The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-11-23

lor conn ulu SnuC nlmSeI up because
the dining-room was so full of an evening
with two tumultuous boys, and the lit
| tie woman wanted to see her husband
during the only leisure hour she had out
of the twenty-four.
81 should just move all the delicate
things into the little library there out
of the way of the children. That room
is rather bare, and they will make it
more attractive. Leave the pictures,
they are safe, and it is good to have
pretty objects for young eyes to rest
upon. Put the covers ON to your furni-
ture, large drugget over your carpet,
and take that other bay window for
Polly and the baby play corner. 1t is
sunny and snug, and the lookout always
amuses them; and at night you can
Just drop the curtains before the recess
and hide their little clutter without dis
turbing it. In the other window there
is room for your table and chair, and
close by the machine. There you can
sit as in a bower with your flowers
about you, pleasant view outside, and
everything cheerful, wholesome and
pretty, three very important things to
a woman. Keep up the open fire, it is
worth dozen furnaces, and have a
thermometer to be sure you don't get
too warm, that takes all the strength
out OF you, and makes taking cold
easy"
at wouldn't take long to make the
change. John isn't coming home to
dinner, so we can be ready by night, if
you can really stop and see me through
the job. [ declare feel better already,
for l am tired to death of that back
room, and don't wonder Polly is always
teasing to go in parlor.' The boys
will dance for joy to get full swing
here. They are never allowed it, ex-
cept Sundays, and then they behave
nicely and seem to enjoy the piano and
pretty things and 50 does John. Yes,
IN do it right away, and up jumped
Mrs. Bennett, finding her most power
full impetus in the thought of pleasing
father and the boys"
Working and talking busily together
the friends soon made the necessary
change below, to the great delight of
Polly and the entire bewilderment of
the baby, who fell asleep on the best
sofa, as if bound to make the most of
his comforts while they lasted.
A hasty lunch, and then, with Biddy
to lug heavy articles, they rearranged
the chambers, making splendid nur-
sery of the large one, nice sleeping
room of the smaller one for the chill
dren.
"Now you see you can undress them
by this pleasant crate, and then put
them away in cool, quiet place to
sleep undisturbed by you older people
Only be sure the little mattresses and
bed clothes get good airing and sun
ming every day. You can shut the door
and let them lie for hours, as you
couldn't in the back room, and that is
a great advantage" said Mrs. Gay,
who was in high spirits at carrying
everything before her in this fine style
cit is lucky we seldom have guests
to sleep in winter, for that north room
isn't at all my idea of best chamber.
though we have put some of my pretty
things there. feel like company my
self in here, and John won't know
what to do with so much space, I've
kept him cramped so long. 1t does
seem shame to shut up this big room
and not enjoy it. Mary, l have been
goose, and I'm glad you came and told
me So"
Contented with that confession, Mrs.
Gay kissed her convert, and leaving
Biddy to finish off, she took her depart
ure, with many last injunctions about
air, oatmeal, brown bread and sun
shine"
When Mr.. Bennett and the boys, who
had been enjoying holiday, came
home to tea, amazement fell upon them
at the sight of mamma and the babies
waiting in the new sitting-rOom with
the announcement that there was not
going to be best parlor any more.
When the events of the day had been
explained and discussed, sort of iubi-
lee ensued; for all felt that pleasant
change in the domestic atmosphere had
taken place, and all enjoyed it i'm
mensely. Mrs. Bennett played, and the
boys and Polly danced, while papa
frolicked with baby, who forgot his
teeth and crowed gleefully till bed time.
OF course Mr.. Bennett had his joke
about women's notions, and his doubts
do w OiC ouCCCoo VI UHC pan, DuG duy-
thing that cheered up his wife pleased
him, for his heart sank at the thought
of home without her, and Florida was
a most distasteful idea to him. He ex-
pressed much satisfaction at his i'm
proved quarters, however, and that re-
paid Mrs. Bennett for the sacrifice she
had made, though he, being man,
could never guess how great one it
was.
1t took some time to get fairly settled,
but the sunny side of things grew more
anG more delightful, as the change of
scene and better influences did their
quiet work. The children soon showed
the effects of the daily sunshine, the
well aired chambers, simpler food, and
cheerful place allotted to them, for
these little creatures show as quickly
as flowers their susceptibility to natural
laws. Polly was never tired of looking
out of the window at the varying
phases of street life, and her observa-
tions thereupon gave her mother many
Il hearty laugh.
Baby throve like dandelion in
spring, though infantile ills OCCASION
ally vexed his happy soul; for the mis-
taken training of months could not be
rectified all at once, or teething made
easy.
Mrs. Bennett had her moments of