The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-02-27
A NEEDED Reform.

And away.
A NEEDED Reform.
Being Also the Story of q Fire Screen
"Piaeue on that screen r.
Standing with Mildred Weyman il
the door Of her parlor. you would mo-
have thought her language too strong.
The room was of fair sizs, light and
lofty wood work heavy paneled oak
ceiling white; walls . delicate misty
gray, with . green and gilt border
window-shades gray, picked ont with
gold, overhung With open white
drspery; carpet . small pattern in green
and oak table-covers to match, and
furniture that harmonized with the
prevailing tone. The offending screen
showed an impossible dog ON . black
velvet background, bordered by a more
impossible vino Of iutensest green,
twining about . crimson column. 1t
Esd been accounted masterpiece in its
day, twenty years ago, when her eldest
sister slowly and painfully wrought it.
It had long been N eye-sore to Mildred,
but the great, empty fireplace looked
even worse, SO she was fain to let it stay,
in default of anything better. She had
thought herself alone when her discon-
teut found vent in the emphatic express
sion have recorded, but it reached
another ear, for viii Winston put his
head inside the hall with
"What are you swearing about,
Milly2"
am not swearing, but that horrid
old thing is enough to make me do it. :"
Then. her face Frightening,
COL Will II you will help me, I
can get rid of it entirely"
"What is your notion ?"
"Frst you must make me q frame of
smooth plank that will just fit inside
~he manteL Let it come out over the
edges OF the fireplace and then ct it in
. sort of recess about four sizes
MAILER"
Glow much is siz.?
Something larger than your COM
prehension. But come out to the work
bench. I'll show you what I want"
They were cousins and great friends,
these young folks. OF course the world
insisted they were something more,
whereat they often lsuehed heartily.
Each liked the other better than any
one ellie. but Will was quite sure that
his W fs must not hirt an outrapce as
Milly would do. and Milly thought Will
the best fellow in the werld, but so
dreadfully matter-of fast. They were
quite agreed that they never could be
lovers, and think were sincere. for
NJ lily did not mind his seeing hair in
crepe pins, AMI Will was altogether in
mt to the fact that she kne he
waxed his mustache. In all Joint en-
terprises, Milly, in virtue OF her quick
c'everness, was engineer, and Will, the
brawny, muscular machine, was won
derfully obedient to her small hands.
She fitted betwixt parlor and work.
shop with rule and square, measuring,
planning. and calculating, and her ideas
rapidly grew into tangible shape.
What is the matter, Will ?" she
asked. noticing decidedly eerpe ntine
mark that should have been straight.
"'I wsn. chaw of terbacker aud
thst's what's the matter with me-"
1.-The hateful stuff. 1t has almost
ruined your nerves now. What will
you be by the time you are ffty?"
"Dont know. It's awfully comfort
ing now. Couldn't get on without it."
" Awfully discomforting to the rest of
the world. You tobacco chewers can
have no idea how dissgreeable it is for
the girls to talk to YOU"
"You do suppress it heroically. 1 |
have never seen the least manifestation
of such q thing"
"After that modest speech, let's 20
to work again."
Well, this affair is ready for the
bottom How must that be %
"Sav two bits of plank, two by three
inches; nail them outside On the lover
corners; put strip three inches wide |
from one to the other. Put the bottom |
an inch from the lower edge of this
let it slope to the back to secure drain
sge."
Drainage I don't understand"
do as tell you. You will in
time"
Twill you leave this thing it's natu-
raj color ?"
"Id like to stain it oak. As I can't.
must whitewash it,"
Whitewash rubs off,"
"Not my SORT" which was this. AID
recommend it to all in need of the
.rticle. from Credit MobiIierists down.
" up,: Into one gallon of sweet milk
Itir powdered lime till little thicker
than cream, add a teacupful of turpen-
Tine, stir we'll and apply with paint
brush, almost e1ual to white lead.
The ching" was finished, and leaned
against the wall, white and staring.
IN virtue of three coats.
What will she do with it ?" queried
Will.
+" Wait and see, was the sententious
-ejoinder.
"Can you get up at day-break to-
morrow, and go to the swamp for moss
md ferns ?"
i reckon so. Ii you will go with
ne. wouldn't know what you want"
IS 1o~-