Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-07-22

they had been eating their ST ppers. ga
Teller can't get within ten feet of that
lamp! But I'm going to have the locking
chair, any way" and he made a spring to-
ward it, just as Lily, who had foreseer
what he was about to do, seated herself in
it.
81 got here first, and | m going to KEEP
it, said the girl, stoutly, trying to shove
her brother off.
mo, you're not You sat in it night
before last for Whole hour, and you just
now heard me say. | wanted it, and you
thought you'd head me off, and that isn't
fair" retorted Jack, persisJing in his eff
forts to secure the coveted seat.
Tut, tut W hats all this hubbut
about ?" inquired Mr.. Newton, coming in
at that moment. "You can't both sit in
the rockingchair, children. Go into the
sitting room Jack, and bring out another
one.''
The children stared. Did the father
really mean it ? But Mr.. Newton had al
ready started back to his office, and Jack
instantly recovering his senses, fearful
that the order might be countermanded by
his mother, hurried into the. front sitting
room and re-appeared a moment after
hauling gayly upholstered folding chair
which he drew up before the stand just as
his mother appeared in the doorway
''Dear me !" she exclaimed, 81 don't see
what your father means by allowing you
to have that nice chair out here to spoil.
The cover will be so black in a week that
it'll never do to be put ba OK into the sit
tlng-room.
"Well, what's the use putting it back
there to be shut up and never put to any
good use? It's the very thing to rest a
tired boy" laughed Jack. "The Lewises
have a chair like this in their sitting room
only not quite SO stylish; and l tell you
you they take solid comfort out of it.
think their sitting room is the prettest
place in Brompton.'
''They haven t got very many nice things
in it-not half so nice as GU rs" lisped Jen-
ny, the youngest of the FIVE.
cts for use and not for show, and it's
pretty enough for anybody, too; and I
wish ma would let us go down there every
evening. They always have such good
times at their house." answered Jack.
II don't see why you children can't be
more contented at bome,' remarked Mrs
Newton. eff we had a palace of gold, l
verify believe you'd be signing to get away
from it to spend your evenings in some
body's garrett. But that s the way with
some people-they never know when the re
well off, and she sighed to think how lit
tie her deluded progeny appreciated their
blessings.
Notwithstanding all their supposed ad-
vantages, the discomfort Of the Newton
children did not grow less, and their de-
sire to spend their evenings at the homes
Of their school-fellows increased. Their
playmates rarely visited them, intuitively
feeling they were not very welcome to the
female head of the house. "Youngsters
always make such muss and a racket"
was her comment.
One bright day in early spring, Mrs.
Lewis, who was something of an invalid,
and had hitherto been prevented from
visiting Mrs. Newton since her removal
into her new home, called on that lady and
was duly shown through the handsome
rooms.
''It is perfect do not believe it could
be improved upon!' was her enthusiastic
praise, land you have displayed such good
taste in furnishing! 1t is all charming,
but the prettiest thing about it in my esti-
nation is this lovely little verandah opening
from the back parlor. can imagine how
you will enjoy it summer afternoons and
evenings. Here you can bring your rock
ing chair with your book or sewing. At
this side MI. Newton can enjoy his cigar
undisturbed and undisturbing, while these
clustering vines will make a delightful re-
treat for the children who, with very little
play of the imagination, can fancy them
selves in the country"
YES" replied Mrs. Newton, in rath-
er embarrassed way, "but we will not
probably make use of it. for the only way
to get to it is through the parlor, and my
new carpets would soon be ruined if [ al
lowed Mr.. Newton and the children to
run through whenever they chose, and of
course, if we used the rooms so commonly,
in short time they would not be fit for
company, you know"
Mrs. Lewis made no reply. She looked
at the handsome things about her on all
sides, and while her hostess ratified away
glibly on the subject of wall decoration,
dadoes and frescoing, was plying the
owner of all this splendor, from the depths
Of her heart.
"Oh!" she thought, this is not home
this is only house; merely place where
husband, wife and children can eat, drink
and sleep. This mother has no apprecia-
ton of the blessed uses of real, true
home: The best and cheeriest of all she
possesses is denied her own household and
reserved for strangers. -
81 would not exchange places with Mrs.
Newton for the world,'' she said, while
speaking of her afternoon visit that even
ing to her husband, as they sat by their
own cozy sitting room lire, before the
lamps were lighted, while the shadows
danced and chased each other like merry
sprites over wall and ceiling, giving occa-
sional gllmpses of chintz-cushioned easy
chairs, pretty mantel ornaments made by
her own hands, a bright rug before the
hearth, bracket here and there, a few pic
lures on the walls, and scarlet table GOV.
or strewn with books and papers, just as
childish hands had left them II Like ela