The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-11-15
A CRUEL KINDNESS.

The town had grown up to them and
almost crowded itself into their front
door, but they still lived on in the same
old fashioned methods Of the past half
century, c~linging to the chairs and ia
bles they had when they were married,
even retaining the little squeaky piano
that had been Ann Maria's before she
married a rich foreigner and changed to
Anita Marie. The cradle she was rocked
in when a baby, manufactured out of a
barrel by her adoring father and covered
skillfully with rose colored chintz, had
been sent up to the attic, for it offended
her fine sense Of aesthetics when she
came home to visit. The rag carpet in
the living room was the work of leisure
hours and had been in service twenty
odd years, and the old man himself used
to say lovingly while he regarded it
with admiring eyes, you'll never make
another carpet like that, mother!' 1t
was like the last painting of a great art
list to him.
And now the old people had taken an
outing that was to last a whole week,
the result of a conspiracy in which Ann
Maria was chief mover, aided and abet-
ted by her sisters. who were married and
settled in the same town and whom she
was visiting.
While the old couple were gone, the
conspirators possessed themselves Of the
key of the homestead, entered it stealth
lily and began what they considered a
work Of reform, which also was expect
ed to be a delightful surprise to those
most interested.
well get that dreary old piano out
of the way first said its former own
er, who had one now that cost a thou
sand dollars, land the old rag carpet
it gives me a chill to see it-and all
those dreadful framed photographs and
chromos-1 have a few oil paintings
that 1 brought down with me ON pur-
pose to replace them-and hat red table
c~loth-Sophie, do you remember when
we used to learn our lessons on that
as ever, doesn't it,
YES" answered Sophie, with a dis
tinct sigh. Il wonder if we are as hap
py now as we were then, or if our con-
ditions depend SO much on surround
ings-fine furniture, for ~instance?'
"Pshaw!' said Ann Maria with en-
phasis. 1--WE must move with the world
or be run over. Here. take those old pea
cock feathers and stow them away some
-hora rrpcp, - x,o,1l~S& IA ---
them? l once thought the eyes in those
feathers watched everything l did. Well
leave grandfather's clock because it's
genuine and a fad now in the best soci-
ETY., and the older the better"
So they tore up and tore down, and
in a few hours a really modern air per
vaded every nook and corner. A pretty
new carpet-not too gay, but with a
pleasing assortment Of colors-took the
place Of the despised rag carpet. New
challs. a handsome rug, an upholstered
easy chair for 'father' and "a modern
rocker for ''mother' supplanted the
long used furniture of the past, and the
faded old photographs We're removed to
make room for smart paintings in con-
slstent style with the new order of
things. A white marseilles counterpart
replaced the old log cabin quilt, every
square Of which had been as an open
book for "mother" to read. Other limo,
vations were made throughout, and
then the conspirators paused to look on
their handiwork and take breath.
That's the first work I've done in
20 years, said Ann Maria, wiping hel
flushed face with a real lace handker
chief, but I'd just like to see the deal
old couple when they open the door"
I'm afraid they'll object to having
the piano out Of sight," said one Of tn,
sisters, "but they're sure to like every
thing else. Mother would never let mt
touch a chair, even to s%traighten it out
SO l knew the only way was to take he
by surprise. Old folks get cranky abou
things they have had a long time. /
isn't good for them to make idols on
Of old furniture.
Il should say not" added AM
Maria. Besides it isn't the fashiol
now, as it vas a few years ago. l wa
really afraid people would think W
didn't appreciate our old folks to le
them live on among that old rubbish.
The last finishing touches being az
complished, the sisters went to their r.
spective homes, and at nightfall tn
\ two old folks walked into the domici
that had sheltered them for 40 years
the dearest spot OH earth to them-hom'
It had been planned by their KNOWN
children that they were to enter Il
house alone to intensity the surprise
store for them and enjoy each other