Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-02-11
NUMBER 4.

we were at home, and few irlends hau
dropped in to see u.s."
One saw it all through her words, The
quiet hone.picture, the girl midway in
in her teens, With bright. young face
bending over the piano; the mother look
ing on, with her pleased eyes, the boys
clustering around, and the light shining
over the pleasant home scene, just rs they
had shone softly long ago on another
home. scene in the quiet western town.
before the war came on and swept away
a great many people from their homes
and among them-Grant from Galsna.
But the pleasant summer evening WITH
its stars overhead. and its soft rush and
retreat of the surf along the beach, was
over at last; an evening so quiet and
homelke that could scarcely believe ai
that very time men were in the thick and
strife OF another election, and that the
quiet man who used TO sit every morning
/ in a corner oil the piazza, listening to
what the waves had to say to him, VAS
in eyerybody's thoughts and on every
body's tongue.
The next morning the President and
family left Long Brahch, but Mrs. Grant
had kindly given orders that ! should
have The entree of the house. 50 one day
| went over and was marshalled by The
housckeeper, "lrom turret to foundation
stone although in inverted order. The
interior in its simple appointments cor
responded with the outside.
The rooms wero finished in woods
black and oak color think. and the FUR
niture, dark and simple, was always IN
good taste.
But the homelike air pervaded every
thing. 1t was just place to rest and
dream in. wandered from room 10
room. and everywhere the same sense ot
rest. ease and comfort followed me.
In the parlor were pictures and books,
and the library that opened out Of ii had
q fine portrait or two Of the Generals
staff looking down bcnignanIly on the
writing table, where the President spent
more or less OF every day.
It was Just the ideal Of simple, quiet
home by the sea. 1t seemed as though
the worlds loud rivalries and strifes could
never find their way into that delicious le-
pose.
The housekeeper. too, seemed The
kindest, most unpretentiouS soul in the
world. She had been with The family
for several years and her aaectionatc
loyalty was quite touching Her talk.
TOO, gave me a great many fresh, VIVID
glimpses into the family life.
Her admiration of Mrs. Grant as wife
and mother, rs woman in short, was un-
bounded. remember one instance she
related to me rs illustrating Mrs. Grants
natural avoidance Of display, and her
wish TO save The Government all nm
necessary expense.
When she first entered the White
House rs its mistress, she found the fur
nture, much OF il, in dreadlully shabby
and dilapidated condition. ! suppose it
always is after going through its four
years wear and tear.
Mrs. Grant, however, pAtriotically re
solved that she would spare the Govern
ment any additional expense OF furnish
ing for the next Olympiid. She went 10
work, aud set others at it, directing and
supervising We all know what taste
ful, energetic woman can accomplish IN
this line. All the shabby old furniture
was rejuvenated with bright, fresh
damasks and reps and covers oftha. sort
suspect Mrs Grants experience IN
her Western home may have served hen
at the White House. At any rate the O.d
furniture, with the new covers did daty
for nearly four years, and when, at l1s!,
it b, came absolutely necessary 10 o..
furnish some apartments, Mrs. Grant said
quietly to her housekeeper, The old fur
uilure has done well enough lor rs, and
wc may have another President next
spring, and il we do. the new things
will be just the thing tor him.
Saying this, she never suspected il
would get into print, and if she should
ever chance to read it here, | almost feel
as though l wanted to be at hand, TO ask
her forgiveness tor telling the story which
yet was too good to be lost.
You must see Nelly's room," said the
housekeeper. Indeed. the little liquid
dissyllable had been slipping in and ont
OF all the talk, Just as it had that irst
evening. 1t was evident the family
pride and tenderness centred around thai
young girl who wa. coming far across
the seas in month or two. TO the hearts
who were waiting with hungry eager
ness TO receive her.
could not help thinking OF her with .
kind of tenderness that had touch al
pathos in it, the object OF so much
chsrishing love and care, and hoplns
that she inherited tho native kindliness ot
her mothers heart.
''Nothing is changed in Nelly's room
We keep everything inst as she lett it
when she went away" said the house
keeper, as she opened the door and led
me into the room. almost rs though it
were sanctuary.
1t was simply furnished, pleasant