Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-01-09
From Arhur's Lsdy's Home Magazine
4 NIGHT 1T THE HOME OF
MARY 4. LIFERMORE.
ny VIRGINIA +. TOWNSEND.

NJ VIRGINIA +. TOWNSEND.
"Melruse :" shouted the conductor. ]
MAS out on the platform in a moment,
with the rest of the human packages.
staring curiouSly up and down the quaint
old town, which strikes one at first
sight as comfortably taking its ease aud
the world mt large in peaceful, Rip. van
Winkle sort OF atmosphere. Melrose,
however, Is only seven miles from Bos.
ton, and despite the air OF serene respect
ability with which it confronts stranger,
must come in for its share in the season.
ing of Attic salt, and. no doubt get Ia
the heart of il. il is well tinctured with
heIesies and radicaIsm. Ii was the late
afternoon Of one Ot those June days
Lowell sings about SO ielicit 1usy, when |
made my way through the shadows Of
the pleasant. dreamy old street to The
home across whose threshold | was now
L. pass for the first time. A soft. poetic
sunshine was on leaves and flowers;
there were bushes of winds among 10.
Gusts and naples and the sweet twiiter
OF obinS through the stiffness when
found myself at the house where was To
pass the night. 4 quiet. unpretendng
New England home stood before me
finished up in browns. even to the blinds,
veranda across the front, aud June
roses in a very giee and riot OF blossom
ing-the extreme simplicity OF the whole
in fine harmony with the old town and
the shadoTy street, even though tho pre-
siding divinity here WAS Tho strong
earnest, intent soul of Mary A. Liver
more may rs well say ~ this point
that, measured bv hours and interviews,
we were almost strangers 10 each other.
y brici meeting or two, a letter sent me
when the heart OF the writer was NJ white
heat with the work and the glory of The
Chicago Sanitary Fair, comprised our per.
sona acquaintance, yet, despite this tact,
| WAS certain that hostess aud guest would
meet to night not as strangers do. II
one does not feel nj home with the first
glance at the house, one is certain to the
moment he is across the threshold.
The parlor which received me was
place to dream in Tor a day. with pictures,
and engravings, and pretty brackets that
gave color, and grace, and certain Ell
feet to the wkole room, while that subtle
charm OF zeal home atmosphere brood
el over all. had expected TO find in
Mrs. Livermore II good honsekeepe per-in-
deed, come 10 think Of II. never knew
literary woman in the highest sense of
the term who did not prove herself in her
own home capable domestic manager; :;
and having been in more than one of
these homes. ] am, despite the traditional
blue stocking, entitled TO speak er cathe.
dra on this matter. Ny own room. too,
when went into 1t, proved the very
pink essence" of order and comfort.
with pictures and brackets again, and
delicate little artistic touches every.
where. sat down by the window, too
coptent for anything but watching the
sunshine in the cherry and locust trees
outside, and waited, but not long.
There was rap at the door-no soft.
appealing futter Of fingers, but prompt,
strong, declslve-and getting up, con-
tronted Mrs. Liyermore. She was tall.
dignitied. matronly presence. nn earnest,
ntent, attractive lace. with a smile that
comes suddenly and breaks up the
gravity with sweet archness; with a
voice full of II clear, ringing helpfulness
and decision, and the more you see of her
the more you grow into sense of her
reserve force and her wonderful magnetic
power, and comprehend what shrewd
physician meant, when he said: "The
Lord made you up, Mrs. Liyermore, to
do big job iu this world Il should
have come to you at once," she said, with
her cordial warmth Of speech and man.
ner; "but my husbands congregation at
Hlngham gave Us reception yesterday,
and this morning was obliged to take
the six O'Clock train into Boston to attend
to the getting out of the paper, so, when
learned you were coming, primed my
self with couple OF hours sleep" We
took our supper alone together that night
A silver goblet stood at my plate, and
when had taken my first draught, Mrs.
Lirermore remarked: THAT goblet was
given me by We soldiers at the Chicago