Year: 1878

A large basket of rough, unfolded and
unironed clothes was turned bottom up
ward on the extension table, an i'm
mense clothes-horse filled half the room
and every chair was loaded with coats,
hats, cloaks and shawls.


"'We just use the dining-room as
sort of gangway' in the winter" said
Henry, and den up here, except when
we have company. If anybody runs in
upon us they must take us as they find
u.s.


"This was not an over-cordial well
come, but went along into the kitchen
where Henry was seating himself at the
tea table, which, if you will believe,
Aunt Mary, was their little hanging
cooking-table covered with a strip of oil
cloth. A few old pieces of crockery were
scattered upon it without regard to
order.


&C The little bit of a kitchen was un-
tidy, the stove dirty and rusty. There
were memories of Saturdays baking in
the shape and appearance of flour, dough
and grease, on the floor, table and door
latches, and salt Goldfish, with cot
ton string tied around its tail, was hang
ing on the knob of the closet door. Su-
sans hair was rough and frowzv, and
her gown was torn and soiled. Dear
me, who could have have imagined that
such state of things was to follow their
great and expensive weddingp What a
picture of loveliness the bride wasl-
They might as we'll hire two or three
rooms in a flat to den up in as to own
that large and elegantly house
and not use it or to so misuse it.


"This scene rather discouraged me-
Were Jane and L to deterioate in that
way think would rather have every
thing to stop just where it is. believe
it would save world of trouble, and we
would go on looking at married life as
we would have made it, through rose
colored glasses !" and Mark moved un-
easily, got up nervously, and going
around the table, seated himself by
James side and tenderly kissed the pref
ty, reproachful face she raised toward
him while Aunt Mary was considerate-
ly looking another way.


Perhaps Henry is not altogether
blameless in the premises" said Aunt
Mary, coming back to the table with a
red face after an energetic hunt for the
shears: "did he fix himself up for
tea ?''


Oh, dear, no." replied Mark, he
sat down and ate his bread and milk in
his shirt-sleeves, collarless and cravat-
less and with unbrushed hair and whis-
kers. He would not have shown him
self to Susan in such plight before his
marriage, / assure you"


Aunt Mary looked at the pretty Swiss
clock on the mantel, took out her gold
pencil, wrote little note, and then said
to the young man:


6 wish, Mark, dear, you would car
ry this billet over to my nephew, Horace
Alden's, for me. They live in the east
tenement in the Rutherford Block, you
know, and on the strength of your cous-
inship that is to be, 1 want you to run
In without ceremony"


Mark came back in an hour with ra-
diant face. Removing his hat he made
Aunt Mary a low bow, saying:


81 am obliged to you, aunt; 1 would
not surrender the opportunity that may
be graciously given me of helping make
home with Jane here for any earthly
consideration.


Indeed" cried Aunt Mary in SEEM
ing surprise, perhaps you will be good
enough to tell us what has changed your
mind so suddenly"


Well, you see, 4" said Mark, 81 ran
up stairs and opened the door at the
top, as you told me, and such charm
ing picture that saw. A living room
neither parlor, dining room nor kitch-
en-, but a happy combination of the
three-made attractive and homelike by
perfect neatness, order and good taste
Such cordial welcome that / had, to
be sure. 1 was heartily ashamed of my
self when it came over me how well /
used to know both Horace and his
charming wife,and that 1 had not called
on them before.


gave Julia your note, and she read
it with little laugh and insisted that l
should take off my overcoat and take
tea with them. The cosy round table,
with its snow-white cloth and pretty
tea-service, looked SO inviting couldn't