Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-04-22

| ms PfNSc htaNy Tugs W t1hJ nelRnJ De-
ing great. On top of this the carpen-
tiers framed a steep roof, very much
like what Is so much in vogue now in
city architecture, under the name of
Mansard. In the centre of the hall
ran my stairs. On one side, on the
lower toor, was the dining-roOm and
Kitchen on the other, parlor and
sittilg-room, capable of being thrown
into one on occasions of ceremony
The chimneys were built on the inside,
and the floors and stairs were of two
inch oak plank, cut in narrow strips
and well nailed down.
Here was n commOdious house-in-
Guiding the Mansard attic, 1t had thir-
teen sleeping chambers. My neigh
bors asked me If wanted to keep
tavern. l was puzzled myself to know
| why had built house SO out of pro-
portion TO my family and probable
visitors. However, il was up but IL
had neither plaster on the walls nor
any covering beyond the logs. 1 recog-
missed the fact that had erected too
large mansion, but must make the
best of the bargain, and decorate 1t
within and without.
But how? Lime was high. It had
to be hauled over sixty miles. IL was
not made i'm that sandstone country
So plaster was not to be thought Of
But walnut lumber was comparatively
cheap, and only had to be hauled ten
miles. l secured all the standing wal
nut trees / could for n mile or two
above the mill, had them cut and
tioated down, where they were made
into inch and half and three-quarter
inch plank, at the price of four dollars
thousand feet. BY tho time the
al
cost me about a cent foot. You could
not buy knotty pine in tho Eastern
States for that to-day. These planks
were cut and planned to four-inch
width, and each room sided with them
, vertically. Over the joints patterns
|, were nailed, the nail on one side only
to allow for shrinking, and fitting
! nicely to plain cornice above, aguard-
board in the centre, and base below.
The ceiling joists were covered in the
same way, and even the floor plank of
the room above. Then the whole was
oiled with two good coats of linseed
/ oil, and rubbed down with beeswaX
, and hard brush. The effect was
!, good, though the rooms were dark.
: We relieved this somewhat by paint
| ing the do0r-framcs and window-framcs
/ delicate pea-green, which harmon
lStl Will llle Mtlllut lilC uOOIS, Mullb
? and windOw-sashes.
This was not done so quickly as |
/ tell about it. 1t was the work of
9 months. The parlors were done first,
} then the dining-rOom, then the cham
= bers, and lastly the hall and kitchen.
0 The outside of the house was covered
4 with ash plank, arranged I'm the same
way, and oiled mt first, though after
, wards painted the same tone of color
= "a was to be seen in the weather-beaten
/, cliffs around. Lastly, the house was
= surrounded by verandah fourteen
! feet in depth, and my palace was COM
plete.
/, The supply of comfort bcgets the
: need of luXuary. The furniture we
|, had was enough for our own use, but
il was incompatible with the style oil
the interior, and two-thirds of the
!, rooms were empty. | sat down and
= made calculation that IL would cost
= me three thousand dollars to import
> the furniture. 1t was not to be thought
) of. True, l had the money. i had
!" sold eight hundred and nine three
year-old that year, on which had re-
alised profit of three dollars head
' over the cost of tending and sailing
| could take twenty-five hundred dol
Z lars-but to what end? Only for show
!, 1t was dead capital. Still, my wife
y though she agreed with me it wouldn'
u do, mourncG q little over the empt,
y rooms, and especially over the poo
y furniture in the parlors.
y got out of that difficulty, too, un
u expectcdly. One evening woe-be
~ gone person, with seedy raiment, AM
Z u face which proclaimed that the own
70 er had consumed deal of liquor In
y | hfa dax, ANNA 81 rolf 1nNVu tho mnIIn
~ tain side, and without ceremony march
y cd up to the verandah where L wa
n seated with the two boys, smiling tn
air and the smoke of my pipe, and dc
~ posting the wallet from his shoulders
>, asked for n nights loding. l have
lare compassion for vagabonds, AM
10 never refusce them shelter, 50 replie'
y in the affirmative. L seated my seed
guest on the porch, provided him wit
ct a well-iilled pipe, and proceeded to pu
lg him through the process known a
e pumping
yh He told me he was joiner, cab
al net-maker, white-smith, and JacI
nd of-all-trades, and boosted not little c
IS, his ingenuity. 1t occurred to me tn;
sc he might get me up some furniture
= and proposed to him TO stay and try
cr He was nothing 10th, and we struck
I'D bargain. l had a good set of tool
Ike and he had nearly everything that
tie lacked.
to The next day one Of the cattle she,
SO. was turned into workshop, the rem
he nants of the walnut timber, prot
DC well seasoned by this time, put at h
IN, disposal, and more ordered.
he NV cabinet-maker verified his ow
nd boast rs to his ingenuity and hand
{ ness, and worked closely up 10 Il
m drawing gave him, improving on d
nat tails. l sent of, through my sho
W, keeping friend at the Court House, Il
de whatever we lacked, and bcdstead
OF sofas, chairs, wardrobes, tables, boo
IN, cases, and SO ON, grew up by magl
lis until every room, clear To the attic
n was filled. Along with this he did
eek deal of iob-work for Mrs. Ashloig
on and no end of nicknacks for the boy
,ed We grew to like him, and suggest,
tie that he should open business nt q
ca county town, Offering TO supply hi
WI with tools. but he was inherently
he vagrant--he had staid ten months
IN much longer, he said, than he had ev
We rested before, and then, with his wag
Ill in his pocket, and his bag ON !
ld- shoulders, started of one May NOR
the ing, and like one of John DunyaI
its characters, we saw him no more"
I'VE Our furniture, and the curtains al
1t new carpet which l had obtained
rty the parIor, were the wonder OF {
ieet neighborhood; but l was prosperiI
ion and could afford it. My little clcari
md had grown into two hundred acres
ped arabic land in the highest state of cl
was tivation, and ranged" large her
of cattle on the adjoining hills. A
nod boys had private tutor, aud int
. n ded, so soon Us they were old enoup
lslv to send them TO college. EveIythi
lalf / touched prospered. MY WIG "
two happy, ana l. was content. RI.
im- One uay, ABOUT eight years n'e .,
! 10 and Marmaduke had both been on
ber TO the Court House, and had ridd
A a 4.