Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1888-01-06

1t would have been called a pietur-
house if its commonness had
not forbidden so distinguished an cpl
thet There was no beauty in its de-
sign or In the work of the builder.
Nature had not yet wrought upon it
any of those fancifnl adornments Of
moss or lichens which in their decay
change dull and common things into
things that are picturesque and beautl-
ful; but new and poor and dull with
summers dust and the tear traces of
ths late winter, it was; and this was
teThe Mansion" In the endeavor to
find level upon the uneven ground
for the foundation OF this house, it had
been necessary to thrust down long
post to support one corner, while other
shorter and lesser posts seemed awk
warkly striding toward the mound on
which the upper corner rested appa-
rently more at ease. The suggestion
sse effort --h;ah thsse queerlegs Of pesss
made, together with the low-browed
roof and its little front windows fol
eyes, gave the little house a look which
limited that it might be some hitherto
unknown species of toad squatted there
all ready for leap. Within doors
there was no surprise of convenience or
cheerfulness in reserve, but a consistent
disregard Of both those conditions per.
fectly suited to the exterior promise of
this yer, plain and very queer little
house.
The playful irony which had given
to it the name by which we knew it.
"The Mansion" would have been un
kind if it had been directed against
that poverty of idea as well asof pu,s Sc
which so often marks the humble
dwellings of the poor; but all indiffer
ent to cottage beauty or ironical cpl
thets, the toad like house squatted on
the hillside and winked its little win
dow-eyes towards the east; and saw
there, stretched out before it, land
scape grand and beautiful as was ever
seen in poetic vision. Snow-clad
mountains, purpls foot hills, green for
ests and smiling farm lanis, beauti
full river where whit. sails fitted over
the blue water as did the sea gulls IL
the air above, Il ately trees upon the
tanks whore birds fitted and sane
gaily and under whose shade groups
of spotted cattle and white robed sheer
wandered at win, a glimpse of the bns.
city as it hugged the winding bank o
the stream where it swept under th'
bridge and hurried away towards tn
hungry sea; these in their varyin:
moods of rejoicing or gloom, the littl'
house saw with its little window eyes
Had It been in very truth man
sion and uot the swart and crouchel
semblance of the reptile which may 0
may not carry a jewel IN its head, thi
story would not have been written
1t was only when Providence hat
placed in this rough setting jewe
which glowed there in its pale beaut
for time and then departed fo,eye
that We knew how well it had bee
named.
1t was when spring had advanced
a little, dropping a few green points q
the bare brown branches and softenin
the harsh voices of the wind to ger
tier measures, that we saw movement
about the little house which gave t
hint that it was about to be occupied
There were some slight demonstration
of wrestling with the accumulated dus
of months, and few simple articles Q
household furniture put in their place:
and toward evening when the western
sky was lit up by the glory of the sci
ting sun, carriage stopped before til
humble gate and an invalid woma
carefully wrapped up, was borne i
arms up the uneven pathway to th
doubtful hospitalities of 'The Mar
sion"
| For several days we saw but littl
Of our new neighbors; man whom "
4 rightly guessed to be husband, nurs
and housekesper wentin and out of th
place with brisk and cheerful mai
ner, which indicated that he had 8
command everything essential to con
, fort. At length some simple errand {
, inquiry about the resources Of Il
, neighborhood brought him to our doc
and hiserrand done he said with cheel
fuland good humored air, that his vii
had been sick but was now out of Il
doctors hands and would be pleased [
!. have call from us. While the raj
was falling through the alternate shae
and sunshine of an April day, we pa
} our first visit to the ''lady Of the ma
: sion." Through the comfortless lit
front room and an inner bed room
p the narrow little kitchen we were Us
: cred by the husband who presented
1 to his wife "Mrs. Grey" Upon Sc
g tee contrived of chairs and blanke
where the comfort Of the kitchen sto'
|. might be had the invalid received L
1 She was neither young nor beautifi
+ nor cultured as the world counts the
things, and yet without the aid of pt
+ lsonal adornments or attractive 81
d roundings, there was in her face ra
e beauty--a beauty not of an earth
e sort, but such as comes from pu
+ and high spirit filled with love al
sanctifiei by suffering-"I am hap
to see my neighbors" said she, as s
gave her thin little hand in WELDON
"this is 80 beautiful place thatI Ia
come here to grow strong. think
who live here must be good and pie,
ant to know" We had not expect
such a greeting but without heedi
our binted demurrer, she went on Sc
D ing. 81 have been i'll, but now I {
getting well, I only need tonics a
my husbands nursing, and when t
:. spring Howeru come, I expect to bio
: out too" Simply as pleas
= child she prattled on, hopeful ard hap
y from the blessedness within herst
and wholly unconscious of the thre
v ening evil from without. It nsed
but moment to see that she had
tered as little child into the Kingd,
of Heaven and dwelt there. What
her was it that poverty, discomfol
disease and death itself glared UP
her with insistent menace1 The ang
of faith and love were with her NJ
her right hand and upon her left; q
living in the light Of their presel
and led by them, she knew no dan,
and felt no fear.
The contrast between husband 9