April, 
IgI2 
The sitting-room still retains its aspect of hospitality 
upon a hall, from which one entered the carefully-guarded 
parlor, opened only on the rarest of occasions, namely, in 
the event of marriage, death or ministerial call, while the 
other entrance in the wing portion was the family entrance, 
which afforded access to the more commonly used family 
apartments. 
Outlining the main part of the house is a high Colonial 
fence, the gateposts topped with massive hand-made urns, 
and at the rear is a courtyard with a small building at one 
end. This building is particularly interesting, with its 
domed windows and handsomely carved arched entrances. 
It is of the same date of construction as the dwelling, the 
only change from its original condition being the absence 
of one chimney, which was removed to make extra room 
for some needed requirement. Beyond the shed and ex- 
tending to the street boundary, is the orchard, abounding 
in apple, pear and plum trees, and beside it is the old-time 
garden, which still retains its wealth of Sweet Alyssum, 
Mignonette and other old-fashioned flowers, so popular in 
our grandmother’s day, laid out in primitive beds and bor- 
ders, among which it is a delight to wander. 
Within, the house is a very treasure trove of antiques. 
Rich old furniture abounds and finds a suitable setting in the 
large, low stud- 
ded, square 
rooms, with their 
handsomely carv- 
ed woodwork, 
and within the 
deep built-in cup- 
boards and 
closets quantities 
of wonderful old 
china are stored, 
the whole doubly 
cherished as wed- 
ding gifts of 
brides of long 
ago. 
The main hall- 
way, with its 
wealth of panel- 
ed woodwork and 
beautiful hand- 
carved balus- 
trade, still shows 
the quaint guests’ 
candles standing 
on a small table 
RAARAMUULA? 
sien ay if 
= Sime : 
A corner of the stairhall, with its fine old chairs 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 129 
fed i; 
Kia ri | ie 
Pe ee 
The i aodWark Rea the ee is most interesting 
in the stairway, which were used to light the way of visitors 
to the house in early times. The chairs which are shown 
in the wall are carefully cherished, being part of the wed- 
ding furniture of great-great-grandmother Parker and were 
brought from England by one of the first of the family 
to live in America. ‘These chairs, as will be seen from illus- 
trations accompanying this article, are especially fine. 
Opening out of the hallway of the Parker house is the 
old-time parlor, this room being now in general use. Here 
the furnishings consist of beautiful old-time pieces, which, 
if they could but speak, would no doubt unfold many an 
interesting tale of past history. At one side of the room is 
a wide, deep fireplace, flanked on either side by paneled 
walls. This is one of the dominating features of this home- 
like room and the cheery glow of the great oak logs, as 
they burn on the ancient andirons, no doubt creates in the 
minds of the household, as they sit before it, many a wraith 
of old-time faces. 
From one side of the well-lighted living-room, with its 
quaint many-paned windows set in broad sills, filled in the 
Winter time with old-fashioned posies, leads an apartment 
now used as a den. Here one side-wall is entirely lined 
with built-in cupboards, the doors of which are of glass, 
showing to ad- 
vantage the ex- 
quisite sets of 
rare old Lowes- 
toft and Staftord- 
shire ware, as 
well as beautiful 
glassware, all of 
which were wed- 
ding presents to 
the first Mrs. Par- 
ker, more than 
one hundred and 
thirty years ago. 
No - finer ex 
amples than these 
of china of this 
sort are to be 
found in all New 
England. W on- 
derful old prints 
hang on the walls 
of the den, treat- 
ing of subjects of 
long ago, and old 
books, most of 
