The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-07-28

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 l 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 l go to putin it on every day,
let alone my feelin' like fool all
rugged up so when there amt no occa-
sion. Lyddy, she's different. Young
folks ought to rig"
Now, Mis- Seavey, don't want you
to think I'm complainin'. At my time
O life it's hard work tryin' to git into
new ways. But land! YOU can git used
to anything. 1t makes Lyddy happy.
Poor child! It's hard for her to be
penned up here in the country. There
amt prettier-appearin' girl in New
York or Boston, I'll be bound"
Mrs. Seavey bounced up in wrath.
Pretty appearing! What's pretty
appearing, Id like to know, when she's
pesterin' your life out, and just as sell
fish as she can be? I've got to run
back now, for Johns comm home to
dinner, but I'm just goin' to stir you up
mess of rye and lnjun cakes, and if
you don't have some of 'em for your
dinner, and dish of tea, too, III come
in bimeby and give your Lyddy piece
of my mind. Good-by."
Off she trudged, burning with sense
of the old lady's wrongs, and trying to
peep into the reconstructed best parlor
as she went through the entry.
Lydia sat quietly after the voices had
died away, no longer sleepy, but half
amused, half sad. She had been thor
oughly discontinued at the homely old
farmhouse after her very modern home
at school. 1t really seemed to her that
she had shown nobleness of soul in
choking down the despair in her heart,
and trying to make the best of things.
The parlor especially she looked upon
quite as an artistic triumph. But nc
amount of talking and scolding could
put the Marcy household on stylish
footing. Plain and old-fashioned it
was, and SO would remain in spite of
all her efforts.
"Grandma is so obstinate!" Lydia had
groaned in her own room.
The little talk she had now overheard
put new aspect upon it all. She saw
as if veil had fallen from her eyes
how her grandmother had been sorely
bewildered by the new ideas, and how
the sweet old soul had struggled silent
ly to come into harmony with a strange
order of things, with an unselfishness
that made Lydia's trials seem trifiing.
Then she flew to the best parlor, and
in very little while had brought back
it's old prim order. She pushed the
hair cloth chairs back stif1ly agains.
the wall, closed the blinds at the win
dows, and took away every aesthetic
touch she had given.
Last, but not least, out Of the closet
under the stairs she dragged the de-
spiscd portrait of her ancestor in the
gaudy militia uniform. Laughing
quietly at it's grotesqueness, she hung
this work of art up on its old nail where
it was easily the most prominent thing
in the room.
When all was done, a gloomier anG
more forbidding apartment had neve,
been seen, but, just as it was, grandma
loved it.
When the old lady awol1e, the sur
was streaming in across the sitting
room floor, and the bell was ringing fol-
dinner. Lydia appeared in the door.
way with bright smile, prettier than
ever.
Come, grandma" she called, din
ner is ready, and Mrs. Seavey has just
sent in little Katie with some delicious
cakes for you"
A great pleasure fitted over grand.
mas face as she stepped eagerly toward
the dining-room, leaning on her cane.
81 do believe they're rye and Injun,
she exclaimed, as delightedly as child,
helping herself from the well-illed
plate.
81 thought perhaps you might like a
cup of tea, too" added Lydia, getting
up from her place to put the cup down
by her grandmother, and trying not &c
sec the scorn of the hired girl from the
city, who had great contempt for din.
ner at noon and tea at dinner.
Lydia laughed and chatted cheerfully
until the meal was ended, and Mrs.
Marcy breathed a long sigh of salts
faction.
II declare"' Mrs. Marcy said, rising
from her seat at last, 81 don't know as
I've ever had anything taste so good to
me. Those cakes of Mis- Seavey's were
just beautiful, and do enjoy some hot
drink in the middle of the day. 1t kind
O goes to the spot
Lydia drew her gently along until,
through the open door in the parlor.
her glance fell upon grandpa's picture
back in its old place on the wall.
"Why, Liddy.' she whispered, with a
start of surprise. ''Why, Liddy!''
YES" answered Lydia, merrily. III
suppose the parlor is better the way
you used to have it. 1t goes better with
the rest of the house. So put all the
things back again as they were"
Grandma's eyes wandered lovingly
over the stiff and solemn room A
mist came on her spectacles, and, as she
took them off to wipe them, her thin