Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-17

the lace, Just above the edge turned down,
for gathering string. One sunshiny day,
after we had got the house all rejuyenated
excepting the sitting-room windows aud
mother had wondered "why we didn't do up
the curtains" she went over 10 Mrs Brady's
10 spend the afternoon, and said 10 Janet,
" Now is our time"
We each took a market basket and started
for the woods. We gathered a good supply
OF an evergreen vine that runs on the ground
and is common 10 most Northern states, Qf
we couldn't have found anything Of the kind,
we should have taken myrtle or branches Of
an evergreen tree) Then we selected some
bright-colored autumn leaves of smallish
size, and, as we knew mother would be home
early. hurried TO the house, though we were
10th TO 90. While We were gone, Harry had
nailed the boards on the window castings,
and with carpet tacks we fastened the cur
tains on the projecting edges, where they
were gathered, so as TO leave the part doubled
down for heading" above the board,
taking care 10 keep them gathered evenly,
excepting we had them a little the fullest
where they came together in the middle.
We sorted out some of our brightest and
freshest eyergreeus and fastened them around
where the curtains were tackled, put clusters
OF autumn leaves, arranged with reference to
their different shades and colors, at the CORP
ers and in the middle, then twisted together
some Of the vine aud, with a bunch Of leaves
at the end, looped them back.
GLOW pretty they do look didn't think
they'd begin to look so well" said Janet,
whose faith, ! knec, was much smaller than
grain Of mustard seed.
We had got the last one finished, aud
Harry was taking double shuttle in the mid
die Of the room, by way of expressing his
delight, when we heard the click Of the
gate-latch and with Mothers coming" we
all rushed from the room. When she came
in we girls were in the kitchen hurrying
about supper, and Harry, with the milk-pails
on his arm, was leaning against the corner
Of the house, "just to See what she'd say"
After she had rested bit and given us
some account of her visit, she took lighted
lamp aud started 10 put her bonnet and
shawl away in the spare closet. She soon
came back with a look OF astonishment.
{" What have you girls been up to, I'd like to
know? ?"
Been up with the curtains, mother"
We could hear Harry chuckling around the
corner.
"Why, how In the world did you fix 'em
never saw anything look so neat and pretty
in my life"
They were charming 10y lamp light. We
told her all about it,
"Well, | declare and so cheap, too"
Yes 1t ,ods cheap--only little willing aid
from Harry, that made him still nearer to
us, and a delightful ramble in the woods,
that otherwise we should not have had and
while our lace curtains are joy forever"
not the least of our enjoymentis is the thought
that we are in debt to no man for their
beauty.
Oh, We who wish for means wherewith to
adom your houses, there is not hillside
forest, not bank of a singing brooklst, not
fern or moss-covered rock, not an old rail
fence. but what will give you that which
will make your home bright and beautiful,
and so cheap