shivers to hear Henry ' s ante-mortem dissection of their friendship