Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-12-13
Cabs aud Skrtfhes.
THE BEST BEDROOM.

Ii there was any of her worldly posses
sessions in which Mrs. Burton felt she
must justly take pride, that is if pride of
any kind or degree is allowed to a Chris
tian, it was in her best bedroom. 1t was
the largest room in the house, and the
best furnished. The Venetian blinds were
| always kept down, lest the sun should
| fade the color of the curtains and the car
! pet. She would scarcely suffer her care
less chit of a servant girl to set her foot in
| il; 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
or the chimney piece. When it was in
use, rs il was occasionally. in the event
Of so'ne distinguished guest visiting her
her heart throbhed alternately with pride
and anxiety; and she WAS never quite
| tranquil until her visitor had gone, and
the key OF her best bedroom safely locked
up in drawer in her own chamber.
Mrs. Burton was the widow of respec-
table tradcsman, nearly sixty years of age,
q hearty Christian, simple minded and
good natured, but with a hidden, hasty
temper, which was more frequently kin
died to a brief fame by her best bedroom
than by any other causes The temper
| times by an additional indulgence to her
servant, sometimes in pdnilential con-
versatiou with her minister But the bed
room remained the object of her greatest
| regard and her greatest pleasure.
The youngest daughter of Mrs. Burton
| had married well, and was also in conse-
quence, perhaps, of being the last and
! youngest of her children, the darling of
her mother; and nothing, absolutely moth
ing, could be too good for Sophy. When
| therefore she sent word that She was com
ing to spend short time with her, and
would arrive the next day one OF Mrs.
Burtohs !irst concerns was to set about
complete cleaning down. as she called
it OF her bedroom.
1t was 4 labor of almost equal love and
s0lemnitv. Martha. the servant, put on Il
clean apron aud left her shoes at the door
when 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 would
not trust her to do any OF the dusting.
| With her own hands she laid out the snow
white sheets. pillow cases, and counter
pane, touching them fondly as she
smoohcd them upon the bed where her
Sophy was 10 sleep. When this was
! printed in many colors, which she had not
long since bought at a fair. and hung them
up, the one over the looking glass-which
She had festooned with muslin 'lace-and
the other over the chimney piece.
! In hanging the latter her eye rested up
on the mantle shelf. and detected spots up-
on lis white surface. She could not make
up her mind 10 pass them over; and after
/ q little iumhling she dispatched Martha to
the painters for his pot of white paint,
aud then with great care and diligence
gave the shelf OF her chimney piece y
new coat. II was getting near tea time
before il was completed, and the old lady
twas getting tired with her busy days
work so with a sigh OF content, and
look OF mingled satisfaction and pride
around her best bedroom, she left it, Civ
ing strict orders to Martha not TO think OF
entering it again that evening"
Mrs. Burton's house stood in a private
street on the outskirts Of the town, and il
Twas considered so secure and respectable
Il neighborhood, that If Martha went out
on an errand, she generally left the door
liust ajarii she was going away only few
lminufes. 1t happened that evening, soon
after nightiall, she ran out to return the
paint pot to its owner; and not a minute
afterwards a man. staggering along the
streets in a helplessly drunken fashion,
laid his shaking hand upon the handle,
found the door open, stepped In. and by
one of those unaccountable freaks of
drunkenness. walked straight up stairs
rcoNrINCEp on FOURTH rscE.l