The Republican journal., 1900-07-12


inspection and assembled the stairs.
She went to the guest room first.
Here stood an old mahogany bed and
bureau of no great beauty or value,
but substantial and good. They were
polished till they shone, and each re-
joiced in new coverings. The bed had
a quaint old blue and white spread,
woven many years before, but as Mar
cia knew to be priced more highly to-
day than ever. The bureau had frilled
white muslin square on it, and an mex
pensive tray or two of blue and white
china. The walls We're papered in Delft
and blue and white in large, old-fash-
toned pattern. The floor had a cheap
mating, and its center was covered
with blue and white Japanse rug. 1t
would not receive much wear here, and
so was not a foolish purchase as it would
have been for another room.
There were couple of mahogany
chairs with chintZ cushions like the pa
per; $ Marcia had recovered all the
chairs in the house herself-and a will
low rocker. There was a good sized
table at one side with some books on it.
The wash-stand had been an anxiety.
for there was none in the house like the
furniture and she did not wish to use
another wood, while buying one of ma
hogany was out of the question A COM
promise was finally made by getting a
cheap iron one painted white. and put
ting it behind a dainty screen: this was
originally a small clothes-horse, but was
now disguised by covering of paper,
like that on the wall. tackled on over I'M
bleached cotton. There were muslin
curtains in the windows. as fresh as
possible. and the effect of the whole
Marcia found ''chalming,' with com
placent self-approval.
THE benefits OF college education
are truly marvellous, she meditated.
House furnishing was not in the cur
riculum, yet learned it because | went
there. This room is like the guest room
at Helen Anderson S, where l stayed at
Easter in my Junior year, only its really
prettier. if anything. And my room is
like one in Howell dormitory, and the
parlor is like the Deans. SO after all
nothing is wasted"
She passed ont and crossed to her
mothers room. This Mrs Noble had
begged her not to change, but Marcia
had papered it like the hall, put up mus
lin curtains, spread bright rug by the
bed and lowered the family pictures a
foot. and it was vastly improved.
Her own room was lovely, though
simple A white paper covered. with
huge roses, was on the walls, and the
chairs We're covered with chintz TO
match. Marcia had reprinted the furni-
ture herself with two coats of paint:
she had also nailed strips of wood to
the four corners of the bed and others
across them, until she had a frame work
from which to hang canopy of muslin
curtains: valance to match reached
from the mattress to the floor. where a
took the place of the discarded
carpet: the room was dainty and pretty
to suit the most fastidious and
eXacting of womankind.
The room over the kitchen belonged
to the hired girl, when they had one. 1t
had always been close and hot. and
with furniture too shabby to
he used elsewhere Now it was fresh
and cool. with open windows, a little
iron bed with a white spread, plain
chair OF two a shelf of books. and a
Washstand with mirror over it. The
floor was painted yellow and strip of
fresh rag carpet lay by the bed.
Il fancy our next girl may stay"
Marcia thought contentedly.
Down stairs the dining room was now
ONE not only i'll name but in fact. To be
sure the lounge was still there but it
had been recovered. and the book case
into a cupboard Plates and
cups We're visible through the glass
doors: and it wore quite a fashionable
all. y very simple oak side-board stood
opposite it. Mrs. Noble felt this was
almost too 'tstylsh." but still she adj
mired it. This tiool was stained brown,
and neatly covered with plain finely
woven English rug of olive green. The
walls too We're olive. and hed few
framed photographs. Marcia luckily
owned Il dozen fine ONES. brought her
from Europe by a class-natt The open
windows looked into a shady side porch
and altogether everything seemed cosy
and home-lke. Best Of all Mrs Noble
had promised that tiert should be no
more meals served III the kitchen.
The hest room was inspected last.
1t had been rather difficult to arrange.
tor Marcia wished it dainty and vet not
too fine for daily use. 1t was north
room. and as Il substitute for sunshine
it Lad now a yellow paper with large
but indistinct figures in the same shade.
The floor was stained brown like that
in the dining room. and Il large rug of
mixed but harmonious colors lay upon
it. NO one would ever guess its ori-
gin. Thought Marcia. 1t looked orr
tltal il WAS thick and velvety. and
would last a lifetime. but it was really
woven in the city from all the old car
pets OF varying ages and textures in the
house
The mantel and woodwork Vert.
white. ON the wallis We're hanging
shelves also white, some filled with
books. some holding pieces of grand !
mother Hoods old blue china rather
cracked to be sue. but OF beautiful !
color There We're framed photographs |
here, also. not many HUT good ones. a
Madonna. a Venetian scene in colors, |
and Il silver print of Windermt re- |
There was a low White table with books |
on it: a box couch made by the village
carpenter and draptd With the other
ONE of Marcia S pair OF Italian blankets |
1t had some pillows made from 4 dis
carded featheTbed and covered with orr
entail cottons The chairs We're the
old ones. recovered with remnants of
tapestry. In the windows under the
muslin curtains We're green painted
boxes full of beautiful ferns. and a
great box of them stood in the empty
fire place also Marcia sat down in the
rocking chair.
Its certainly transformation she
mused. 1T is cheerful and fresh and