The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-27

orchard, all pink with apple blossoms.
warm May wind blew the curls on
her forehead to and fro, and made her
feel too drowsy to read. "Middlemarch"
had sunk into her lap. with one finger.
between the leaves to keep the place,
and she was half asleep when the, sound
of voices from the sitting-room behind
her floated out, and became a part of.
her day dream
Seems to me-" said high-pitched
tone, which she knew TO be that of n
neighbor, seems to me you amt look
in jest up to the mark this spring, Mis-
Marcy"
"Well, don't know Us am feelin'
any too spry." returned the gentle old
voice of Lydia's grandmother. IT ex-
pect it's this dreadful hot weather COM
in on all of a sudden so I've been
thinkin' I'd start in tahin' some brirn-
stone and molasses three mqrnins and
then skip three. Any body netds little
medicine in the spring. / don't seem
to have much of any appetite, ond I'm
weak as rag"
Maybe it's the oool1in Of that hired
girl from the city, that you amt used
to-" suggested the neighbour. "How
does she take hold? Is she much of a
hand?"
well, Lyddy's satisfied with her. and
she knows more than I do about the
way they do things nowadays She's
visited the governors folks and round
among her schoolnates a good DEAL.
and she's seen just how things ought to
be guess they set pretty good
table to Gov. Cobb's."
II guess they do" said the neighbor.
but it's kind O. hard for an old
woman like me to get used to new
tangled ways. There amt nothin' rel
ishin' to me in such little wurned-over
messes- declare, I'd like nothin' bet
ter for my dinner than good rye and
Injun cake and n nice, hot cup OF teal"
I'D like to know what in the world
there is to hender your havin' it" cried
the neighbour, sitting up strnight
We'll, Lyddy she says it amt the
fashion to have tea for dinner, and 1
give in to her sooner N to make fuss.
You see, Mis- Seavey. young folks is
young folks. When Lyddy come home.
from boardin' school last fall could
see twas hard for her"
The old lady paused.
The house amt new" she resumed.
''Why. I've lived here myself. winter
and summer, goin' on sixty year. Our
ways here amt like city ways, and she
wanted to ask some of her mates up
here; but could tell twas mortifyin'
to her to think of their comm to such
poor old place, and me, too, SO behind
the times.
80 just says nothin', and let her go
ahead her own way, fxin' things up.
Good land. Mis- Seavey! just wish yo,,
could see the best parlor!"
What has she done to it?- asked
Mrs. Seavey.
The village did not think much OF
Lydia since she had returned from
school. tall. stylish girl. with more
airs than a music box" as the ladies
declared at the sewing circle.
why, the chairs and the tables is
all twisted every which way. Look.
as if high wind had been BLOWN
through The blinds is all left wide
open. and the sun streamin' in. Aladdin
out the carpet like everything. Body
Brussels, too, Mis- Seavey!"
Good land!" said Mrs. Seayey.
'She's got out some of the best cfliny
and stood up the plates ON the mantel
piece. and more of 'cm hangin' on the
wall. There's old shawls a danglin'
IN the doorways. That picture of
father, painted when he was a young
man. she's took down altogether. She
says it's awful"
Dear suz" cried the neighbor.
"But Pm sure the minister used to
set sight by that picture never
come in when he was here. but found
him lookin' at it. She's stood some
plants on the floor by the windows.
She's-wcll, can't tell you oil. She
wants we should set there common
every day. l don't know what her
grandfather would say if he could see
it. | expect he would turn over in his
grave"
Poor Mrs Marcy was quite out of
breath as she poured out her soul. To
have the sacred best parlor profaned
had been a sore trial, which it took all
her love for Lydia to bear. To sit
there common" would have been TO
her as wicked as to carry her knitting
to the meeting house.
'She wants 1 should dress up every
afternoon in my best black silk and the
white net cap Sarah Sheldon made me.
That silks too good to set round in.
It's only been turned twice, and I've
KEEP it nice for funerals and when do
go to meetin', though that amt often
now. Why, it'll get all shiny in no
time if go to putin it on every day,
let alone my feelin' like a fool all
rugged up SO when there amt no COCA
sion. Lyddy, she's different Young
folks ought TO rig"
Now, Mis- Seavey, don't wans you
To think Pm comDlainin, At NV t;,na