THE HOME. 643 



to feel above sleeping on bundles of straw, or heaps of skins. 

 In the thirteenth century we find the bed standing low on 

 four feet, with a balustrade, and a narrow gateway opening on 

 one side. The bed and cushions were stuffed with straw, husks, 

 and feathers. At this time sheets came into use, at first, a 

 single sheet rolled about the body ; afterward, two were laid 

 flat upon the bed and hung to the floor. The bed stood in the 

 great hall where the family assembled. At first it was quite 

 narrow, but increased in width until it reached four yards. In 

 these, parents, children, and sometimes dogs, took their night's 

 rest, and it was considered a proper courtesy to invite an 

 honored guest to share it. Bedsteads were occasionally made 

 of bronze and other metals, but oftener of carved wood. Cur- 

 tains were suspended from the ceilings, or carried over them. 

 At this period there were comfortable pillows and bolsters. In 

 the fifteenth century beds assume their most exaggerated pro- 

 portions. As the Dark Ages came to an end, chimneys were 

 introduced, and life in the castle became more permanent. 



Small bedrooms should always have light paper on the walls, 

 as this adds to the apparent size of the room. Avoid large 

 figures in the carpet. A dry-goods box, furnished with wooden 

 casters, and neatly covered with some harmonizing color in 

 cretonne, the top being stuffed to form a cushion, will make a 

 comfortable seat, and also prove a great convenience should the 

 room be without wardrobe or closet. A smaller box, covered 

 to match, makes a pretty footstool, also a receptacle for shoes, 

 slippers, etc. See that a pin-cushion is supplied with pins, a 

 match-safe with matches, that the soap-dish contains a cake of 

 nice toilet soap. Let there be clean towels in abundance. A 

 wall bracket is a great convenience for holding toilet articles ; 

 and if the room does not contain a table, it would be well to 

 substitute several shelves in place of the bracket, that there 

 may be room for a few books, a basket, a vase, or any little 

 article that might happen to find its way thither. 



The bed is the principal feature of the room, and attention 

 should be paid to the springs and mattress. The best mattresses 

 are made of hair, but a common husk mattress covered with 

 wool combines both comfort and cheapness. A pretty covering, 

 or spread, can be made of cretonne, with an antique lace inser- 



