The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1901-01-11
The Settee's Story
BY Katherine Birdsall. :
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DR-R-R-RUGH!" shivered the wick
n er settee. 81 never realized what
n noise one could make rattling his
bones before-it seems as if all my
Joints needed oiling, like the spring
chair inside the doctors Office. Why
What do you know about the doc
tors office?" asked the white painted
rocking chair, rocking violently back
and forth in the wind as if she enjoyed
its snap. "Have you ever seen doc
tors office, and if you have, pray what
is it like?"
"Why," laughed the settee, 81 was
born in one-or, rather, was born in
factory like you were, but that is so
long ago that l can hardly remember
st."
The cane-seated piazza chair snick-
cred. and looked at the white rocker.
while he whispered almost loud enough
for the settee to hears
"Therel I told you he was an old
FOSSIL And that proves he is weak in
his memory as well as In his legs. I'm
going to give the old fellow a glue pot
for his birthday"
The white rocker laughed softly. "Do
hush, you funny boy" she said, shak-
ing her head at him. "He's very nice,
if he is old, and he is very interesting,
too. He certainly knows more than
some people do"
The cane-seated chair looked proper
" rebuked, and nodded a "yes," al
though he was chair of settee expert
ence himself, having for a number of
years held an important position in the
buffers pantry. 1t was worth while to
be a little meek if it pleased the white
rocker, for every one wished to be in
her favor, she was such bright, lively
little thing.
"What is a doctors office?" repeated
the settee, when he has answered a
question asked by the capacious red
rocker. "Why it is a room where"
"And what is a room?" interrupted
the white rocker. Whereupon the
others burst out laughing.
"Why, my dear child" cried the red
rocker, what a baby you are, to be
sure. But you came here right from
the factory. didn't you? DO you mean
TO say you have never looked in the
window here? A room is a place in
side of a house, sometimes as small as
this piazza. sometimes smaller or lar
ger. surrounded by four walls, with
windows and doors cut through. And
II is always war n like summer in a
room, with soft carpet on the floor.
something like the grass, and some
times fine cracking fire in the Chin
ney corner"
Like they make on the lawn with
twigs and dead leaves?" asked the lit
tie rocker. 80, how lovely I'd give
anything to live in room
"Perhaps you will some day." said
the old settee The only trouble is
that YOU feel the cold so when you are
ont again. Well, as I was saying, the
doctors Office is a big room, with a
little waiting room off of it. l went
RIGHT TO the waiting room from the
factory. and l stayed there for long
time. / was used by al sorts ofpeople,
and sometimes one would lie down
upon me and take a nap
"Humphl" remarked the cane-seated
chair. Il shouldn't think YOU would
make a very comfortable bed
81 was cushioned with green eordu-
ov." said the Settee. proudly, and l
was considered very handsome in
those days. Finally the doctor, who
was then only about 26-it was Is years
ago-moved me into his Office, which is
the room where he keeps all his medi'
cin. and ins,FU1,e Dts.'
He set his instrument case on me
one day last week" said the little
rocker proudly; but it made me feel
almost faint l remember my rockers
had TO be cut off with an instrument
called a saw. after l was painted, for