cal instrument, a wedding. Bird, suit
at law. Cat, deception. Dog, faithful friend. Horse, important news.
Snake, an enemy. Turtle, long life. Rabbit, luck. House, offer of
marriage, or a removal. Flag, some surprise or a journey to another
country.

A heart is the most propitious sign of all, as it means happiness,
fidelity, long life, health and wealth.

CHAPTER VI.

SCOTCH TEA. 1.

To give an odd function that is not a complete fizzle is a fine art.
Easy enough it is for the hostess to plan an out-of-the-ordinary affair,
but to have the party turn out a success is, as the Kiplingites are
eternally quoted as saying, "quite another story."

For music have the Highlander's bag-pipe, the door opened by a man in
the striking garb of Scotland. For decoration use white heather and
primroses.

In the dining-room have the words "We'll take a cup o' kindness yet" in
large letters and conspicuously framed in pine. Presiding at the table
have young girls in Scottish costume who dispense the "cup o' kindness"
from a silver teapot nestling-in a "cosey"; (a padded cloth cover) to
keep hot the favorite feminine beverage.

The delectable dishes dear to the Highlander's heart are passed for the
approval of feminine palates. These viands include scones, a sort of
muffin made with flour, soda, sugar and water. These are split and
filled with orange marmalade straight from Dundee and, as everybody
knows, the best in the whole culinary world. Scones are baked on
griddles, and are especially popular in the country houses of Scotland.

Then there is a rich pastry called shortbread, made of butter, sugar and
flour--no water--and beaten up; rolled out about an inch thick and baked
in sheets. Shortbread is a great delicacy in Scotland. There are oat
cakes also, a biscuit made of oatmeal, shortening and water. Two kinds
of cake--black fruit cake and sultana cake, which is a pound cake
containing sultana raisins--complete the course of Highland dainties.

On the walls drape the striking plaids of Scotland, worked with the
names of the different clans.

In the reception-room have the words, "a wee drappie," framed in pine.
The inscription should be over a table on which is served mulled wine
from a silver pitcher kept in hot water. Even a white-ribboner would
call mulled claret delicious or get a black mark from the recording
angel for prevarication.

"Better lo'ed ye canna be,
Will ye no come back again."

makes a la