Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-03-22

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brary of the young couple. Upen, the
mantel were two pretty pictures, the work
lof Charlotte, in Rosewood frames. and be-
tween them was o large sea-shelf filled
with flowers. .s}..ys Z s..tsz
| A little ebony stand, covered with sew
ing implements, stood in a corner, and two
small tables We're loaded with excellent
engrayings: Upon a folio. Bible lay
Sidney,s flute, n very fine one. as often
acknowledged, with scores of nsental thinks
To; the owner, In the moonlight evenings of
the, previous summer. carefully scanned
each article in the room, and felt sure that
the most fastidious could suggest nothing
better, the circumstances cansiaer ed3. g
There was no lounges OF o,toinans, no
fau1ield, or mirroes, or chandeliers moth
ing that contrasted glaringlyI or unpleas-
tantly, with the homeliest details, of me-
chanie's li(eSkBut there a0ase charming
quietness. The very air seemed to brood
with lulling power, over the, books, and
pictures, and blossoms. "AhI' mentally
exclaimed, sssSidney- Merton can but love
this spot Here his, heart must gather
both warmth and strength" - aaaas-.l..2
"We have almost forgotten the kitchen,"
said Charloue5aler an animated account
of her visit to the sea shore, which brought
to my very ears the rush Of the. sleep'ess
pillows. ''Do you know that am1te boil
my own kettle, and cook my own bread,
Oracle dear?,,' ta -.,r t5 4s:.: ~ ...l.s
"Youp' and | glanced at her fragile fig
ure, SNOWY forehead, and dainty. hands
which verify seemed made for nothing but
TO touch the pianos music breathing keys
'sYou, indeed! with those delicate fingers,
Charlotte?" .-,. ...e7 e4....f
"Why not? Are not white ones as good
as brown ones?" and a. ringing laugh
went floating through the. window and lost
itself in the thicKet, swat and see We
shall have no bakers bread no French rolls,
but, good, substantial, homebaked. Sur
vey my kingdom, and say if tits not worth
while to reign here" She opened door
as she spoke, and then added, sidney ayers
that the reason why ladies dislike their
kitchen, is because they so often permit
them to be dark, and unfurnished, and
crowded with the coarser implements Of
household TOLL" ~ ~
"f agree with him, entirely; but the OBJ
lection you have named cannot be made
to yours" and looked with satisfaction
upon the pleasant green OF the walls, the
floor Of cool stone color, the muslin cur
tains, the fower-pots, ranged in the win
dow seats, the nice mats, the table covered
.withe green cloth, and the water, bt.b-s
bling into receiver in q recess, across
which a curtain could be drawn at pleasure.
After had completed my survey, we
passed on to a nice, airy room, which was
to serve as store room and buttery.-
Rows Of maple boxes, glass jars, barrels
and buckets, britannia and net covers, and
piles Of coarse napkins, still more effsctu-
ally to shut out dust, met my gaze.
lwas really ashamed Of my prolonged
scrutiny and enquired for the utensils we
were to locate. "You will laugh, MIR. Mer.
ton,' said l." "but confess that | always
grow enthusiastic over brooms and busters.
learned to use them, years ago, when a
kiss from my mother was the reward for
their skilful use, and my affection was by
no means diminished during my school
days. Oh, those bright morning hours,
when some twenty naidens worshpped.
with appropriate ceremonies the spirit Of
neatnesss. he waving OF white arms
the glancing Of active feet, the tresses Of
gold and sable glitiering in the level SUM-
beams, the open door and windows, through
which rushed the fresh mir, as if to join In
merrimenl! Isee the whole now, jus: rs
| saw it then. Then, too, the laugh be.
came more heart felt and musical, the hu-
NOR richer, the wit brighter, the sympathy
oil lov, yoys nd in
its manifestations. How heartily should
we have rejected the idea OF delegating to
others the charming task OF sweeping our
study rooms and dormitories! Ah! if all
domestic labor could but be merged in
sweeping and dusting.''
"Iiere is proof Of the contrary" said
Charlotte, conducting me into the very
midst Of scrubbing brushes, tubs, baskets for
wet cloths, for dry cloths, the newly IRON
ed, for the unmended; and she was so live
ly, and Sidney so busy with twine, knife
and hummer. that might have stayed un-
til midnight, had not the village clock, stri-
king ten, reminded me that my call had
been protracted to a most Questionable
length.
And yet, after returning home, instead
OF bravely trusting, feared that. the nov
city over, my friend would weary of her
task. But summer gave place to autumn,
autumn to winter, and still she was without
assistance, except on Mondays, when a
cleanly widow of the village, washed and
secured for her. Size was not worn out or
dispirited. True, her pearly skin lost
something of its extreme delicacy, her dim
pied hand was little embrowned, and her
fingers thought less flexible; pretty CAL
leo, or de lane dress, took the place of mus
lin and silk, and the crimped collar displac
ed entirely the elegant Brussels lace she
used to wear The most agreeable gath
erings in tho villa ge were at her house, -
Only a few people were invited at a time,
and music, conversation, pictures, papers
and periodicals, with the graceful. cordial
hostess, and the sensible, happy host, left
nothing to desire. My friend was neither
wearied with the preparation, nor scarcely
disturbed at the expense. Baskets of cake
and fruit stood upon a side table, OF which
the guests partook at pleasure, but there
were no oysters or ices, or wines; or any
Cal. Al ,,oD1Ac of