The Tea Party,[Miss Ruby]

Miss Ruby, came over for tea today,

with a gift, of blueberry jam,

The servant Grace, met her at the door,

  said “This way, if you please mam”,

As they entered, the front room parlor,

Miss Ruby’s eyes peered, every where,

Grace thought, she favored an old owl,

as she craned her neck, to stare,

When Mrs. Winters, finally entered the parlor,

they exchanged their, how-do-you-do’s,

She asked Ruby, “How many sugars Dear”,

Miss Ruby replied ,”Only two”,

Grace scurried out, with the tea-tray,

and retired, out in the hall,

So she could rest, with one ear cocked,

in case Mrs.Winters, should call,

Of course Gracie, could not help,

but over- hear, as they began to speak,

Miss Ruby had so much, to tell and retell,

on this, the third day of the week,

There was breaking news, of the Widow Brown,

who was caught, in Messner’s store,

In her coat, she had two pork roasts,

in her pocket-book, she had more,

Then of course the story, of the Johnson girl,

the one, who was sent away,

One would think, they could have avoided,

such a thing, in these modern days,

Miss Ruby groaned, as she shifted her weight,

whispered “surely, you’ve heard the tale,

Of the Deacon, James Adams and family,

leaving town, when the stock market fell”,

As she fanned, with this week’s church bulletin,

she asked, “Tell me what do you think,

Of our new Pastor, and the Deacon Board,

renting out, the town skating rink?,

Why it seems such a waste, in my mind,

you reach young folks, while in class,

I’ll remember this waste, the next time,

that offering basket, is passed,”

There was quiet, for the space of one minute,

as Ruby, took a sip of her tea,

She glanced up, at poor Mrs. Winters and said,

“seems the only one talking , is me”,

Mrs. Winters toyed, with the scarf at her neck,

and carefully thought, her words through,

She sipped at her tea, looked at Ruby and spoke,

“Dear, I simply must talk to you,

I have been sitting here, listening,

seems your life, is empty at best,

You have been here, for over an hour,

and have not given your tongue, a rest,

Yet you never speak, of your own life,

just gossip, of other souls pain,

Ruby, it breaks the Great Father’s heart Dear,

that your gossiping go’s, unrestrained,

If you had sat down, at the Father’s feet,

and shared these ‘concerns’, with Him,

You’d have more to share than, a church bulletin,

to tell folks, where you have been,

You would carry, the glorious Light of His love,

reflected, in your dear face,

And instead of this gossip, and malice Dear,

your heart would be full, of His grace,”

Mrs.Winters, then picked up her tea-cup,

took a sip, and gave Ruby some space,

She surmised, she had wasted her breath and her words,

by the look, on Miss Ruby’s face,

Ruby rose and said, “I would thank you,

for the tea and cake, this afternoon,

I must hurry, or I’ll miss my appointment,

for tea with, Wilhelmina Bethune,”

So as Ruby, raced down the side-walk,

Mrs. Winters leaned back, for a rest,

Called Gracie, to come clear the tea set,

and bore Ruby, to the Great Father’s breast.

                                                        c.d.m.4/14/09