The Republican journal., 1900-07-12
A TRANSFORMED FARM HOUSE.

"
was expecting a class-mate to visit hey,
and she was trying to look at the farm
house with anO1hers eyes.
The best room was dark. Marcia
raised the window with difficulty. The
blinds also stuck, as though their hinges
had rusted fast. but the light streamed
in at last. Marcia sat down and looked
about her.
She saw a brown ingram carpet,
walnut table with a marble top, on
which reposed the family Bible upon
green Worsted mat sofa and six chairs,
hard and slippery in stiff black haircloth;
q narrow wood mantel with an ornamel t
of waxen fruit under glass shade and
walls of stainless whiteness. on which
hung cuts of Washington's death-bed,
Grants family, framed wreath of i'm
mortelles from the coffin of hermother's
aunt. and couple of chromos, asleep
and Awake
''Strange | had forgotten how hideous
this room is. she mulmured. but |
have really never seen it lighted before.
And then the best room of all our neigh
bors is just like it. and until | went
away from home / had no other to
compare it with. 1t is a perfect night
MAIZE
She studied it for some time. and then
passed out into the room behind. This
was really the dining room. but-as there
were two Kitchens the family usually
ate III the larger and better one and
cooked III the one beyond. and used this
as sitting room. 1t toe. was darkened,
hut she threw open the blinds and sur
veNed 1t. 1t Was papered, and had 4
rocking chair ana a lounge. besides its
ii of
with newspapers hung on the wall be-
side walnut bookcase.
Marcia went back to the front of the
house and turned the key III the hall
door. 1t creaked noislly and yielded
with reluctance The door opened stitfiy
on its unused hinges. Marcia looked
out into the little porch. She had never
sat there. The family used the side pr
azza familiarly and this seemed strange.
\ honey-Suckle climbed over it. and a
sweet briar bush crowded against one
end
Here is some comfort anyway the
girl murmured to herself. The air of
the hall was chill and pnngent with
long dead odors, yet the stairs gave
certain dignity with their slender white
balustrade topped by a shining cherry
rail Marcia left the door open and
went mp to the bedrooms
They were four in number. First the
guest room, stiff and somber with an
old-fashioned bed bureau, dull carpet
and four chairs. Then her mothers
bedroom: it was equally uninteresting,
with walnut furniture. an elaborate
patchwork quilt on the bed. and a few
family photographs in oval walnut |
frames, hung high on the walls. Marcia
turned away with a shiver Her own
room came next, and here was a differ
ence. True, the furniture was painted |
yellow but her college acquisitions of |
pictures, Rags, pillows, bits of silver |
and memorabilia Of all kinds gave a |
cheerful air.
That's not so bad she said The |
room over the Kitchen was used by the |
various 'hired girls who came and |
went. 1t too was stutty and duh.
Marcia Went slowly down stairs to the |
front porch and sat for an hour with |
pencil and paper in her lap.
" hen dinner was over the farmer |
and hIS wife came into the dining room. |
HE day was warm and they We're glad |
Ot rest. Mis-. Noble took up her mend |
ing basket and rocked eisureiy. while |
the farmer stretched himself ON the !
lounge.
Marcia drew q chair up to the table
and began resoiutely:
'FatlIer. | want to talk something |
over with You and mother You see / !
ann through college now. and I've come |
home to stay and want some of the |
girls To- visit me: YOU know Eva Wins |
low promised to come next month for !
the FIRST one Would Won mind ii | fixed /
the house up a little before she comes: