Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-03-06
naiscella lanenuS.
MRS. BURrOS's BEST BEDROOM.

justly take pride, that is, if pride of any kind
or degree is allowable to Christian, it was
in her best bedroom. 1t was the largest
room in her house, and the best furnished
The Venetian blinds we're always kept down,
lest the sun should fade the color Of the cur
tains aud the carpet. She would scarcely suf.
fer her careless chit Of scrvant.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 mahogany, or
the pure white paint Of the easement and the
chimney-piece When it was in use, as it
was occasionally in the event Of some distin-
guished guest visiting her, her heart throbbod
alternately with pride and anxiety; and she
was never quite tranquil until her visitor was
gone and the key Of her best bedroom safely
locked up in drawer in her own cham
Der.
Mrs. Burton was the widow Of a respectable
tradesman nearly sixty years Of age a hearty
Christian, simple-minded and good-natured,
but with hidden heat Of temper, which was
more frequently kindled to brief fame by
her best bedroom than by any other cause.
The temper she mourned over, and confessed
sometimes by an additional indulgence to her
servant, sometimes in a peniteutial converse.
tion with her minister. But the bedroom re-
manned the object Of her greatest regard and
her greatest pleasure.
The youngest daughter Of Mrs. Burton had
married well, and was also, in consequence.
perhaps, Of being the last aud youngest other
children, the darling Of her mother and moth
ing. absolutely nothing could be too good for
Sophia When therefore she sant word that
she was coming to spend a short time with
her, and would arrive the next day, one OF
| Mrs. Burtons first concerns was to set about
a complete "cleaning down" as she called it,
Of the bedroom.
1t was labor Of almost equal love and
solemnity Martha, the servant, put on a
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 and she would not trust her
to do any of the dusting. With her own
hands she laid out the snow-white sheets, pill
low-cases, and counterpane, touching them
fondy 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 not
long since bought at fair, and hung them up,
the one over the looking-g -glass-whieh she had
iestooned with muslin aud lace --aud the other
over the chimney-piecc.
In hanging the latter her eye rested upon
the mantle-shef, and detected several spots
upon its white surface She could not makt
up her mind to pass them over; and after a
little fuming she dispatched Martha to tn,
painters for his pot Of white paint, and then
with great care and diligence gave the shel
of her chimncy-piece new coat. 1t was get
ting near tea-time before it was completed
and the old lady was growing tired with he
busy days work ; so, with sigh of content
and last look of mingled satisfaction an
pride round her best bedroom, she left il
giving strict orders to Martha not to think 0
entering it again that evening.
Mrs. Burton's house stood in prvat
street, on the outskirts Of the town, and
, was considered so secure and respectable
neighborhood, that if Martha went on an ei
rand, she generally left the door Just ajar,
,, , she was going away only few minutes.
happened that evening soon after nightial
r she ran out to return the paint-pot to tsowner
, and not minute afterwards a man, staggei
ing along the street in helplessy drunke
fashion, laid bis shaking hand upon the handle
found the door open, stepped in, and by on
Of those unaccountable freaks Of drunkenness
walked straight upstairs, without making
himself seen or heard-for Mrs. Burton wa
shut up in her back paror, and Martha, q
we know, was out-and opening the first door
stumbled into the best bedroom. He fun
his old battered hat upon the newy-painte
chimney piece, and steadying himself by it
drew off his heavy boots and with all his soil
ed and dirty clothing upon him, crept in be
tween the lavender-scented banched, milk
white sheets and pillows Of Mrs. Burton
best bed
, 1t was no doubt Il happy circumstance tha
the old lady was far too tired at bedtime t
care to take a look at her bedroom She con
tented herself with locking the door and car
ryng away the key, resolved to see how th
paint was drying the first thing in the morn
ing. Before long she aud Martha with thei
unknown guest, were all soundy sleeping un
der one roof
, 1t was early in the morning when the drunk
ards sumber was broken by some unaccustom
ed sound without. lie opened his eyes, an
stretched himself drowsily but the next il
1 slant he was wide-awake and his outstretche
arms remained outstretched in utter astonish
i ment. The rising sun shone upon the windol
| and its Venetian blinds, and a luxurious gree
light filled the room. His rough and grin
hands lay upon counterpaue Of extraordina
/ ry whiteness, and his shaggy head rested up
10, ba e,ftaaf cf ptl1nruu lIa rafaal hfu,1al
- on his elbow to look round, and sank bac
again in blank amazement. Where could
e be2 Who was he2 Was it really himse
4 Tom Marshall. whose home was a miserabl
, bare room, in one of the lowest OF the bac
G slums ? Or was be somebody else, who ha
o a right to be therel How did he come int
this place at all ? He was SO bewildered tha
4 he lay stll for awhile, trying his best to thinl
But il would not do He raised elfagai
to take survey and his eyes fastened upc
the Illuminated text over the fireplace. II
had been brought up us an ornamental sign
a painter, and the fanciiul letters did not puzz
: him. The words did not remove his bewi
u derment but they turned his thoughts int
l. another direction. Thou Gsd seest me
u he read, half aloud. Thou God seest me
# he repeated What, did God see him at thi
a moment He could see himself in the larG
looking.gass, and he could not turn away h
o gaze from it. There was he, in the midst
II the sweetness and cleanliness, and purity,
h wretched, begrimed, vile object, not fit for h
own eyes to look upon. Wherever his han
n fell there was stain upon the whtenes
c The pillow upon which his head had rested
II how different il was from the other pilO
# which he had not touched He was DISCUS
:, ing even to himself lie wished he could n,
20 see his own face and form in that dainty roor
d And was it true that God saw him-just
he was, degraded below the beasts2 Did &c
If see that wretched hole Of his, where his POI
n wife and children lay on straw and rags, viii
Q, he had been sleeping in such luxury2 Hi
u Gods eye been upon him last night, when
p had made wager how much beer he cou
e drink lie could not endure the thoug
n Of it,
d just then he lifted his eyes to the wa