The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-23
HER IDEAL HOME.

HER IDEAL HOME.
When Arthur Moreton asked Laura
Willis to be his wife, she answered him
"Yes," and began to make preparations
for their early wedding. Often she paus-
ed in the midst of her delightful tasks to
say to herself, Now shall have chance
to make home just according to my ideal,
and Arthur will be SO fond of it," Then
followed in her mind the details: Pretty,
soft, easy chairs, music, books, bright and
tasty draperies, and-oh yes, of course,
flowers and canary bird, and SO on till
her castle rose high in the air.
They were married in October and pro-
ceeded at once to furnish their house on
Clifton street in an inexpensive but cosy
way, and November found them fully
settled in their new home.
One stormy evening three months later
Mr.. Moreton was kept at his office little
longer than usual. When released he
hurried to his home, looking to it with a
sense of pleasure and pride, just slightly
marred by an uneasy feeling OF some-
thing not exactly comfortable. AS he en-
tered and began laying aside his damp
hat and overcoat his wife came to meet
him with the usual caress, saying:
"I'm glad you've come at last, Arthur.
| Oh, don't touch me! This dress spots SO
easily" looking down at the pretty, deli
cate gown she had donned, with wifely
pride in appearing well in her husbands
eyes.
! A few months ago he would not have
minded if, but tonight he wanted to say,
| like any other man, "Why do you wear a
dress so easily spoiled?" but he said moth
ing, as he proceeded to bang up his coat
and hat.
won't they drip on the foor?' asked
Mrs. Moretop. perhaps you had better
take them to the kitchen" So the cold,
tired man took the only slightly damp
ened garments away.
Seated at last in the CHEEKY sitting
room, he stretched his feet to the fire to
wait comfortably for his supper. Pres.
emily his wife came bustling in from the
dining-room.
ooh, Arthur, you do upset everything
so when you come home. I just got neat
and tidy and you put the chairs out of
place and kick the rugs up, and throw
your traps around everywherep All OF
which, though said in half joking man
ner, Jared unpleasantly upon the hus-
bands thoughts of rest and comfort.
"But come, now, tea is ready. / meant
to have made the cakes you like so much,
but wanted the time to flush embroid-
ering the table scarf. You will say it is
beautiful, know"
Somehow, man. like, he didn't as much
like admiring something ornamental for
the center table as he did something
more inviting on the table before him, so
the meal passed rather silently on his
past.
When they we're again seated for the
evening and the table scarf had been
much admired and the work praised, for
Arthur Moreton was quick to put down
unpleasant thoughts, he said to his wife:
laura, won't you play me something
lively? I am in the mood for music to-
night"
81 would like to. Can't you wait just
minute till put the rest of these tassels
on?"
He waited ten, twenty, thirty minutes,
and still seeing no chance of amusement,
drew low chair to him and put his feet
across his linen covered seat.
"How vulgar you do look Why, /
wouldn't have thought it of you, Ar
thur" laughed Mrs. Moreton; then half
reprovinRly, you'll get it all dirty. /
can't keep anything NICE"
She expected him to laugh at her old
maidish ways, as he usually did when
thus spoken to. But instead there came
little pucker in bis forehead, and pres
emily he arose and said:
Il must go out again, Laura; have
forgotten to see Holman to day about fix
ing the piazza. 1t doesn't storm much
yet" and he was gone.
When she heard the outer door close
behind him she laid her head on the table
and burst into tears.
"He didn't want to stay, know. 1
thought he couldn't help liking his home,
tried SO hard and it seems so pretty to
me. What is the matter with it?"
What was the matter with it? Why did
not Laura Moreton's home realize Laura
Willis's ideal?
First, because everything was too good
TO be used, and the housewife overpartic-
ular to the husbands discomfort. Also,
because pleasant furnishings were made
to receive the time and care due to body
and soul of human being. Christian
at Work.
DESTRUCTIVE prairie fires were reported
last week in northern Minnesota and