River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-04-04
TIE WALLS AROUND EDEN.

Philip GREY and his wife, Rossmond,
emancipated themselves from boarding
house life last fall and took a flat. They
had. for $25 week, one room on q
third floor where Rosamond took care OF
the chi -dren through the day and had
breakfast ard lunch brought up to her.
When Philip came home at six o'clock,
as babies were not allowed at table, he
and she took turns going down stairs
TO dine with dozen or more ST. lish fell
low boardcrs. The house was ON a fash
icnable street ana the meHage provided
everything in the market.
From this they went to five pretty
rooms all in a ROW" beginning with the
kitchen and ending with a parlor, where
little Phil and Rose Pose could race up
and down in wild delight, and have a
big, lighted closet to themselves, to keep
playthings in. So much sunshine stream
ed into the parlor, when the curtain rolled
up in the morning, that it reached, like a
golden pathway, through the whole five
rooms if the doors were open. And light
is life said ROsamond. One flight of
stairs did not seem at all fashionable; and,
being only stones throw from the park,
she could take the children there any
hour in the day, to see the sheep, the
swans, the lake, the rocks, the whole
realm of delight.
Here they paid $50 4 month for rent,
and Rosmond found she could manage
the housekeeping On thirty more. So,
compared with boarding that lett quite a
royal margin, as she and Philip thought;
and thev began to talk of taking one or
nd 10
OF course, their was some work daily
to be done: but, as they did not have
very many dishes, there was not very
many TO be washed, and little Phil and
baby Rose found great deal OF enter
tainment in watching mamma cook.
She was not interrupted by very NANNY
callers at first. Only three or four OF her
most intimate friends found their way 10
"the Crews flat in the beginning of it.
One of these was Prue Bently, dear lit
tic Prue, with her sweet, discOnted face,
if YOU can imagin a face sweet and dis
conted at the same time The dosr-bell
rang Just as RosamOnd had finished
sweeping, and, as their modest flat did
not boast a i4nitor, she ran down to an
s3cr it herself, in her neat calico dress,
with Rose Pose trotting behind her.
Dear me. said Prue, rs the door
opened. And it must he owned her first
thought was that RosamOnd did not look
nearly as stylish as she used, in her cash
mere peigaoig, at Miss PERKINS, boarding
house.
You, darling" exclaimed Rosamond
Come right, upstairs" And as she
led the way she sang gaily:
THE way into my parlor is up awinding stair.
Aud have many curious things to show you
VIXEN you are there.
why, how lovely tins is. said Prue,
as she entered the little parlor, and look
ed from the glowing CRATE 10 the sunny
windows and then up at the picture-hung
wall And this is the most resting chair
| ever sat in" she added, as she sat down
in Rnsamond's own easy-chair.
Now, will take your hat, and you
must stay the day OUT" said her hostess.
II know YOU are tired, coming all the
way from Brooklyn; and, as soon as
you are liule rested, you shall have
some lunch"
"Oh! no. indeed Don't take that
trouble" protested Prue; remembering
that Rosamond had no servant, and think
inc there must be some fearful impossi-
bllitv about sudden lunches
''Oh. it won't be very elaborate one"
laughed Rosamond, going toward the
kitchen. Only some Niennt bread and
fresh butter and a cup of tea"
So, few minutes later, little Phil,
with snowy napkin tucked in his neck
en- qarcou, brought her on waiter the
promised lunch, and Prue enjoyed 1t.
Still cloud hung over the young fsce,
and Rosamound, noticing it, asked, at
last:
.How's Harry, nova daNss
Il don't know. I'm sure was the re-
ply, with a pitiful little CULVER in the
voice. "He quarrelied with me Saturday
night, and | hevent seen him since
"Quarrelied with youH' exclaimed
Rosamond, aghast.
IVES" and the voice tremhied vet more.
,sHe saws | don't love him rs much rs |
used TO and I'm sure he don't love me as
lie used, and SO l suppose It VII allcome
10 an end before long.
"Oh. PrueI' said her friend, 9a- l~5tly,
Don't talk so. Your own Harry, who
has been so faithful for four long years
don't believe he has taken another girl
to single entertainment or even walked
home with anybody in that time. Aud
YOU know that you refused that rich MIR.
Doane for his sake last winter: and you're
perfectly miserable if you don't see blm
as regularly as the sun"
But" said Pruc, YEARLY, sit Is so
wearing. There doesn't seem to be the
least bit more prospect of our ever being
married than there was four years ago.
Aunt SAYS we are like two parallel lines
running side by side forever, but never
going to meet and she talks TO me, and
the Girls tease, and then Harry comes,
looking careworn, and | suppose look as
il had been crying That's the way II
was Saturday night
Rosamond knew all aboutit 1t was
the old. old story: Too poor to marry :
Harry couldn't support wife Prue
aunt dressed her in velvet and sealskin
She was used TO FIVE courses at dinner
and there was a carriage for her whenever
she wanted it. Sill, she hadn't penny
of her own to share with her husband II
She married; and it 4uld have mad
matters much smoother ii Harry had been
rich man. instead of a poor bookkeepel
with twelve hundred year. He tclt L
keenly enough himself and many time
puzzled over the problem till his heac
ached. Surprising they married and paic
$50 week for board. How far woulc
two hundred go towards car fare ans
laundry bills for year, and dresses, hat:
and gloves for his dainty darling Prue
He liked to dress we'll himself, ana liked
to buy new book now and then, or I
picture. or attend fine concert. All this
ne would have sacrificed without a word
but even then he could not support Prue
But they loved one another with thel
whole hearts; so they waited on and en-
hoping that some time the twelve hun6
red would Swell 70 three thousand. BIZ
1t was four wears now and hard time
hid come, and things looked worse IN
stead OF better. So Prue's sweet fac
-. .iiccnntnnted and Harris fine eve