The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-02-26
A NEEDED REFORM. .

Being Also the story of Fire Screen
Plague on that screen r
Standing with Mildred Weyman in
the door of her parIor, you would moi
have thought her language too strong.
The room was of fair size, light and
lofty woodwork heavy paneIed oak
ceiling white; walls delicate misty
gray, with a green and gilt border
window-shades gray, picked out with
gold, overhung with open white
drapery; 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 q black
velvet background, bordered by more
impossible vine of iutensest green.
tWining about a crimson column. II
mad been accounted masterpiece in lis
day, twenty years ago, when her eldest
sister slowly and painfully wrought IL.
It had long been an eye.sore to Mildred.
but the great, empty fireplace looked
even worse, so she was fain to let it stay.
lndefault of anything better. She had
thought herself alone when her discon.
tent found vent in the emphatic exprea-
sion / have recorded, but ii reached
another ear, for Will Winston put his
head inside the hall with.
"What are you swearing about
Milly?"
am not swearing, but that horrid
old thing is enough to make me do it. p
Then, her face Frightening,
90 Will If you will help me 7
can get rid of it entirely"
What is your notion ?"
First you must make me frame of
smooth plank that viii just fit inside
the mantel. Let it come ont ever the.
edges of the fireplace and then fit it in
2 sort of recess about four sizes
smaller"
How much is siza?"
Something larger than your com.
pFehension. But come out to the work
bench. I'll show You what / want
They were cousins and great friends
these young folks. OF course the world
insisted they were something mora
whereat they often laughed heartily
Each liked the other better than anv
one else, but Will was quite sure that
hls wife must not firb an outrance as
Milly would do, and Nilly thought VIII
the best fellow in the world. but So
dreadfully matter-o fact. They were
quite agreed that they never could be
lovers, and 7 think were sincere. for
Mlliy did rot mind his seeing hair in
crepe pins, anil Will was altogether in
different to the fact that she kneg he
Waxed his mustache. In all Joint en.
terprises, Milly, in virtue ot her QUICK
eieverness, was engineer, and viii. the
brawny. muscular machine, was won
derfnlly 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 gerpentine
mark that should have been straight.
1 want Q chaw of terbacker and
that's what's the matter with me. y
The hateful stuff. It has almost
ruined yonr nerves now What viii
you be by the time you are fifty 2"
Don9 know. It's awfulIy comfort
ing now. Couldn't get on without it.
Awfully diseomfo ting to tho rest of
the world. You tobacco. chewers can
have 10 idea how disagreeable il is for
the girls to talk 10 you. =
q You do suppress ii heroically. I
have never seen the least manifestation
of such d thing"
After that modest speech, let's go
70 work again.
Well, this affair Is ready for the
bottom. How nnnst that be r.
fF = - Z
Z Saw two bits Of plank, two by three
inches nail them outside on the lower
corners put strip three inches vide
from one to the other. Put the bottom
an inch from the lower edge of this
let itslope 70 the back to secure drain
age.
Drainage7 \ I don't understand. /
z do as + tell yoa. You will in
time,
" VII ron leave this thing les natu-
raj eolor?f
I'D like to stain il oak. As I cant,
1 must whiteWash il. =
" Whitewash rubs Of.
= Not my eort, which was this, and
r recommend it to all in need of the
article. from Credit Mobilierists down,
or up Into ono gallon Of sweet milk
stir powdered lime Till q little thicker
than cream. add 4 teacupful of turpen-
tine, stir veil ana apply with paint
brush, almost e4HaI 10 white lead.