Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-06-05
Taking it Out of the Furniture

Taking it Out Of the Furniture
The little circle met at the house Of Mrs.
MacGavin. They were having a very good
time indeed, sewing with nimble fingers,
criticising the stately parlors, expecting
the pleasant tea that was in store for them.
Now. Mrs MacGavin was the wife Of
a general, and probably the wealthiest
woman l. town. Her furniture was GER
tainlv superb. The cornices over the
curtains were very rich and beautiful,
with blue enamel and heavily wrought gilt
scroll-work, and the curtains were Of cost
ly damask
Nothing could be thicker and softer
than the pile Of the splendid velvet carpet,
nothing easier than the great ounging-
chairs that rolled at touch. But for all
this. Tom Gaines little wife missed some
thing, and IN the warm atmosphere felt
almost like shivering.
Well, what do y0u think OF it, BirdIey'
somehow all her intimate friends called
her by Toms pet name-asked Mrs. Har-
rover, as she came TO get little advice
about the shaping Of a small bib. 90 l'm
half sorry the society met here, / should
almost hate to ask them 70 my bit ola
house"
Nettie Gaines smiled.
It's beautiful, but ] N cold, she said.
" Cold =" Mrs. narrower cast a glance
at the register at her side why 1t is
delightfully."- warm l only wish we had
furnace-the atmosphere is just like sum
mer al. the winter through, the General S
wife says. Suppose you change places
with me2'
" Oh, didn't mean that, said Nettie,
with a little amused laugh " but isn't it
all upholstery z"
I'm sure the parIors are grand, SUI
2urb = exclaimed Mrs. narrower, with
deprecating gesture where are your
ewes. Nettie Gaines? I'm confident the
curtains cost hundreds Of dollars, and just
think Of these satin chairs. 1t don't seem
as if they ought to be used.
That's Just the way l feel, responded
/ Nettie there's no home-ile in them
Each chair makes a pretty picture, which
I [ like to look at, but | could never use
them as seats It's all very splendid, as
you say, but for my taste its all very
cold. I'm afraid l should want to break
these vases, if couldput no vines in them,
/ they are 50 hideously gorgeous. dare
say they cost enough. but they are per-
lectly unmeaning to me, barbarlc mixture
of colors. But perhaps l ought not to
comment on other peoples style Of living
50 freely"
Who Is that sweet little lady in the
gray dress ." asked Mrs. General NacIav.
ID, . What perfect good taste she shows
I in her selection Of colors ~
/ That Is Mr.. Gaines or Birdie Gaines
as we call her. She is one of the dearest
/ little women | know, and carries her per-
I feet taste into everything. Its a great
pleasure to see her at home and, by the
way, believe our next meeting Is at her
house
"Idid so want to see flower some
where :" said Birdie, as she Slid into her
own little low rocking-chair, " or bit Of
I terra Gotta, or even plaster of Paris, ike
our pretty little fellow, there and she
looked lovingly over to recess where stood
a graceful child, holding vase of flowers
on his head. Give me my own pleasant,
| home-like room, for all the splendor at the
Generals fine house
/ Mamma. | see a horse, and a pretty
lady, and a little boy and his dog, in the
Goals :" cried little May, who sat in her
own straw rocker, looking delightedly into
the fire, no CRATE, no open stove, with its
red-not base, but genuine, rollicking,
leaping, singing, dancing wood fire, red
dening from great logs, whispering Of forest
oaks, and long sylvan avenues beneath; of
mossy, fern-covered everglades, and tall
signing pines. There was hearth, too,
ample and bright, and a high fender with
a little brass railing. and better than all,
and old-tashioned pair Of hugh brass-top-
ped andirons, in which you could see your
face and all the silver things on the
table reflected back dozen fires, forming
so many pictures for the delectation Of a
beauty-loving eye. There were tables Of
different patterns about the room, and
arm-chairs that looked as if they had been
made for use, no two Of them alike-but
every table bore its sweet burden Of books,
/ or flowers, or statuettes. The great bay
window was filled with masses of verdure,
in the midst of which choice roses bloomed,
shedding choicer fragrance. Many a
small, rare picture the wood fire threw
out in exquisite relief, as also the rustic,
homemade brackets, and hanging
and the great yellow and white lambs
wool mats Just beyond the shining fender.
No wonder Tom Gaines called this his
paradise, and was so unwilling to leave 1t,
even for those places where his duty called
him. In Mrs. General MacGavins S parlors
after an hour of home,he would have felt
himself the most miserable man alive,
though surrounded with splendors 1t had
taken fortune to obtain.
| Well, the d" Society for the Relief OF
! Poor Children met at Mrs. Tom Gaines
and the rooms, the ornaments and little
Nav all looked their best and brightest
Everybody cried out at the sight of that
| fire.
How beautiful how pleasant how
Edenlike - were the ordinations that
abounded, as the busy people ran hither
and thither, like so many delighted child
rem, looking at all the pretty things.
my dear, you have really surrounded
Yourself with beauty; how have you con-
trived to make so charming home 2
asked Mrs. General MacGavin,-and evl-
dently it rcas very charming.in her eyes.
" Yes, and how can you afford wood
fire, and such expensive statuettes You
fought to tell us: - cried another.