Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-04-22


need too. This will furnish scope for all
our energies at present. Itdoes look dilapi-
dated enough. However, am thankful
it stands upon hill, l lisc to view the
landscape Ger"
"By cutting away those torlorn hem
locks we shall get view of the river and
mountains beyond, picturesque enough TO
satisfy oven you. It's very pleasant here
in summer. Little as you would think it
now"
Inside the house was more dreary still.
The papers looked all tho more dingy
and faded from having been originally OF
gaudy and Haunting designs and colors.
Ochre-yellow being durable color, not
often requiring renewal, every room but
the paror WAS painted that hue. The
ceilings rescmbled the work Of the old
masters in that they were very cracked
and smoky. Straw, papers. An old hat or
two, a broken rush. bo,tomed chair, Uttered
the floor. The March wind howled round
the house, rafting the windows. and
wailing down the chimneys rs If il were
Mrs. Jackson's ghost u,tcring warning OF
doleful presage to her successor.
Alter inspecting the whole premises,
aud discussing their capabilitics-after
Lance had shown Laura how he intended
to put sink in the kitchen, with pumps
to bring hard and soft water directly into
it, instead Of her Juggling the former by
the paillul from the well in the yard, and
catching the latter in tubs or however she
could, as Mrs Jackson had been obliged
to do, Jackson never having time to fuss
about womcn's nonsense'-aitcr Laura
had coniidcntially assured Lance he was
'thc best old fellow in the world" and
Lance had reciprocatcd in kind, only more
so, they returned 70 the front room, where,
seated in state on an old dry goods box,
they proceeded to engage in tnc pleasant
occupation OF erecting air castles.
Let notthe youthful reader sneor Mt this
hero and heroine of mine 4, dull and pro-
sy, tircsome. unintcresting. because their
talk turned on pumps, furnaces. and sim
liar uuromantic topics. They, 100, had
been through the era of hopes, despair,
moonlight, ecstacy, rhapsodies. Now
there Was charm better than romance in
the words, "our house, ""we will do" thus
and so; it signiiied SO much to them OF
the future, when they were never 10 be
separated. the happy home they were 10
share. Besides, hath not Solomon said
there is time for all things-a time for
moonlight, and time for bread and
butter, time for raptu:es, and i time for
furnaces?
This was how they came 10 talk of fur
naces Lance said, How mouldy snd
musty this room smells | wonder Il
Jackson kept his cheese hero What's
that verse you quote abou.
" 'You may break, you may shsi,er the vase II
you will,
But tho scent OF the roses"
"Barbarianm broke in Laura; "to de-
libega,cy desccrate Moore by such an ap'
plicaion, Probably this WAS the best
parlor, and the sun was never permitted
to fairly shine into it more than once
year. New paper. paint and whtewash,
and plenty of air and sun for awhile. will
remedy it, l suspect. But that reminds
me. Do you suppose knipsic would De
able TO bear it il we should have a fur
nace? 1t makes a house SO much pleasant.
er and more sociable."
lit certainly is a groat innovation. No
one in Knipsic Farms has one. The idea
of a farmer selling his wood and buying
coal will be great shock to the public !
but. after all. don't know whose concern
it is but ours
AUNT Polly Griggs-," mischievously
suggested Laura.
AUNT Polly Griggs may hang her harp
on II willow tree so far rs We are con.
cerned. rm glad YOU haven't the idea,
Laura, most women seem to have. that
ones house is altogether too good to be
used by the family, and must be kept
most OF the time in solemn state and
gloom"
Il believe" said Laura, 'in furnishing
house pleasantly and comfortably, but
not expensiyely. nothing merely for show,
Then take all the comfort you can of ii.
| expect to do wonders with that six hun
dred dollars Aunt Dunlap left ME. to say
nothing about that two hundred I've laid
up-profts of teaching the young idea.
&C."
"How delightful it is to marry an heir.
ess," observed Lance.
"Mercenary young man! Thou shalt be
twigged by the ear for that speechr' p said
Laura, suiting the action to the word. and
being repaid by sound kissing, which
it only needed the slightest provocation
in the world to tempt Lance to inhict, rs
Laura ought to have known-in fact, |
fear, did know.
Then Laura said there wa. something
on her mind, and Lance WAS anxious to
officiate as father coniessor.
Its fancy of mine. secret desire
that I'm afraid to tell you. l know you
will think il is really extravagant, far
worse than tho furnace. You will begin
To rnnent of Your bargain. / fear, and