Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-02-24

sented flames.
She called it a gypsy kettle, and she
showed me picture OF it in the
"Model Home" with directions how
to make it.
Then she pointed out an old wash.
tub. painted green, full Of tiny little
blue flower, which she said represented
water. In the middle was stuck a
pole, with soap'box on top, painted
blue.
In this she had planted some long,
trailing moss, which was to hang down
in straight lines; and she called the
whole fountain, and explained to me
that the chief beauty of these decora-
tions lay in the fact that they cost
nothing-.-nothing except the paint
and such triaes.-- though she did long
for cheap garden vase, such as Mrs.
Martin had in her front yard. But it
would cost a dollar, and she didn't
like to put Tom to the expense. now
that she was learning frem the "Model
Home" how to economize.
just then Tom himself came around
from the barnyard.
':Lina," says he, "what on earth
has become of the pigs swill-pot?"
"Why, Tom, took it for another
purpose. just come and look at it
now! Isn't it pretty!"
Tom stared at the gypsy kettle. He
looked half vexed end half amused.
''It is to be filled with earth," con-
tinued Selma, "and something pretty
planted in it. What do you think
would be suitable?"
"Well," Gays Tom, slowly stroking
his chin, "if it's gypsy kettle, l
should think that dwarf-head cab
bage and lot of carrots and onions
would be appropriate; and as the pot
is gone, I shall have to buy me a
trough"
:'How much will that cost ?" says I.
"About dollar or so" he answered,
as he walked off.
Selma pretended not to hear, and
led me into the house.
had to stoop little to avoid the
basket of graybeard moss which she
had hung in the passage, and I won
dered how Tom could help upsetting
the big pickle jar, all vanished and
stuck over with pictures, which she
had put In q corner just in front of
where he kept his hat and umbrella.
And the parlor was just transformed.
The pictures had flags draped over
them, and there were screens in the
windows; and Toms big chair, that I
knew he liked to sit in when they had
company, was all fixed up with satin
tidy and bows of ribbon; and every.
where grasses and peacocks' feathers,
and Japan fans spread out, and [ don't
know what other stuff; and Selma told
me that the dining room and bed
rooms were all the same way.
She had only yesterday made Tom
beautiful wisp holder out of red cloth,
tackled on to common picture frame
covered with gilt paper (she showed
me picture of it in TIE
"Model Honey and he had said it
would take him too long to get the
wisp in and out, and he'd rather have
it hanging on its nail!
Then she told me how she had been
cooking after the recipes in the "Model
Home" It taught her not to waste
stale bread and other little scraps that
she generally gave to the pigs and
chickens. She had made splendid
pudding of half loaf of stale bread,
with plenty of milk, butter, eggs,
sugar and spices. And for supper they
were to have, instead of cold lamb,
fairy oroquettes, made of the scraps
from yesterdays ham bone, mixed
with eggs, milk aud spice. She thought
them so refined-looking; and then it
was good thing to learn to econo-
mize.
Well, after this noticed that sort
of cloud began to gather over the Me-
chums. Selma was continually COM
planning of Toms not helping her of
Toms laziness and want of gratitude
for oil she had done to make home
pleasant; and Tom took to going round
now and then in the evenings to the
neighbors, instead of staying at home
as usual, and, of course, the people
noticed it and talked, as people will.
One day as l sat knitting and think
ing it all over, and wishing that some
thing could be done to restore the old
happiness at the Mediums, suddenly
bright idea flashed upon me. / didn't
say word, but put on my bonnet and
stepped over to see Selma.
She was tuning an old merino dress,
and making it over after the directions
in the "Model Home" She had
bought enough silk and things to trim
it up with as would almost have pur.
chased new dress; and had had far
more trouble ripping and pressing and
piecing than a new one would have
cost. .
I was so eager to try my experiment
that began right away.
81 saw last Sunday that you'd fixed
up your blue dress" says I. "Mrs.
Holiday says that Tom ought to give
you new one, instead of your being
forced to make over your old"
"Tom would give me whatever /
asked for 20 said she, in n identified