Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-01-10

think of the hours of deathly loneIE-
ness l suffer, the reproaches and-of
course, l only tell this to you-insults
which l have to stand, the unreason-
| able complaints, the lack of a word of
kindness or affection from weeks end
to another. She means well, but she
is old and nervous, and l am the
daughter of her young sister, whose
death has embittered her so. 1 would
rather be any one than myself and
nave any kind of a home than this
enc. Don't, don't envy ne.'
The girls were silent for a few sec
onds. Cicely smiled a painful little
smile AMI poured out some tea
Don't think because 1 am not happy
that | lay the blame on the pretty
chairs or the soft-toned rugs If had
my wish my house might not be 50
elegant. but 1t would be always dainty.
1t would be as pretty in artistic ere
tonne of pretty designs and tints as
it is now in brocades and mahogany.
But it would have to have life. There
would be a man who wore creaky
boots and had loud voice and smoked
pipe. man who would be hungry,
who would need waiting on. who
would discuss politics even when we
two We're all alone. who was hearty
and good-natured enough to laugh at
failing. sunny and sweet enough
to sympathize and help and jolly and
awkward enough to trip over all the
chairs and tables without swearing.
Of course, we would be happy" and
Cicely, who renounced all her worldly
goods in this fashion, beamed.
Her friends had long since decided
that her sentiment came from a NOR
bid desire to be poor and dyspepsia
caused by rich diet. They no longer
tried to reform her
"Cicely is partly right admitted
Zephine, pushing her tortoise shell
combs further into her ripping waves
of hair. Furniture isn't everything.
Mating and iron bedsteads and a
troop of children have been the decor
ations Of more than one happy home.
l think no home can be happy with
out affection, and when ill-health
comes into the household, affection
makes it easier to bear; it lightens
poverty; it diSpels the gloom and grind
of work and of daily life When God
gave us hearts he gave lis the kew of
all happiness and all sorrow. My ideal
home would be among people l love
and who love me; it might be room
in a tall tenement, or a palace by the
sea, but where I was loved l could
be happy, even laboring against the
odds of illness and poverty And IL
l were rich, it would make me gentle
and sweet; it would make NE remem-
Der the unfortunate ones of this earth;
it would make me noble"
Zephine was TRANSPORTED The big
brown eyes, the demure mouth, the
cheeks dyed with excitement's cos
metic were radiant
"Great speachv' said Esme, dryly,
as she leaned back in her and laughed.
"In other words like our respected
late President, John Quincy Adams,
who wrote that poem on "The Man
Who Wants But Little Here Below"
You want a house in the country, with
lilacS keeping guard at the door and
roses climbing around the windows.
You want every one you like around
you, and yOn want to be loved as no
one was ever loved before. You be-
lieve in Chippendale, but you don't
| like Chlppendale without a suDshiny
good morning and a loving good night
kiss. Is that it, little woman:'
And it was