The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-10-12
BLUEBEARDESS'S ROOM.

BLUEBEARDESS'S ROOM.
The secret chamber was located in the
east side of the house, on the second floor
and before the mystery began in it, was a
good, ordinary room set apart for the
special use of the eldest daughter, but
open to the knocks of mother or any OF
the children.
However, the mystery began soon after
father presented the house to his flock
and informed them that they were to
migrate no more! He stood among his
juniors on this occasion like the chief who
had found permanent hunting-grounds
and shouted, " Alabama! Here we rest
here we restW
Now the family was one who could ap-
preciate home. People who have spent
their lives in "rents," and regularly on
the first of May have smashed their furni-
ture, and lost their children and their
silver, and meandered mournfully from
street to street, sitting on the top of their
goods and uttering jeremiads, or singing
"I would not live away"-learn to ap-
preciate to the fullest extent a house
of their own if they ever achieve one.
considerably better than any ybody's else
from its portfolios you can defy all NOR.
tai foes except DEATH and even death is
obliged to take you down in decent and
respectable way from your own house, so
no visions of fumigating successors, ask
ing what disease you died of, troubleyour
last moments!
The family were settled in that long
promised land-a home of their own
and the possession was duly divided up.
Of course common ground was made OF
the first floor, but on the second floor
boundary lines were drawn. The heads
of the house spread their pavilion in the
large west room, and opening from 1T was
a nursery where the small fry could wrig.
gle. Laurestine sat down in the east
room, Jessie took all her finery into the
most cunning of northward-looking dens
and Jerome's boots and meerschaums
found suitable sanctum. They were
not rich family; indeed they were just
getting off the edge of reduced circum
stances; but they now foresaw comforta
BILE days. Smiles shone from the wrin
kles of the elder face and danced in the
dimples of the younger. Father walket
as if the world were hardening under hi
feet, and mother commiserated all her &C
quaintances in lodgings or rents"
The first step toward earthly bliss wa
taken for, says happy, chatty woman
"next to having home in heaven
there's nothing like having home OF
earth %
But the next step!
Furniture good enough for migrator!
living may seem very mean and INSULT
cient in ones own house. A cry rose al
over the promised land
Jessie would not in the least mind ]
she had to sleep on a shelf in her bed
room, but her heart bled for the parlo
and dining-room! Mother knew tn,
furniture was poor, but this was trifiini
circumstance compared to the state o
the table; the house seemed to demand
certain quantity of china and silver, ant
she did not see how life could be sup
ported withoutit. What were scratched
piano and poor chairs to the mortifica
ton of sitting down with such CROKER.
as they had? Jerome only stipulate'
that things should be cotton up on
magnificent scale generally, and Lanres
tines great eyes were full from mornin
till highland from night till morning
perhaps - of visions of majolica an
1aience, and bronze and rich woods.
But there stood the head of the famil
with his hard, honest hands in hi
pockets, stopping all possible leakage
Mol No, my dears! Can't do anythin
of the kind this year Hard times
very! Great step to get home thes
times; mustn't overthrow it with fanc
full wantsl The head OF the family pal
as be went, and built everything u
strong from the foundation, and his bus
ness did not warrant a stately pleasure
dome such as Kubla Khan or the wome
, might decree! Necessities and col
yeniences first, and nick-nacks afte
! ward
Jessie, for her part, wished she cou
see any necessities and convenlenc
!. which they really had, and she made
storm, but was obliged to grumble herse
, down to the inevitable. Mother acknow
C edged, as she always did, the wisdom
Q the man who was leading to sure pre-
q perity, and Jerome thought the place W
!. comfortable enough, after all.
But Laurestine accepted her father
. views, and gave them deeper interpr
!. tation than he could have done. She sa
,s the beauty of building up home, wi
q ever advancing and loving labor; SON
i thing beyond upholstery was demande
She was bright, ingenious girl, wi
. open eyes for opportunities. And aftel
n while she shut up her room, and it |
p came "the secret chamber"
}, It was "the secret chamber" all vi
n ter. Lsurestine carried the key, ar
inasmuch as it was entirely her own,
body had right to complain; still ,wh
c one of a family makes a mystery, the r.
d league against it. Jerome called.
n eldest sister Bluebeardess, and Jes
u thought she must be preparing
g spinsterhood, guarding her premises Il
IN way.
" 1t was so provoking to run to her d'
>, for pin, or to tell her some delight
re item, and have the pin or the sisterly
~ poked out through crack
n Laurestine pleaded that she was tryi
experiments, and did not want her en-
pies used up by ridicule or criticism.
She spent merely her own leisure
re the secret chamber; and every Thursd