FURNTSHIKG. 49 



bright border of blue-flag blossoms and rich green leaves. 

 The wood-work and the floor for a yard's width about the 

 room was painted, by the oldest boy, a light lead color, at 

 a cost of a dollar and a half. The center of the floor is 

 covered with a large, square, braided rug of black and 

 gray rags, with a square of blue in the middle, and there 

 are smaller rugs of similar pattern before the bureau and 

 the toilet-table. 



The two windows on opposite sides of the room are 

 hung with graceful lambrequins of blue and gray calico 

 that cost six cents a yard, being of extra quality ! 



A solid, oblong kitchen table, with neat lead-colored 

 legs and a cover of gray linen, bordered with blue 

 which I mistrust is kept in place by the big Dictionary 

 and a large book of birds stands in the center of the 

 room, and above it is suspended a hanging lamp, particu- 

 larly bright and shining, although it is set in just a 

 square of board with a wire running up from each cor- 

 ner. A fleecy frilling of blue tissue paper conceals the 

 board, and the plain little lamp becomes a pretty feature 

 in the room. 



There are three "cot" beds at one end of the apart- 

 ment. Each has a corn-husk mattress (with, in winter, 

 another of wool), an oat-straw pillow, neat, plain shams, 

 and a woven blue and white counterpane, like those of 

 olden times. 



The somewhat elongated toilet- table for it must ac- 

 commodate three boys, who generally must dress at the 

 same time is made from a packing-box and neatly 

 draped with the blue and gray print. Above it is a long 

 mirror, placed lengthwise, and there are brush and comb 

 boxes for each boy. 



In one corner stands a large wardrobe for clothes, and 

 opening from the room is a small closet, warmed in cold 

 weather by a pipe from the winter-kitchen stove, and 

 containing conveniences for washing and bathing. 

 3 



