Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-02-21
LOVE IN A COTTAGE.

The world doesn't believe in love in
a cottage very much; that is. the world
assumes not to believe in it, But there
are some things that stand the wear
and tear of time with tolerable success,
and love in a cottage may be one of
them, the world ostensibly to the con
trary Notwithstanding. From the Sc
cure pedestal of a large experience the
world looks indulgently and pityingly
down upon the aspirants for happiness
in this particular line, and SCOTS mildly
and prophesies with grim cynicisn
| But love makes the world go round,
just the same, and there is no place
where love enjoys the manifestation of
his powers as he does in cottage with
two young people who have just gone
from the altar to housekeeping. Love
| is in his element there, and he turns in
and helps with the power mightier
than the combined force of dozen ex-
perts. He loves to help two young peo
pie select the pieces of furniture that
are to adorn the cottage, and he sug
gests schemes for the artistic arrange
ment of them; he helps to lay carpets
and to put up stoves and to hang pic
lures and adjust tides. Ah Love is Il
sly boy when he joins forces with two
| young people who have gone from the
! altar to housekeeping. He can teach
a masculine novice how to build a
kitchen fire in no time, and he can
show clumsy fingers how to dry dainty
china cups and saucers fresh from the
| dishpan. He can inspire mans heart
with radiant enthusiasm over a hun
dred foolish little gimcracks with
| which women know how to adorn
home. He can make the roaring of
bright fire on the hearth and the sing
ing of a new tin tea kettle to sound like
a choir of angel voices. And then he
dsports himself gayly about and writes
on every article and emblazons in gold
en- letters on every wall the word
Home" and he is happy. Bless the
boy How he brings out the beauties
and secludes the blemishes! He makes
the vines to grow on the outside, and
at his bidding they Chamber all over
the world-spurned cottage. How he
teaches patience and liberation, and
how he prompts good action and brings
to being no end of virtues and graces
There is trite saying about Love to
the effect that when Want comes in at
the door he flies out at the window.
You can scarce credit with fckleness
one possessed of so many virtues, and
while the evidence would seem to bear
out the truth of this cynical old time
honored statement, there are extenuat-
ing circumstances. When want came
in he led companion by the hand, and
that companion was named Selfishness.
Love can keep Want at bay when Want
comes single-handed. Love can make
one dollar do the work of ten, and he
can garnish dry crusts with a delecta
BILE sauce that makes food fit for king,
but when SeIfishness stalks in-oh, the
change that transpires This is the
crisis the misanthropic old world watch
es for. She peeps in at the window
when troubles come, when the babies
come and when the bill collector comes,
and when she sees the fires blacken and
go out she shakes her head till her cap
frills futter in a yeritable "I-told you
So joy.
When Selfshness becomes establish
ed on the family altar Love hops down.
Their joint reign is never a successful
one. Selfishness is as old as Time him
self; age has never diminished his vigor.
If Love proves tickle, it is not altogeth
err Loves fault. There are extenuating
rcumstances.-BGlt.S San.