The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-03-16
"WHEN COMPANY COMES"

There, Jenny, this is all right now
They had been clearing and rearrang-
ing their luXuriant parlor, and COW that
the work was done, the last particle of
dust removed and everything set back in
place, Mrs. Lane looked about her with
the utmost complacency and there was .
world of satisfaction in her voice as she
said:
There, Jenny, this is all right now.
Drop the curtains and then the room will
be ready for company any time;' and she
went out closing the door behind her
carefully.
Left alone, Jenny dropped upon sofa
opposite large mirror, and looking
around the room with its graceful APP
p"intments, she sighed heavily, saying to
herself, lit is pleasant here with the
beautiful sunshine streaming in. l do
wish we could sit here part of the time in
stead of always staying in those little
uingy back rooms l believe we should
all feel better; but then, mother don't
think So" and she rose YEARLY to darken
the room.
An hour later Mr. Lane strobe rapidly
up tie graveled walk, with all the haste
which hungry businessman feels
when approaching his home at dinner
time. Turning the knob hurriedly he
wheeled impatiently about and walked
round to the side-door, muttering to him.
self:
Il wish Maria wouldn't keep forever
locking that door-as if the front hall was
too good for man to walk through in his
own house."
The dining-room was empty and dark,
and after waiting few minutes he pro
ceedcd to the kitchen where, as he expect
ed, his wife and girls were just setting the
dinner upon the table.
The room was hot, uncomfortable and
swarming with flies, the floor was dirty
and the air filled with the odOrs of burned
bread and fried meat
His brow contracted when he sat down
to the ill-cooked meal that was served up
on a soiled table cloth beside hot stove,
and he bit his lip in vexation that his
wife did not think him worthy of any
better treatment than that. But expert
ence had taught him that remonstrance
was tOOlshness.
Il told you that was going to keep
the dining room nice after it was painted
and fixed up" she explained.
"It your cousin Eunice felt as if she
must 60 home, was willing to have her
go, SO we could shut up the front part of
the house, and keep the furniture from
fading, and put away the best dishes.
never should have anything decent if
wasn't particular with what I've got, and
tina, is why have to be SO careful of the
best things.
II have got the dining room fixed to my
mind now, and mean to keep it so as
long as l can; we can just as we'll eat in
the kitchen, when there is nobody here
but ourselves"
Mr.. Lane rushed from the house as
soon as he had swallowed his unrel-
ished dinner, leaving his wife to wonder
that he spent so little of his time at
ONE.
80, Jenny, what did you put on that
pink dress for?"
Mrs. Lane looked up from her work in
CONSERVATION, when Jenny came from her
room an hour later.
"Your old calico is plenty good enough
to wcar-when there is nobody here,
and do you go and take this right off,
and hang it away until we have com.
pany.'
i" l won't hurt it any, MOTHER" the girl
replied hesitatingly. ~ am sure We
want to look we'll for ourselves, and
think father likes to see US fixed up lit.
tic sometimes" q
Nonsense, child. Do as I tell you
and don't you put that on again unless
there is somebody here; it is setting
Fanny bad example, and l won't en-.
courage such silly notions"
Days and weeks went by and the sum.
mcr slipped into autumn, while the Lanes
were still pursuing the even tenor of their
way, save now and then when they were
loslled aside little by the advent of Wis.
itOrs. * Il 77E&
But they always fell back on their old
habits as soon as the company had gone
shutting up their pleasantest rooms and
putting away the prettiest and best of CIV.
erything to save for company. ---
1t is strange how Mr.. Lane could have
been in pleasant mood when his coffee
was muddy-it wasn't worth the while tc
make anything nice for ones own folks
when the toast was burned, and the break
fast table looked SO shabby with its ole
cracked dishes, it is strange how he could
have been in a pleasant mood, but b.
smiled and looked kindly at his wife on,
morning nr0nnsinu uyh az che 1oxo1 <o !, no,