The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1872-08-08

Cnless, meantime, Ulysses
Should promise 1t to me-"
MRS. BURToN's BEST BED
Room.
If there was any one Of her worldly
possessions In which Mrs. Burton felt
she might justly take pride, that is, II
pride of any kind or degree Is allowa-
BILE to . Christian, it was in her best
bedroom. 1t was the largest room In
the house and the best furnished. The
Venitian blinds were always kept
down, lest the sun should fade the
curtains and the carpet. She would
scarcely suffer her careless chit Of
servant girl to set her foot in it never
unless she was herself present to see
that she did not put her finger marks
upon the polish of the mahogony, or
the pure white paint Of the easement
or piece. When it was in
use, as it was occasionally, In the
event of some distinguished guest Wis
iting her, her heart throbbed alternate
ly with pride and anxiety; and she
was never quite tranquil until her Wis
itor was gone, and the key Of her
best bedroom safely locked up In q
drawer in her own chamber.
Mrs. Burton was the widow of q re-
spectacle tradesman, nearly sixty
years Of age, hearty Christian, SIM
ple-minded and good-natured, but
with hidden heat Of temper, which
was more frequently kindled TO brief
flame by her best bedroom than by
any other cause. The temper she
mourned over and confessed, some
times by an additional indulgence to
her servant, sometimes In . peniten-
lial conversation with her minister.
But the bedroom remained the object
Of her greatest regard and her greatest
psueeusc.
The youngest daughter OF Mrs. Bur
ton had married well, and was also, In
consequence, perhaps, Of being the
youngest of her children, the darling
Of her mother; and nothing, absolute
~ nothing. could be too good for So
phi. When, therefore, she sent
word that she was coming to spend .
short time with her, and would arrive
the next day, one of Mrs. Burton's
first concerns was to set about COM
plete " cleaning down." as she called
1t, of the bedroom.
II was a labor OF almost equal love
and solemnity. Martha, the servant,
put on clean apron, and left her
shoes at the door each time she entered
it. Mrs. Burton stood over her as she
brushed the carpet, to watch that the
brush did not hit against any point OF
the furniture; aud she would not trust
her to do any Of the busting. With
her own hands she laid out the snow
white sheets. pillow-cases, and coun-
terpane, touching them fondly as she
smoothed them upon the bed where
her Sophy was to sleep. When this
was done she brought two illuminated
texts, printed in many colors, which
she had bought not long since at fair
and hung them up, the one over the
looking. glass-which she had fes.
tooned with muslin and lace-and the
other over the chimney-piece.
In hanging the latter her eye rested
upon the mantle-shelf, and detected
several spots upon Its white surface.
She could not make up her mind to
pass them over and after little fu.
ming she despatched Martha to the
painters for his pot Of white paint
ana then, with great care and dill
gence, gave the shelf Of her chimney
piece new coat. It was getting neal
tea time before 1t was completed, and
the old lady was growing tired with
her busy days work 80, with > sigh
Of content, and last look Of mingled
satisfaction and pride round her best
bedroom, she left 1t, giving strict or
ders to Martha not to think of enter
ing 1t again thst evening.
Mrs. Burton's house stood In . pri
vate street, on the outside Of the town
and It was considered 90 secure and re-
spectacle neighborhood that II Mar
tha went on an errand, she generally
left the door just ajar, II she was going
to be away only . few minutes. Il
happened that evening, soon after dari
she ran out to return the paint pot {.
Its owner; and not . minute afterwart
man, aegering along the street In .
helplessly drunken fashion. laid hi
shaking hand upon the handle. found
the door open, and BY one Of thoss IN
accountable freaks Of drunkenness
walked straight up stairs without max
ing himself heard or seen-for Mrs
Burton was shut up In her back par
| lor, and Martha, as we know, was on
--and opening the first door. stumble,
into the best bedroom. He flung hi
battered hat upon the newly painte'
chimney piece, and steadying himsel
by 1t, drew off his heavy boots, an,
with all his soiled and dirty clothin
upon him, crept in between the Law
ender scented, blanched, milk. whit
sheets and pillows Of Mrs. Burton
best bed.
. 1t was no doubt . happy circum
stance that the old lady was far 70
tired at bedtime to care to take loo
ct her best bedroom. She contente
herself with looking the door and cal
rying away the key. resolved to y
how the paint was drying the drl
thing In the morning. Before Ion
she and Martha, with their unknow
guest, were all soundly sleeping unds
, ono root.
II was early In tho morning whe
the drunkard's elumbeI Wes broken