Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-08-19

| linen tOOk long DIedtn ana surVeye
the apartment. 1t was handsomely fuI nish
ed-the mansles, tables, inches, and corner
cabinets, each displaying their own ap
propriate trifes and shining in the gas
Eight. There were several handsome paint
ings on the walls, and beneath one of then
stood large piano covered with crimson
cloth. But to me there was an indescrib
able, straitenned, uncomfortable expression
J that seemed TO characterize every articl
of furniture, and endow if with a Twin!
sorrowful identity. could not help laugh
ing al the absurd fancy then, but have no
yet been able te divest myself of the strangl
impression, or to turn blind eye to thu
dumb remonstrances of the immovable chair
whose helpless rockers seemed doomed t.
point forever toward the Northeast.
Did you know, aunt. that when fashion
able upholsterer places piece af-fnrnitnrt
in particular place it is sacrilegious tc
remove it to anothert II does not matter
how much your own taste may rebel against
the arrangement, or how persstently your
innate desire for comfort may suggest an
alteration, your drawing-room must be an
accurate copy Of the fashionable Mrs. Vacd.
um's or you lose caste in genteel society =
Fitness and ease are both tabOoed.
had just completed my survey and was
wondering whether too was becoming a
fixture of the room, when the door opened
and my cousin Frederick. lad of twelve
years, entered with his school books in his
hand. He started Slightly on seeing me,
but came forward directly, saying. in a
pleasant, cordial voice, "My cousin MAJ ga
ret, supposed"
/ saw at once that he had not yet out
grown the natural openness of boyhoo and
wondered if city boys were obliged to go
through the same refining, or, rather, iron
ing process, that their sisters were subject
to-
"My mother and sisters have just gone
OUT" said Frederick, who seemed to think
that had just entered the house. "They
will regret your late arrival and there be-
ing no one at home to receive you but my
self. Have you had tea!'
"Not since the day before yesterday"
His gleeful, boyish laugh made me feel
quite at home. Il will call Hannah" he
said "She will show you to your room and
make tea for you while you are changing
your dress"
had been standing all this time, wrapped
in my cloak and furs. Hannah came direct
" and soon ushered me into large cham
Der, which she said was to be mine during
my visit. She has no idea that come as
boarder, or that ] am to stay here more
than a week. My room is one of the
chambers of state, ard is, or was, elegantly
furnished, but its whole aspect gave me the
same feeling that had been inspired by the
parlor below. The same confined, mplor
ing look met Neon ali sides. | did not
dare to touch the curtains, or to alter the
position of the dressing glass which sto ID
near the bed; and as for the
half bour's rest that had contemplated.
eave it up at once, for the bed seemed to
speak from its lowest mattress and refuse to
be tumbled. There was no fire in The CRATE
and rather than expose myself to the chilly
Of the room, | went down to
tea in my travelling dress.
Now please to remember, dear aunt, that
hadt no enjoyed regular meal since I
left, and that had been saving my appetite
all day, SO as to fully do justice to my first
supper with my expectant relatives. In
this connection. also, oblige me by recalling
to memory the gastronomic exploits of which
ou have seen me capable after a fasting
washing-day, and you will understand my
feelings as surveyed the supper spread for
me inI the dining room. / was a little
1azzled at first by the delicate china service
and silver tea-urn, cake. basket, and forks of
The same metal as broad as my gardening
fork, aud might have spent some time in
admiring them bad it not been for the re
of my tantaiized stomach.
There were three biscuits on the table
about the size of Mexican dollar, and two
slices of sponge cake, so transparently light
that have no doubt tina: in lieu of
spectacles might have read common-sized
print through them. There was some Jelly
in cut glass dish. which had admirably
preserved the natural acidiry of the crab
apples of which it was made, and conse-
quently defied all attempts made to reduce
it's bulk 1t might have been an heirloom
in the family, being secure in itself from
all destructive influences.
When rose from the table | saw that
Hannah was astonished to find every crumb
eaten, ard have since learned that it is
not well-bred to leave nothing on the table
but dishes.
have filled my shee: already without begin
ming to give you all my first evenings ex-
perience, but will write again BY to-mor-
rows mail, hoping to ge: at the same time
an encouraging line for you. Do not let
Bessy forget my birds, and see that Blackey
is properly rubbed down and exercised
How long for home and its common sense
delights! Your affectionate
MAGGIE.
Boston. Dec. 81.
Dear aunt, Between you and me would
have paid handsomely, at the close o. my
first meal here, for the privilege of extern