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 we 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 : — 
