The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-10-21

NJ
for Johns comin' home to dinner, but
I'm goin' to stir you up mess of rye and
Iuiun cakes, and if you don't have some
of them for your dinner, and a dish of
tea, too, I'll come in bimeby and give
your Lyddy piece Of my mind. Good
byt"
OF she trudged, burning with a 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 Disconnected at the homely old
farmhouse after her very modern home at
school. 1t really seemed to her that sho
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 no
amount OF talking and scolding could
put the Marcy household on a stylish
footing. Plain and old fashioned it was,
and SO would it remain in spite of all her
efforts.
"Grandma is so obstinatei" Lydia had
groaned in her own room.
The little talk she had now overheard
put new aspect upon it all. She saw as
II a 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 silently to come into
harmony with a strange order of things
with an unselfshness that made Lydia's
trials seem trif1ing.
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 stiffiy against the wall,
closed the blinds at the windows and took
away every aesthetic touch she had given.
Last, but not least, out of the closet
under the stairs she dragged the despised
portrait of her ancestor in the gaudy
militia uniform. Laughing quietly at its
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 and more
fofbidding apartment had never been
seen, but, just as it was, grandma loved it.
When the old lady awoke the sun was
streaming in across the sitting-room floor
and the bell was ringing for dinner.
Lydia appeared in the doorway with a
bright smile, prettier than ever.
Come, grandma" she called, 4" dinner
is ready, and Mrs. Seavey has just sent in
little Katie with some delicious cakes for
you"
A great pleasure fitted over grandma's
face as she stepped eagerly towards the
dining-room, leaning on her cane.
do believe they're rye and Injun,"
she exclaimed, as delightedly as a child,
helping herself from the we'll filled 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 to see
the scorn of the hired girl from the city,
who had great contempt for dinner at
noon and tea at dinner.
Lydia laughed and chatted cheerfully
until the meal was ended, and Mrs.
Marcy breathed long sigh of satisfac-
ton.
81 declared" Mrs. Marcy said, rising
from her seat at last. 81 don't know as
I've ever had an'thing taste SO good to
me. Those cakes of Miss Seavey's were
just beautiful, and 1 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, Lyddy" she whispered, with a
start OF surprise. "Why, Lyddy!"
Yes" answered Lydia, merrily. 81
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 wire N, her thin old hands were
tremblil hat she could hardly hold
them.
Somcte she said to herself, with a
sort of her throat, somehow i
can't help ng as il I'd been off on a
visit and was just a-gittin' home"
Lydia threw her arms around her
grandmother, giving her such a hug that
the glasses few across the room and the
black cap was hopelessly unsettled.
"Oh, grandma" she cried. with a
deeper meaning than grandma knew,
"we've both got home, and like the
people in the fairy tales we're going to
stay here to be happy ever afterwardal"