The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-03-03
The Two Chairs.

In the hurry of life, crimson plush chair
and yellow kitchen chair happened 10 get
side by side. Plush chair turned red. and
proudly rolled herself back. "Shs did not
wish to be seen in such company" she said. =
"What would be accomplished pisnos and
the elegant marble top tables think ofitp-
Amt you both Of the same origin" asksd q
poker bluntlv. "However that rnay bs our
positions are very different now. / move only
in polished society," replied plush chair aR
grily. "And are very little use. / dare say"
muttered the poker. "Usew cried plush
chair, /" use! that is the last thing think Of"
Morss the pity" said tho honest poker;
g it is dreary thing to live above use."
Kitchen chair heard the talk, but though il
WAS not for her to spsak. The sight of her
grand neighbor filled her with no jealousy
She thought of her very beautiful, and was
pleased to see the race improve 40. She wa.
clumsy. she knew: but she could afford to be
clumsy, since she had nothing to do but be
useful. TLsy soon parted and each went its
own way. a
Pluab chair was ushsred into stately par
lor, and received with admiration. There
wsrs many words about where il should stand,
and ut laat most conspicuous place wss as
signed il. At large party that evening, dis
tlngulsbe6 visitors were brought to it, and
among the fashion and blaze. plush chair hal
no reason TO be ashamed. This is splendid"
she said. The next morning, however, the
room was deserted. Blinds were shut, and
moi sprek of SUI was allowed to enter. TIE
-furnifnrAs was cnvsrad and n, PLEASANT family
voice broke the terrible stiffness. An occs
nIn al mi llap har -,
and a. stifiy out, leaving il darker, chilIier,
and -dTearier than before. Plush chair tried TO
think it was all very ,fns to be sitting up
there in such stat , 2a 1t is gcntes," it
kept sayirg, {. and it it's only genteel, why"
But am sure it had its secret thoughts; for
afleI all, it 10 dreadful 10 grow old without
any family tie; to feel that you are adding
nothing to the stock Of daily comfort in the
world to know that the weary, the sick and
the sorIowing never sink in your arms for
rest and soublng; to know, too, that you are
valued chiefly on the risky merit of being in
fashion, and 80 might grow old and be cast off
long be,ore your time. Poor plush bad a
dreary life Of il, you may depend and often
thought it should die o. doing nothing.
do not know whether il ever cast q thought
on the yellow kitchen chair; but whether il
did or uot, kitchen chair had little history
of its own. gGaUi Csc 'iH .,
lie homo was in old father Goodhue's great
farm kitchen, by the south window, where
the sunbesms played bo Peep with the white
honeysuckle. Besides father Goo1bue, there
were young Mr.. and Mrs. Goodhue, and their
eight children. Ithved right 10 the midst of
family STIR Icoud hear the chrru dash and
the tea kettle sizzle, and the cbeotful clatter Of
kniyes aud forks, besides all the cheerful fire
side talk. AS you may suppose, il had lie
arms fdl most II The time. Farmer Goodhue
dropped INTO il after tho heavy toll Of the day
and held the baby or read his paper. His ex.
oeliont wife leaned against Its broad back
when she came from the dairy. Many q poor
tea,Dstsr rested there. Then the chlldren had
their frocs around 1t, and if il got au COCA
siopal bruise. - ,Vho can 90 through the
world dong the worlds work, without acme
hard knock r. it is said, good humoredly.
! Good father Goodbuc, too, knslt beside it
at bis morning aud evening dsvotions, aud il
often tremb ed beneath tho warm fervor oi his
prayers. And when Iitlle sally faded, never
WAS there a sveoter and sadder sight than to
sea her, day after day, bo.sterins up in it'
strong arin-, under tbs summer shsddows Of
tho old crab-spple tree. (" M ther, sue said,
shall not ses il blow next year." She wss
looking up, bat not al the crab apple tree, for
little Sally's eye crughl the blue heavens be.
yond, and shc said low, ~ shall be there with
God, mother" Her mother answered moth
ing, for there was choking 10 her throsl.--
When the shadows heightened eu the grass
that afternoon, her father mads as though he
would carry his little won 10. "Lean ms
back only, faiher--mother They gently
did 90. A look OF love shined 10 her face; a
few gasps, and Sally stepped from the old
family chair up to Heaven.
"This dear, dear chair, they all said after
wards; and there we're ever woven in its his.