The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-07-18

Smlllng lace towards my Detter nall,
who was so loud in his praise of my
work that I felt it would be in my power
to "conquer world" should occasion
arise for such heroic on my part,
Returning to the trunk, l brought
out piece of cretonne. The pattern
was cluster of crimson rose buds on a
dark brown ground. 1t made pretty
covers for my lounge, and for the great
easy chair that stood in the corner of
the dining room. l made lambre-
quin of cretonne, cut it in squares and
edging each square with narrow red
fringe, fastened it on the mantel with
small brass tacks.
Two pretty hassocks were formed by
cutting four circular pieces out of the
material; two straight pieces about a
quarter of yard in width, and of
sufficient length to go around the cir
cular pieces, were cut lengthwise of the
goods. Lining all the pieces with stout
muslin, 1 sewed them together and fill
ed each hassock with sawdust. A cur
tain of cheese cloth, made in the same
style as those in my bedroom, was put
up at the dining room window and
drawn back with loops made of Gre
tonne.
cut sixteen patches five inches
square from lot of gray samples l
found in the trunk, and sewing them
together formed large square. Cut
ting three yards and quarter of dark
bordering directly through the centre,
l sewed it firmly around the square,
making it bias at each corner SO that it
could be formed into proper shape. 1
then blasted black star braid along each
seam and Scat stitched" it with red
silk floss. Ball fringe, about three in
ches deep, finished the square around
the edge and l am quite sincere in say
ing that the cover for my dining room
table is really beautiful. Two pretty
rugs, one in front of the lounge and
another in front of the eaey chair,
make the room pretty enough to suit
the most fastidious taste.
I was determined that my kitchen
should have all the conveniences that
could crowd into it. have horror
of seeing clothing hang against kitch-
en- wall and articles lying about here,
there and everywhere. Will had al
ready earned the title, "Jack of all
trades" so that he felt quite equal to
the task of putting up closet. He fas-
tened row of hooks against the back,
which made it just the place for garden
hats and clothing worn for outdoor
work. Imade curtain of brown linen
which I gathered at the top, thus hid
ing the interior from view. A brown
linen bag hanging on nail at the side
of the closet, answered as receptacle
for string, and all the little odds and
ends that are sure to accumulate around
a kitchen. spent an hour in making
curtain of white plaid muslin which 1
hung at the window; and placing a
small mirror against the wall so that, in
case company should arrive unexpected
ly, 1 would be able to make myself
presentable before going to receive
them. I seated myself in the little
straw rocking-chair standing close by
the window where Will found me
few moments later, humming the open
ing bars of "Home, Sweet Home" F"
One morning, nearly three months
from the day on which entered the
old house bride, Wills father came
to visit us. shall never forget his
look of astonishment as his gaze wan
dered over our well kept garden and
costly furnished house. He came to
me, and laying his hand upon my head,
said in voice that trembled just the
least bit. "The old place has been
transformed past all recognition. Wills
wife is worth her weight in gold" and
turning towards Will who stood in the
background smiling contentedly, he
held out his hand, and said "Here,
my boy, is a check for ten thousand
dollars, take it with my blessing: l
feel that you will be successful in every
thing you undertake. You thought the
old father was treating you pretty
shabby to put you on old Hubb's di-
lapidated farm, eh Don't yousee what
I wanted to find out 1 am satisfied in
my own mind that you could have
fought the battle of life, unassisted by
me, but the aid that I have given you
will make things easier for your brave
little wife, who has worked so faithfully
to help you through your difficulties.
The check proved real blessing.
We have one of the finest farms in the
country; though Will declares that the
little woman who stood by him and as
sisted him in his efforts to gain foot
hold, is far dearer than all the rest of
his possessions.