Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-02-21

that nearly made me burst my sides
with longing to laugh in sympathy.
And New Years day! All, then
was the time when open houses were
IN fashion and l was the favorite Of
them all. There was the rustic Of rich
silks through my halls. Beautiful la
dies thronged my parlors, and gentle
men who came to call, forgot to go
away and spent the day, unwilling to
leave my comfort and attractions. In
the evening there was always a dance
in the ballroom at the top Of me. 1
have spring floor up there that was
like air for light feet to trip across,
and I've heard the violins and the
cello and the booming bass viol make
the sweetest, saddest most bewitch-
ing music that set me to throbbing on
my foundations.
Times are not what they used to
be. Nobody keeps the holidays now
as they did when l was new. The
wind bowls Jelly and cruelty in the
cold threats Of my chimneys. There
are no leaping fires on my hearths to
drive it back; there's nothing but 81
lence and chill and emptiness.
Il can almost see the old fudge
again-he was the last Of the family
going down the walk. He was a
stately gentleman and chung to the old
customs and style of dress. The new
generation Of people laughed because
he wore a swallow tail coat to church
and kept on making New Years calls
long after every one else had stopped
Toward the end he came back to me
looking sad and weary. Probably he
was not made to feel cordially vel
come where he went. He was like [
am, survival Of other years. The
holidays became hard for him to bear,
and, though his form was erect and
his beard carried proudly to the last,
think he was glad to go. Sometimes
wish 1 would take fire and burn. At
least l should be warm again all over.
christmas was horrid day."
"After all, there is a bright side to
being a bad property. Something hap
pened to me to-day that makes me
face a new year more willingly. am
to be Of use and appreciated. Some
one is coming to live in me. In truth,
they've come already. I can hear her
singing now while she moves about
and puts my furniture in order.
cit was only few hours ago wher
| felt key turning in the lock of my
front door. It was so long since q key
had been turned there, that 1t shrieked
es if in pain. The next thing 1 heard
was fresh young voice saying: Isn't
this a dear old house. l shall love to
live here, sweetheart
''Then 1 heard a mans voice speak.
Can you really be happy in this
old barn of a place, dearest? Cup
start.) we may not have to stay here
long, but they were so anxious for
someone to live in it, they let us have
it rent free and that was a great in
ducement with an income like ours
he went on. Perhaps 1 shouldn't have
married you until we had more mon
ey'
"He said this a little wistfully, and
I began to like him better. It's a
lovely place SO stately and oId-fash-
toned. We need live in only two or
three of the rooms, but in summer we
can throw it all open and pretend
we're grand people, the girls voice
answered. You couldn't have mar
ried me if I hadn't been willing, and
was very willing, sweetheart, so
very willing, I can DE happy any
where with you. We can save money
while we live here and that will be
such a comfortable feeling
"'Dearestv the mans voice said.
There was a little silence. 1 am
wise old house. I've seen such things
before, and l knew what was going
on They were in each others arms,
standing together on the threshold Of
a life which, to their vision, was all
rose color, love and happiness. I've
seen it all before. I'm a wise old house.
1.-THE girl wanted to stay from the
moment she entered. There was no
going away to return tomorrow for
her. No. she said, let's begin the
new year in our new, old home. I'm
going to hang my hat up and make
myself at home right away
'She had such a sunshine voice, and
her step was so light and springy l
could hardly feel her feet pressing
my floors when she stepped.
''They threw open my long-closed