Ellsworth American., 1877-07-26
A Castins Home.

There Is the garret, not full of moth
eaten refuse and festooned with cobwebs,
as are the garrets of romancers, but clean,
light, and airy, the favorite plav-room of
the little folks. and the frequent resort of
their elders when the bay is to be swept
with a glass in search of an expected
pleasure boat, or 8 lookout Kept for the
first glimpse ofa gatf,topsail rs the SPY
comes creeping around Lighthouse Head,
hugglng the shore too closely tor unac-
customed eyes to distinguish the slowly
gliding masts from the stationary objects
on the bank above. There are heavy
chests filled with the discarded finery of
former generations, the Powered brocade
OF the eat-grandmother who danced
with the British officers being the chief
treasure oil the hoard. The now obsolete
spinning wheel occupies distant corner,
and ranged along the wall are decrepit
chairs with wide carved backs, and claw
footed tables too cumbrous for the taste of
the present day. Nor Is there wanting
even here that suggestion of the sea which
gives a quaint touch flavor 10 all the be-
longings OF Castine. There are rows Of
huge congh-shelIs, Tor which fashion no
longer demands place upon the parlor
mantel- piece. and boxes OF curiosities col,,
lected by childish hands; there ara mass
es OF coral rock brought home by the boys
from VIE ballast wharf, and delicate coral
fans, the gift OF some sailor friend from
tropical seas while the dOor is ornament
ed with rows OF star-fish and sea-nrchins
which the children of to-day have laid in
the sun TO dry. In the chambers below,
the curtained beds and cushioned arm
chairs OF old time are. set OF by quaint en-
cravings or richly toned paintings, re-
mnders Of Mediterraneaa ssGsgsA and. Of
hurried v!Si's 10 art capitals aierS the.
coast The Bay Of Naples, or the viIla.'
crowned height Of Geno. smiles from the
walls upon the scarcely less beautiful
panorama OF the sea aui shoes outside the
windows: aud the sewing tsote Is adorHed
With o basket lt finest workmanship, the
gift OF the sailor sCn who remembers in
Eastern bazars his mothers stitching and
meuling III the days u his bosterous
youths. Her daughters bureau drawers In
the opposite room arc stored with foreign
treasures All her garments smell Of
rnvrths Rlocs, and cssGa. When she goes
10 paw xSslte she attires herself In q shawl
SO woAdfapsfy embroidered a. to be above
the capricCs OF fashion rrsA h"r IVORY card
case is a miracle of yTiucse art The
grave fathtr OF the fswlty cuts lfs Boston
Transcript With = saudsl-woOd PAPER
knife, aud writes his business letters At
solid desk 81 camphor-wood, whose mas
sive brass frame fairly lights W the corner z
OF the sittiug room. where i ha- an abid-
tag- place aul table OF its own
In the pArlor the mautel piece i gay
with thu artistically grouped feathers Of
rfopiCal birds; upon the shelves OF the
what-not are gia-, jar. Of the spices Of
Ceylon, arranged IN the VARIOUS dstessf,-
meuts OF thciI truitage the drawers OF the
bookcases are full of Chinese picture.
innocent Of perspective and brilliant in
coloring; Ia. table i strcwn with ingen-
lou, puzzles; sui i never-iaiI,ug source
ot amu>rtnent for stranger guests is The
Japauc>; fyn, whisI, Drs.ped Alright, ofer-
a brave sh~w 4 c0st1rned figures; aud
reverses, Norstfes into rays aud empty
STICKS. Even tRe dinning-toom anA khch-
en- partahc OF the foreign element which
the great and wide sea bring. 70 this
rrmot, shore Every one Ia the house
recognizes IN" subtle fragrance when a
certain tiny sanccpa, y brought into r.
qIiSton, aul the children rejoice - see
iiupou the tcA-table Tie ilt!e p.aaJAr, prua
mcuted with wltery lin5-capss..YrhiSh
hint, OF preserved ginger within.
Nor l. it alone the great square houses
that contain these cosmopolitan treasures.
The neat whlte-cottagcs by the shore are
made picturesque by their imported be-
loncIn.s. Queer besds aui heatheu-h
necklaces dauglr from the frames of the
lookiug glasses exquisite shells adorn the
bureau in the best room; and the tame
gray parrot sis on the fence and scoldS
the pa>Ser~-nv iu foreign jlrgou. but
with an emphasis Enthusiastically su-ges-
tive Of his meaning -. Elizabeth f.. Evans. .
in Huptr's .NigI-ulc .f9r 1ayilS..