"This is a kitchen shower for you, Alice," Ruth explained somewhat ceremoniously. "But if you are willing, we will use the utensils in serving the luncheon and afterwards present them to you. May we unpack the baskets?"
"Do," said Alice, laughing.
From the larger basket, Ruth removed twelve white enamelled plates of different sizes (suitable for holding supplies in the refrigerator), and twelve cross-barred tea towels. The latter she passed around to be used as napkins, and Mary distributed the plates. On the small serving table before the fire, a white muslin table cover was placed. As she unfolded it, Ruth read from the attached card:
"If breakfast you should chance to eat
Upon the kitchen table—
I'll make it dainty, fair and neat
So far as I am able."
When the steel forks and spoons of various sizes were taken out and passed around, two glass measuring cups were found to hold loaf sugar wrapped in frilled paper. Upon one of these Ruth read:
"Please eat us all, but let your sweet
Sweet hours be duly treasured,
For we belie the worldly eye—
True sweetness can't be measured."
A glass rolling-pin filled with stick candy came next, and its sentiments read, and meanwhile the girls had begun to read aloud the advice pinned upon the tea-towels, such as:
"No matter what his whims and wishes—
Just tell him he must wipe the dishes!"
and
"But if he breaks a cup or plate,
Just throw the pieces at him straight."