The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-04
A SCARLET ROOM.

blessed be scarlet flannel" said
Laura Gay, land blessed be the man
who invented it,
She had certainly done wonderful
things with it, and viewed her work
with pardonable pride. Such a lovely
scarlet room as she had gotten up for
poor Cousin Annie, who was well-nigh
crazed with decade of ''plain living
and high thinking never being able,
as she said, to have her surroundings
represent her in the least, until this
deft-handed maiden appeared upon the
scene, and, waving her magical wand
of red flannel, made
the low, rude-furnished room
Burst fiower-ike into rosy bloom.
Mrs. Mathers had scarcely been de-
lighted, at first, with the advent of her
city visitor. Three small children, and
doing her own work, left little time for
extras, and she had no idea that Laura
would prove so helpful and gifted. No
airs, either, but just took right hold
and worked as though she had always
been used to it. So charmingly frank,
too; her most admired dresses, She con-
fessed, had been made out of old ones.
her bonnets were fashioned by her own
hands, until her cousin declared, half
obviously, that she believed there was
nothing those hands could not do.
But that scarlet room was her crown
ing triumph.
What is the use of your telling me, :"
said Mrs. Mathers, one day, "of the
wonderful things that can be done in
the city with little money and great
deal of genius? l am not in the city.
haven't the little money! and | GER
tainly am not gifted with genius. 1t is
like saying that things can be bought
for mere song-what then?"
She was rocking in an irritated frame
of mind in most ungainly rocking
chair, one of those hideous sprawlers
that are always entangling themselves
with peoples feet; she was fresh, too,
from the kitchen fire and " baking
day. and altogether a sense of injury
was strong upon her.
81 have never had anything wanted
in the way of furniture, -" she continued,
81 and | never expect to. like pretty
things as well as anyone, and know
them, too, when l see them; but Just
look at this parlor! 1t makes me mad
every time come into it. I've got
about twenty dollars saved from the
chicken money! have the sale of the
eggs, you know-but what would that
buy, even if they kept anything at the
stores here that one wanted?'
Laura glanced around the bare, I'M
attractive room, and said very quietly:
Curtains would be great improve
ment."
Undoubtedly they would" was the
reply, but where am to get them?'
'Will you let me spend your twenty
dollars for you,' was the smiling ques-
ton, g if | will engage to refurnish the
parlor so that you would scarcely know
itP''
"Spend it and welcome; am sure
that you will get at least hundred dol
lars worth of goods with it. Only you
will find nothing in B, my DEAR
"They keep red flannel at the stores,
I supposepn asked Laura, demurely.
81 suppose they do,' replied her
cousin.
"And unbleached muslin?''
"And unbleached muslin, to the best
of my belief. But what, in the name
of common sense, has that to do with
civilizing the parlor?'
"a great deal, ma am, as you will
speedily see; but first, as you are not a
mad bull, take it for granted that you
have no objection to scarlet?'
"None in the least; indeed, think
it beautiful color, and it wears admi-
rably."
Precisely my own sentiments; we
will 90 out this afternoon and do our
shopping"
But first, Laura, who was a very ex-
act little body, did great deal of
measuring; she measured windows,
sofa, rocking-chair, mantel-piece; eyed
a great, awkward table very severely,
and finally appeared to be satisfied.
The salesman at the dry goods and