Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-08-05
The old Settee.

1
The old Settee.
Settee, lounge or sofa, it matters not
which, it is the same the world over.
All the children know it, every man
amt woman grown remembers its in
viting, persuasive look in childhood,
for we have all been there; its sedative
influence We have all felt and ac-
knowledged, while its growing unpopu-
larity we deplore. Over its cushions
Morpheus reigns, and will reign for
ever more. suppose there is a great
similarity in our experiences, but here
is sample. Mother leaves the room
an instant with the light; thereupon
ensues general scramble for the set
tee. You know said sc ttee is very COM
Portable for one person, but unless We
are playing ''lion," with one under
meath to personate that terrific beast.
who snatches and snarls at all over
hanging-hands, feet or clothing-we
prefer to be alone; so the best fellow
secures the lounge, while the other in
revenge grasps and claims the pillow,
with which he speedily makes bed on
the floor. This is forbidden, and
mothers entrance makes the boy ''get. "
but the pillow gets with him, and,
though the night be a melting one in
July, he sits on it as complacenily as
though it were January. Repeated
mods soon tell the story, and after
throwing the pillow "a not unwelcome
missile) at the face on the lounge, he
goes reluctantly to bed. Mother says :
Come, dear, you had better go too. "
But we are talking with volubility and
do not care to hear. The truth is, be-
fore we approached that lounge we
were wide awake; now it is as much as
we can do to keep our eyes open. We
close them for relief, and find the relief
so pleasant; think of continuing it, but
suddenly, in a semi-conscious state, We
hear: "Come, you will get asleep if
you lie there; get up Immediately y
Mother, let me stay here a little
longer; 1 don't feel bit sleepy" and
to corroborate this statement we drum
on the back Of the lounge with one
hand, and hum a tune, which oc-
casionally ends abruptly : "Harry do
you hear me ?" .'Yes, in-in-a-min-
ute." Here we swing one foot to and
fro (slow time), and turn over, ask sud
den questions with jerks, and stare at
the ceiling as best We can. Then comes
blank, and we are in dreamland. Ii
going to sleep is pleasant. the awaking
is detestable By and by, after pro-
longed calls which elicit no response,
or only groans on our side, mother
shakes us and lands us at the foot of
the stairs. We ascend with indiffer-
ence, stopping at each step to gather
strength for the next lift. The room is
reached and our sleeping weight socked
on the floor; the head falls on the knees
and the hands grope around for those
hateful shoe-strings; We take short
maps by way of diversion, then go at
the knots again with redoubled energy.
The first shoe always comes off without
trouble, but will the last ever come
united? We tumble and grumble-
work always goes better with emphasis
and then as we are about toput stock
ing No. through, and break the string,
mother makes her appearance. Mother,
who hears every noise in the house,
from the clock tick to the child's croupy
cough that fills her motherly heart with
alarm. Six to one she administers a
little wholesome correction as she pa
tiertly unties the obstinate knot, and
we mentally vow not to go to sleep on
the lounge again; but if We do to un-
lace the shoes first. Then We are
tucked in bed, kissed good night, and
our good mother vanishes. And would
you believe it, the nezt night finds us
on the lounge again Do you know OF
a minor pain that settee cannot cure
No. Come home from school with a
long face, and complain of an
lawful pain" below the region OF the
heart. Forthwith we are sent to the
settee, the room is darkened, and pres
emily the odor of peppermint pene-
trates the pillow and olfactory organs.
No need to look up; We know Aunt l..
is at our side with "two nice swallows,
for don't she believe that peppermint
Is the "cure all" for "all the ills that
flesh is heir to-" That lounge allays
the most excruciating tooth ache, as
sisted by a bit of cotton dipped in
laudanum. Do you remember, after
the long illness, how we were carried
down stairs in fathers strong arms and
deposited on the beloved old lounge
How kind every one seemed, and the
neighbors bring us delicacies. The
small stand from the corner is moved
up beside us, waiter placed on it, and
a spotless napkin over this. The first
article that is ever put on that waiter il
mothers ld-fashioned sugar bowl she
had when a girl. Bless you, we will
always remember 1.-THE cemented
knob on top and the knicked edges; Ii
invariably contains pulverized ol
"mouth-full" lump sugar, of une1cep
tionable quality. Then there is slice
of crisp brown toast that smacks o.
cream and butter (only mother car
make such, and little glass of Jelly
saved by the same person for thes'
extra occasions, snd q small plate o.
Clipped beef complete the invalid fare
The children stand around admiringl,
and envyingly, too, it must be con
fessed. As we grow older the loung'
still has attractions for US. '.KeeI
still, dearies, let mother sleep q little
Perhaps it will cure her headache.
And the poor. tired mother sinks bacl
on the lounge for rest. She need no
"court the balmy;" it comes OF its owl
sweet will. The tired look passes from
her face, the tense lines from he
mouth, and We know that when sh'
wakes the headache will be gone.