Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-01-30

The next fortnight was busy one. We
rose early and went to bed late, and lived in
picnic fashion, while we painted and pound
ed and planned. We we're in a state OF mind
where we wished for no advice, much less
help, from any body outside but after Jam
ming considerable plaster from the walls, and
skin from our knuckles, we decided that
there were times when a man could be made
useful, and at Nannie's suggestion a certain
young architect from the boarding house was
taken into our confidence, and did valiant
service in putting up shelves and hooks.
One Friday night, with the last screw in
the kitchen clock shelf the work was done,
aud l doubt il many brides, going into
houses luxuriously appointed without care Of
theirs, feel half the satisfaction that we did
in looking round on the result of our inRenu-
ily and hard work. And it was a right cozy
little place. There was a good sized sitting
room with two sleeping rooms opening from
1t, kitchen adjoining, a store room, Closets
etc, and as the house was on a corner, we
had the sun most Of the day.
Kate and Mamie painted the floor of their
room a soft gray, aud covered their dressing
table and washstaud with blue and drab
chintz. The one window WAS draped with
full curtains of unbleaohed cotton trimmed
aud looped back with bands Of the chintz
and low cushioned chair and ottoman were
covered with the same blue and drab cover
ing.
A low painted bedstead and chest Of draw
ers completed their furniture, and strips of
blue and gray carptting before the larger
pieces took away any suspicion Of barren.
ness.
The room Beth aud shared was precisely
similar except tba. our floor was painted a
bright warm brown, and our cretonne covers
and bits Of carpet we're scarlet and white.
But it was on our common sitting room that
we lavished our greatest skill. The three
windows we're curtained with full draperi,
Of ch, ese cloth, over cream colored shades,
big crimson bow at the top of each win
dow where the draperies parted. Mamie,
who was not in the least % sestbetic, pleaded to
have the whole floor covered, but as Il is
meant twenty fVo yards of carpeting, she
was voted down on the score of economy as
well as Of art. A wide margin was stained
most delightful dead leaf brown, aud nine
yards Of crimson and wood colored carpet
made square large enough TO come well out
around the center Of the table. And the ia.
ble-we saw it one day in front Of an auc-
tion room. The top looked as though oppos-
ing forces had fought across it. but the stand
ard was good and solid so home it went,
and when 1t was covered with Beth's old gray
shawl dyed crimson, and the student lamp
set over the darn in the middle, the effect
was all that could be desired.
Then we bad Beth's piano aud the plants,
and nobody knows until she tries it how far
piano and plants go toward furnishing a
room. We had a comfortable lounge bought
''in the cloth" and covered by our own
hands, big Shaker rocking chair, and two
or three smaller rockers aud camp chairs.
The wall paper was subdued and our few
pictures and brackets made quite a show,
and when we bad scattered our books aud
trinkets about the room, it was decided
success.
There, Mamie" said Kate when we
reached the cozy kitchen on our tour of in
spection, you can tuck your little feet right
into the oven, and feast your eyes on the
braided mat, and if the cat was only here,
you would have reach. ID the climax of earth.
Iy happiness"
The young architect looked irquiriugly,
and Nannie's ideal of bliss was explained to
him. He made no comments, but looked at
her with a peculiar expression in his hand.
some eyes, and felt that the stability of the
society was threatened
The next night, as we were sitting down
cozily to our tea aud toast and baked apples
and milk. there was a ring at the door, and
Kate, answering il, came back with a bas-
ket.
'Its directed to you, Mamie" she said,
holding it to the light. So Mamie opened
it, when out stepped plump, self satisfied
Maltese kitten, aud attached to one fore paw
was a card which said The Climax" Beth
turned the card over, and read the young
architects name.
"Oh, Mamie" sic said, turning on her
reproachfully. II hope you are not going to
spoil every thing" But Mamie WAS busy
filling a saucer for the newcomer and made
no answer.
l may as well say here that soon after ths
young man came to me in very straghtfor.
ward way, made known his intentions in re.
gard to Mamie and asked permission to visit
her. Tbat night, while she was gone on an
errand, lsid the question before the other
girls.
Il move,' said Kate who was rather given
to sounding phrases-'I move that he be
granted leave 10 withdraw"
'Oh, let him come !" said Beth, with true
Southern obliviousnees OF consequences.
Well, he came, and came sgain, and the
little romance unfolded in a kindlier atmos-
phere than that of a boarding house parlor,
and after awhile l think We all rather enjoy
ed him, as he WAS a high minded, intelligent
young fellow, who conducted his wooing
with very little nonsense. Some evenings he
would come in with his drawing board under
his arm and establishing himself at our kitch-
en- table, put in his marvelously fine lines
and figures, with Mamie sitting beside him
with her sewing, making quite Darby and
Joan picture. Kate sometimes shook her
fist at him from the covert of the sitting
room, but she usually ended with "bless the
children"
But to turn from love to figures. How
much did it cost
Now do not expect TO be believed when
say that our entire furnishing, from the small
mirrors in our bedrooms to the big iron spoon
in the pantry, cost exactly $l2S 63; never.
thelesa, that was the exact total. II may
seem more credible when it is understood
that our dressing tables, wash stands and ot-
tOmans were packing boxes, and that the in
vting cushioned chairs we're originally bar
rels. OF course our bedsteads we're not fur
nshed with hair mattresses and rose blank
cts, but we had warm coverings and clean
straw filed ticks, which were simply luxuri-
Gus after boarding house mattresses.
Our table was not set forth with cut glass
and silver Except Hates spoons and forks, }
but it was clean, and the food wholesome and
varied.
And about the cost of living? We elected
Kate treasurer, and every Saturday night
each of us put fve dollars and half into
box kept for the purpose, and she paid for
every thlnB out OF IL. we questloneu her
often, during the first month, how the mon
ey was holding out, but she made no salts
factory answer
The first day of January we each found on
our plate at supper the following notice {:
The first monthly meeting of the Home CO.
operative society will be held, this evening,
in the kitchen, as soon as the dishes are done
A full attendance is desired, to hear the re-
port of the treasurer"
Every member was present, and the treas
urer read her report After setting forth at
some length the origin and object of the So
ciety she presented the following figures:
In ACCOUNT WITH HOME Co OPERATIVE SocI-
ETY..
Dr. Or.
groceries. ........22 90
meat andNegeta-
bles. s........,,.. 1915
milk ........ 9.60
"labor, washing,
ironing and
cleauinpl. GOO