The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-09-30

- she can bsf I've rot 70 run back now,
for Johns coinin' home to dinner, but
Pm goin' 70 stir you mp . msss Of rye and
Injun cakes, and II you don't have some
Of them for your dinner, and dish OF
tea, too, I'll come In bimeby and give
your Lyddy piece Of my mind. Good
byi"
on she trudged, burning with sense
Of the old Iady's wrongs, and trying to
peep into the reconstructed best parlor
Is 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 discontented at the homely old
farmhouse after her very modern home at
school. II 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 no
amount Of talking and scolding could
put the Marcy household ON stylish
footing. Plain and ld-fashioned It was,
and 80 would it remain in spite Of all her
efforts.
Grandma IL so obstinatei" Lydia had
gfoaned In her own room.
The little talk she had now overheard
put q new aspect upon It all. She saw NJ
II 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 strange order of things
with an unselfshness that made Lydia's
trials seem trifiing.
Then she few to the best parlor, and In
very little while had brought back its
old prim order. She pushed the hair
cloth chairs back stifiiy 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 It's
grotesqueness, she hung this work Of art
up on its old nail, where 1t was easily the
most prominent thing in the room.
When all was done a gloomier and more
forbidding apartment had never been
seen, but, just as 1t 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 q
bright smile, prettier than ever.
Come, grandma" she called, 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 rs she stepped eagerly towards the
dining room, leaning on her cane.
do believe they're rye and Injun,"
she exclaimed, as delightedly as d child,
helping herself from the we'll filed plate.
:" thought perhaps you might like q
cup Of tea, too" added Lydia, getting MP
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. 4
Lydia laughed and chatted cheerfully
until the meal was ended, and Mrs.
Marcy breathed q long sigh Of satisfac-
ton.
81 declared" Mrs. Marcy said, rising
from her seat at last. ~ 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 do enjoy some hot
drink in the middle Of the day. It 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, Lyddyl" she whispered, with q
start Of surprise. "Why, Lyddyi''
Yes" answered Lydia, merriIy. 81
suppose the parlor is better the way you
used to have it. It goes better with the
rest of the house. 30 put all the things
back again as they were."
Grandma's eyes wandered lovingly over
the stiff and solemn room. AImist came
on her spectacles, and, as she took them
off to wine IN, her thin old hands were
trembljn1 bet she could hardly hold
them.
"Somai " she said to herself, with q
sort of her throat, somehow l
can't help Eng as II I'd been on on q
visit and wa, just a-gittin' home"
Lydia threw her arms around her
grandmother, giving her such hug that
the glasses flew across the room and the
black cap was hopelessly unsettled.
ooh, grandma" she cried, with o
deeper meaning than grandma knew,
Twelve both got home, and ~like the
people in the fairy tales we're going to
stay here to be happy ever afterwards"