The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-04-26

Tho plan of Walden Cottage was no
quite satisfactory to these young people, 81
they worked diligently till they had wrought
out another This consisted of four rooms
and the most convenient closets, shelves
and drawers ever seen. 1t was painted
brown, with red roof and portieo, and before
1t was built they put up trellises at conven-
lent distances from its site, and set out roses
ivy, woodbine, and honeysuckles, so that il
mi ght be really beautiful. The rooms were
furnished very simply, but as they both
loved beautiful things, they succeeded in
producing lovely effect. The walls were
finished in coarse gray plaster, but nothing
could be better as background for a few
choice engravings they had-the 'Sistine
Madonna" Oorreggio's DIANA" "Mona
Lisa" and Guido's "Archsngel Michael"
"If we have only an earthen pitcher, y
said Corydon, 1--WE will choose the most
graceful one of its kind which is to be
found"
On this principle they bought everything
with the greatest care, and their cottage
was beautiful.
1t is needless TO FAY that they did not con-
template Oorydon's remaining in the law.
He hated it, aud, indeed, had no taste for it,
but after leaving college he knew not what
else TO do. His true bent was in the direc-
tion of literary study. This was the case
with Phyllis also. Yet neither had suffi-
cient genius to make such study lucrative.
Such people are unfortunate, because,
though they certainly benefit the world,
they do it indirectly, and it is not appar-
emily worth anybody's while to pay them
for the work they do. If the bent is strong
it often incapacitates them for other kinds
of literary work, like that of a clergyman,
teacher, or lawyer, as they lack the power
of dealing with other people. If they are
rich, all goes well. If poor they
have these alternatives: they may do work,
uncongenia1 work, and by courage and per-
severance perhaps succeed in it, but they
will always have a sense of dragging
through their lives; or they may reduce
their expenses to the minimum, and If they
are able to earn that minimum by little
manual labor, which is often less trying to
a sensitive nature that contact with people,
they may lead peaceful and happy lives,
and, on the whole, perhaps the most useful
lives possible to persons of such temper
ament.
Now though Coryden did not like the
law, he was not lazy. He was interested
in gardening, thoug CD not to the degree ne
cessary to make fortune as market-gar-
dener. BE was fond of pets, too, and had
a flock of chickens which he enlarged some
what in order TO exc out his purse with the
proceeds of the eggs. He had a few bee
hives too. He had kept them thus far for
his own amusement, but he resolved now 10
sell the honey.
Coryden and Phyllis were engaged
vaar hafora fhoxv xrraro roarriad in xuhtoh
time be built their house, Afeerward the
proceeds of his garden, his hens, and his
honey amounted to three or four hundred
dollars a year. Moreover he had a content
I'd mind, and hours and hours of leisure.
Phyllis was much like him. She loved
music, and hated being q music teacher. She
would not have liked to do house work
or other people, but in her own home
he enjoyed the exercise almost as much as
lanciEg. And she thought nothing in
he world SO coy and deIig ntful as to sew
all the evening long and while Coryden read
aloud to her. Of course her household
csres were not as onerous as they would
nave been if she had had large house, fine
or had been interrupted constant.
y by fashionable calls. Neither was the
sewing the burden it would have been if
Dr. had insisted in on having all her. under
clothes deliberately ruffied andtucked. She
eserved one neat black cashmere dress for
great occasions; but at home, morning and
summer and winter, she wore
he prettiest and and cleanest cal
Goes. She liked variety too. If she wore
pink calico in the morning, with wild. i
'ose in her hair, she wore blue one, with
orget me-nots, in the afternoon.
Without being q beauty, Phyllis had GER
ain points of beauty-a clear healthy CON-
Dlexion, dark abundant hair, bright eyes,
md a pleasant mouth. She had a nice arm
md wrist too, and as it was convenient to
make her summer calicoes with elbow sleeves,
.hese showed to advantage Corydon was
, healthy young man too. His complexion
Was almost as fresh as that of Phyllis. His
brown hair was just the shade to make navy
blue flannel shirts very becoming to him,
which was fortunate, for it was not only
10 wear them about his work,
but while his wife was her own laundress
be would have scorned to wear linen except
On great occasions.
On the whole, they were very attractive
looking couple as they sat down to their
breakfast table in the morning, or lounged
under the trees, receiving their caller. in the
afternoon. By-the-wsy, their breakfast table
was always charming, though they could
not afford Sevres-ware, or even Wedgwood.
1t was much more charming than if they
could afford majolica, Corydon said. If
they could not have plate fashioned like a
grape leaf to hold bunch of grapes, they
could at least lay dewy grape leaves on their
neat white plates; and fresh cherries and
currants in plain glass dishes looked almost
as besutifulas if the glass had been engraved.
Of course they had enough solid work
to make them happy, but not too much;
tor the truth is, so much of the work in the
world is done for the sake OF keeping up an
appearance that those who start with the
idea of being perfectly unconventional save
SO much that it need not be burden even
if they do have their own work to do, like
Corydon and Phyllis.
In their leisure Phyllis taught Corydon 10
play on the piano, and they practiced class
ical duets together; and Corydon taught
Phyllis Greek, and they read hundred
delightful things, from Pindar 10 Plato.
BIT indeed 1 need not enlarge upon their
pleasant occupations. You know, you all
secretly believe, that if you only had leis-
ure eaough, you could find uncounted
charming things to do. Now they did ex-
actly what you would do if you had plenty
Of leisure and the-person you loved best in
the world to share it with you.
They had company enough. 1t was
quite ssthe thing" for the Young people Of