The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-02-25
A NEEDED REFORM.

A NEEDED REFORM.
Being Also the story of a Fire Screen.
"Plague on that screen p
Standing with Mildred Weyman in
the door of her parlor, you would not
have thought her language too strong.
The room was OF fair size, light and
lofty woodwork heavy paneled oak
ceiling white; walls q delicate misty
gray, with a green and gilt border
window-shades gray, picked out with
gold, overhuDg with open white
drapery; carpet a small pattern in green
and oak table-covers to match, and
furniture that harmonjzed with the
prevailing tone. The offending screen
showed an impossible dog on a black
velvet background, bordered by a more
impossible vine of iutensest green,
twining about a crimson column. 1t
had been accounted a masterpiece in it's
day, twenty years ago, when her eldest
sister slowly and painfully wrought it.
1t had long been al 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-
tent found vent in the emphatic express
sion have recorded, but it reached
another ear, for Will Winston put his
head inside the hall with
"What are ycu swearing about,
Milly?"
4" I am not swearing, but that horrid
old thing is enough to make me do it"
Then, her face Frightening,
go Will If you will help me, 1
can get rid of it entirely"
''What is your notion ?"
First you must make me frame of
smooth plank that will just fit inside
the mantel. Let it come out over the
edges of the fireplace and then fit it in
a sort Of recess about four sizes
mailer"
Chow much is a size?"
" Something larger than your com,
prehensiop. But come out to the work
bench. I'll show you what want"
They were cousins and great friends,
these young folks. or course the world
insisted they were something more,
whereat they often laughed heartily.
Each liked the other better than any
one else, but viii was quite sure that
his W fe must not firt an outrance as
Milly would do, aud Milly thought Will
the best fellow in the world, but so
dreadtully matter-of fact. They were
quite agreed that they never could be
lovers, and / think were sincere, for
NJ ily did not mind his seeing hair in
crepe pins, an Will was altogether in
differ, mt to the fact that she kne he
waxed his mustache. In all Joint en-
terprises, Milly, in virtue OF her quick
c'evernesa, was engineer, and VIII, the
brawny, muscular machine, was Won
deTfully obedielt 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, VIII" she
asked, noticing a decidedly serptntine
mark that should have been straight.
go wan a chaw of terbacker and
that's what's the matter with me-"
Tho hateful stuff. 1t has almost
ruined your nerves now. What will
you be by the time you are fifty ?"
"Don't 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 disagreeable it is for
the girls TO talk TO YOU"
You do suppress it heroically. I
have never seen the least manifestation
of such a thing"
'After that modest speech, let's go
to work again.
well, this affair is ready for the
bottom. How must that be ?"
Saw two bits of plank, two by three
inches; nail them outside ON the lower
corners F; 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
age"
Drainage don't understand"
"Do as 1 tell you. You will in
time"
"wiI You leave this thing its natu-
raj color ?"
I'D like to stain it oak. As I can't,
must whitewash it."
Whitewash rubs off.
"Not my sort, " which was this. and
recommend it to all in need of the
article, from Credit MobiIiorists down
or up: Into one gallon of sweet milk
stir powdered lime till little thicker
than cream, add teacupful of turpen-
tine, stir we'll and apply with paint
brush, almost equal to white lead.
The ''thing" was finished, and leaned
against the wall, white and staring.
in virtue of three coats.
What will she do with it ?" aueried
Will.
"Wait and see, was the sententious
rejoinder.
"Can you get mp at day-break TO-.
morrow, and go to the swamp Tor moss
and ferns ?"
81 reckon so. If you will go with
me. wouldn't know what you want. 4"
IAN sorts-high, long and creeping.