The Washington critic., 1886-02-22
THE NEW FURNITURE.

THE NEW FURNITURE.
at will cost thousand dollars, my
dear"
"a thousand dollarsv' Stella looked
grave. "Do you think you can spare
it?"
The merchant laughed.
81 could spare five thousand, birdie,
and would, If you really needed it, just
as well as not. Why, child, you could
hardly ask anything that I wouldn't
do" and the carelined face of the
merchant grew bright, as he stopped
down and kissed his little girl.
Little girl he still called her, though
Stella had passed her sixteenth year by
some months. She had but lately re-
turned from school, to take the place
of her long dead mother in her fathers
house and at his table, and she bore the
responsibility like the brave little
woman that she was. Now the parlors
needed new furnishing--curtains, car
pets, all but the handsome piano,
which had been recent gift. Beauti-
ful, youthful, beloved ON every hand,
Stella might have felt, and probably
did, that she had no wish ungratiied.
care you going out today her
father asked as he stood, hat In hand.
Where is Spring street :" queried
Stella, suddenly looking up from
thoughtful contemplation of the coal
| fire.
"Spring street? Why, nearly out
| to the suburbs. It's not much of a
place, should Judge. You can't pos
sibly know any one there"
"Oh, yes, mammals dearest friend,
Mrs. Sturgis, lives there" answered
Stella, brightly. "She wrote me sew
eral times while was at school. She
has never forgotten mamma, and
mamma wished me always to keep up
her acquaintance.
"Oh, remember; Sturgis-a
preacher, isn't he? Settled over some
small congregation or other2 Poor, of
course; he is too independent in his
notions to be very popular. Have you
heard from them since you have been
home ?"
eyes; cook is member of his
church. She told me where they lived,
and that poor Mr.. Sturgis is sick again.
| suppose that means that he is often
sick"
"Sick again ?" Yes, dare say so
such men make short work of them
selves. Why don't his church send
him off on vacation, somewhere, If
they think anything of him ?"
81 should judge the church is made
up of mechanics and poor people, by
what cook says, and may be they can't
afford it,"
"Perhaps not. All, young lady.
don't let me catch you falling in love
with a minister His is, in most cases,
dogs life p and the merchant pulled
on his well fitting gloves, complacently.
"At the beck and call of everybody
obliged to preach, sick or well-Im
glad l never took to the profession.
My poor old mother used to say that it
was her hearts desire to see her
Johnny preacher. Johnny, however,
has proved, | think, the wiser of the
two,"
II thought II was not q matter OF
fancy, papa" said Stella, quietly.
II don't know; maybe and maybe
| Hot. At uii CNChtS, IL you 80, uon
walk. I'll tell Stef to come down with
the carriage--say In an hour
"Yes, that will do" said Stella,
thoughtfully; and in an hour she sat in
the handsome carriage, of which hel
father and the coachman were very
proud, and was riding lcisurcly toward
Spring street.
1t did not seem to be pleasant local
ity, as the merchant had said. Tht
cutters ran with uncleanness, ant
shock headed urchins, peanut vendcrs
organ grinders and dogs abounded.
Number forty, did you say, miss ?
queried the driver, stopping for mo
ment.
Yes" and rapidly they drove on tc
q cleaner part of the street, though tht
houses looked mean and uninviting tc
Stclla's unaccustomed sight.
"Herc it is, MISS" and they drew W
) before an old fashioned brick house
the chains of whose landing ratified il
the brisk wind.
Stella told the old man to drive
around the block once or twice, ant
then went up ten or twelve steps to tn,
dingy, belless door.
A small domestic made her appear
nnce from the region below, and ad
mitted her into tolcrably wcll-fur
nished hall, then into n large parlor
where the little nicllnacks and elegau
cies devised by some feminine tast
hardly compensated for the faded car
pet and thread bare chairs, and tn
cheerlcss look that generally make
, large and meagrely furnished room
so repul3ive.
Seating herself in a capacious bu
shabby rocking chair near the tiny fire
Stella shivercd as she waited for tn
: minister's wife who had been he
mothers dearest friend, and whom sh
, herself had never seen but once, an
that when very small child
Presently she entered-a delicate
faded, but still beautiful woman
and with an exclamation of deligh
: came forward.
'Ann gave the wrong name" sh
said, rapidly, kissing her, "or | shoul
have had you brought directly to m,
own room. Why, how chilled yo
: look Come up stairs into my snug
= gerry, sitting-room, nursery, all in one
!. and Stella followed her, glad of til
!, change.
!, There in room frightened by til
sun and warmed by n good fire,
:. homely, rag g.carpeted, but really chez
y ful place, Stella soon felt completely q
Z her ease Three little girls, the eldeS
I ten, the youngest Il sweet little fairy &
u blue-eyed baby, were presented
her, and after she had admired ther
and their surroundings, and mental
resolved that their rag babies should b
replaced by the very prettiest doll
that could be bought for money, sh