The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-03-26

quaint handles to the cups, all different,
was decorated, carried off oy Willie, the
horrible pictures all baked in and then
presented to me for a birthday gift.
| could not tell you half, no, not the
twentieth part of the dreadful destruc-
ton. You can see, dear, that the house
Is finished inside with oak. to which
not a brush had ever been touched.
but years of rubbing, waxing and pol
ishing have made like glass. We pride
ourselves. l assure you, upon our oak
finish"
"And well you may" said. 81 have
admired it more than can tell YOU"
Then you can imagine my consterna-
ton when | came home, after fort
nights visit to my daughter, Marian,
to find Daisy was painting the doors
of the dining-room in, panels. Willie
had put on the first coat all over two
doors-white paint, my dear! The
panels were in red, blue, green, yellow
each different color-and upon each
different design. Such spilly grass!
such stiff leaves, that looked as if they
were cut out of tin! such wooden birds,
that looked as if their wings were held
apart with slewer! such staring roses,
haring with red paint"
"'Such an altogether!' quoted, as
the dear old lady paused.
II groaned in spirit, but consoled my
self BY hoping that some new fancy
would spare my grand old oaken doors.
And my hopes were verified. Daisy
tired of panel painting when the din
ing-room was finished, and last spring
had the doors planed down. They
are little thinner, but will polish up
to the old tone in time.
But after that day Willie was more
cautious about her undertakings,
though more devoted to her. She had
been with me then nearly three years,
and she had recovered from her first
grief. She was very young, not 20
when Tom died, and looking like a lit
tie girl. So when she shyly ventured
upon a white dress and some blue rib
bons, and came down to tea looking
frightened at her own temerity, said,
lovingly:
"'What pretty dress, and how pretty
my Daisy looks in it.
"'You don't think it is forgetting
Tom, do you?' she asked, with CULVER
ing lips.
am quite sure you will never for
get Tom,' 1 said. kindly, for she was
trembling all over, but am as sure that
Tom loved you too well to wish your
young life spent in mourning, even for
him. 1t is natural for you to be joyous,
dear, and nothing gives me SO much
pleasure as to hear you sing or see you
smile
"She had been wearing her blue rib
I bons for some months when the scrap
picture and card-collecting lunacy
started. l bore my portion of the
nartyrdom as valiantly as l could. l
saw a priceless old Chinese jar that was
an heirloom plastered over with butter
flies and grotesque heads, and var
nished, and did not faint; l endured
patiently when costly Japanese vase,
present from dear old friend, shared
the same fate; but at last the tradition
al straw was laid upon the camers
back"
looked at the dear old face, lighted
by half-comical twinkle of the eyes,
and wondered where such angelic pa
thence could have given way.
Zone of my boys" said the old lady,
my Paul, was a surgeon in the navy.
and from every voyage he brought me
treasures that became sacred when he
sailed away and never returned.
Amongst these doubly precious posses
| sions was sandal-wood table, mas
! terpiece of carving, with top polished
like marble. The heavy center-leg
branched off into feet of carved leaves,
supporting the center, which was
carved into exquisite garlands of
| flowers, twisted round tree trunk.
But the beauty of the wood itself was
the only ornament of the fat top.
"The table stood in a small room off
the parlor. that was seldom used. unless
we had company. and never imagined
it in any danger until. coming rather
unexpectedly from walk, saw Will
lies head and Daisy's bent over it.
hurried into the room. Oh, my dear!
the whole beautiful top was covered
with hideous advertising cards nailed
on with brass-headed tacks.
"'Oh, mother, Daisy cried, don't
come in! 1t is not finished
1
"'How dare you touch that?'I cried,
and then cried like baby. 'Paul's
tablet | sobbed. You have ruined it,
"It was the first time | had ever
spoken harshly to her. and she was like
child.
"'Oh, Willie she said, she is angry.
and thought she would be so pleased
willie was equal to the emergency.
He took her in his arms. and cried. in
great indignation:
"'It's shame! Don't cry. Daisy!
Oh, Daisy, be my wife, and you may nail
scrap pictures on every table in my
house.
ibid you ever hear of such pro-
posal? Two babies. my dear. But
they have been very happy. and there is
not any aesthetic horror wanting in
their home. StorlSs on one leg. reeds.
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