Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-05-04
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authors, he carved the finest thing you
ever saw. Over the top was mass of
water lilies, magnolias, and golden rods,
and dropping down the sides were vines
Of the trailing arbutus," he called it,
but for all the world our own May flower.
Why, the library was just a picture be-
fore anything went into it It's years
ago, and folks haven't done wondering at
it yet. Id not have done it, for ten
thousand dollars.
When it was all done, and the chips
all swept out, the Squire invited a party
to see his improvements. Not a large
party, but some choice friends from Bos-
ton and New York, and some acquaint-
ances he'd made in travelling, and an
Englishman, who had written books him.
self, who was stopping with him. And
the best of all was, he invited Rash and
his mother too. He did now, really!
Rash, he went to Boston and bought
her new black silk, good one, and a
dress cap-widder's cap, they called it.
He'd had good wages for overwork good
while.
1t was wonderful bright moonlight
night, and as sat by my door, smoking,
I saw them pass. Mrs. Hennings had
on her new black silk, opened from the
neck to the waist in front, and some fine
old yellow lace in the neck, festooned
with her little black pin, and her earrings
on, and her widders cap and her net
shawl, and new lsylock kid gloves on
her hands. Shapely hands, too, if she
did work; and in one of EN- a fine old
Japanese fan, which her grandfather had
brought home in some Of his voyages.
And Rash! He'd grown to be tall
lad-almost young man, and really out
of his time now, with rosy checks and
black, curly hair, and just a shade on
his upper lip. And his clothes fitted as
well as if they were wet and clung to
him. l tell you, as he stepped along with
his mother, Rash looked "good enough
to eat" So Eliza said.
The Squire invited them to the house
and took EN- all into the wonderful libra
~ to have coffee, or ices or something.
Whatever it was, it was a mere excuse
to get them there. When he began to
show his alcoves and explain them; and
when they'd seen all the taste and judg-
ment he'd showed in picking out his flow
ers and leaves and vines to match the
kinds Of books, and everybody had ad-
mired it, the English author, was spec
tally struck, the Squire brought in Rash,
and introduced him as "the artist" and
introduced him and his mother to every
body. And he got one order from New
York man on the spot; and the English
man said to him, that zone who could
house books so royalty must do it for love
of them, as well as love of his work.
And he said something Rash didn't tell,
(but his mother did, most forgot, about
its being a wonderful country, where ev-
en- its artisans had the manners Of gen.
tlemen. At least, it was either artist or
artisans, don't know which.
As Rash handed his mother cup OF
tea, he said in a low voice, 'Now mother
isn't it better to be first.carpenter than
such a poor professor as l should have
made:"
II don't think you would have failed
at anything" she answered.
But the Squire heard her and laughed.
II don't know about that" says he,
"many a good mechanic is spoiled to
make poor professional man. It's far
better to be sure the work is your own
work, and Is the best of its kind, than tc
be notional about the kind of work; and,
by the by, Horatio, here's bit of spend
ing money for you, and Ill come round
tomorrow and get q receipt in full.
So ended this royal evening. Next
day the Squire called round and proposed
that Rash should 60 to New York, and
study with an artist friend Of his, who
was also an architect, for year. As for
the envelope, it had check for thous-
and dollars; (the work was done dog
cheap at that-I'd not have done it for
twice that, if could have done it at all. }
So now, Rash's fortune was made. He
m ade lots CT money with his designs and
carvings, and now he's married to the
Squire's daughter; and lives in Fifth av-
enue! Not bit of it. He came back
and married little Bessie Playne, my pet,
and has a pretty place at Yonkers, and
the widder lives there, too.
guess they get on pretty well. Both
the women think that Rash is perfection,
IL 4