THE HOME-COMING 185 



Goddard phaeton, a runabout, and a cart. I ex- 

 changed the brougham and the Goddard for a 

 station wagon and a park phaeton, as more suit- 

 able for country use. 



The barn equipment was all sent in one cara- 

 van, Thompson and Zeb coming into town to 

 help Lars drive out. Our lares and penates 

 were sent by freight on December 17. Polly 

 had managed to coax another thousand dollars 

 out of me for things for the house ; and these, 

 with the furniture from our old home, made a 

 brave showing when w r e gathered around the big 

 fire in the living room, December 22, for our first 

 night in the country. 



Tom, Kate, and the grand-girls were with us 

 to spend the holidays, and so, too, was the lady 

 whom we call Laura. I shall not try to say 

 much about Laura. She was a somewhat recent 

 friend. How we ever came to know her well, was 

 half a mystery ; and how we ever got on before 

 we knew her well, was a whole one. 



Roaring fires and shaded lamps gave an air of 

 homelike grace to our new house, and we decided 

 that we would never economize in either wood 

 or oil ; they seemed to stir the home spirit more 

 than ever did coal or electricity. 



The day had been a busy one for the ladies, 

 but they were pleased with results as they looked 

 around the well-ordered house and saw the work 

 of their hands. Before separating for the night, 

 Kate said : 



