Biographical fiction; Immigrants -- United States -- Fiction; United States -- History -- 19th century -- Fiction
"I do not see how anything can be prettier," said Renestine one
day after they had been in their home about a week. She had just
finished looping the pretty Swiss curtains at the windows of their
living room. "I really do not," she continued, stepping back, her
finger tips together, her head quizzically on one side. "Nothing can
be sweeter or prettier than our home. Jaffray, have you noticed how
dainty the chintz furniture is and how well it goes with the walls? I
think I deserve commendation for that wall paper, Jaffray."
"Indeed, you do, my darling," returned Jaffray, pulling
solemnly at his pipe and looking half amused, half serious, at his
young wife. "Are you quite sure the pattern is large enough?" he said,
laughing.
"Oh, you ungrateful man, you are making fun of me, I do
believe. Come into the dining-room and have dinner. Caroline is just
bringing it in."
Arm in arm, they stepped into a long, narrow room which went
the width of the house, only excepting a little room off the main
bedroom which was used for a dressing room.
The house consisted of a living room, a small hall and across
from the living room, the bedroom. Back of the little room was a
small porch and detached from the house, but connected by a covered
walk, was the kitchen. The dining-room was a foot below the two front
rooms, the kitchen joining it by the covered passage way. They could
never explain why the dining-room was so arranged, but concluded that
the owner had added it on at a later time. It was cosy and
comfortable and became attractive under the deft fingers of Renestine.
The little covered porch in front of the house was screened by running
vines from the gaze of the street.
"Now for my book shelf!" exclaimed Jaffray, after he had smoked
his afternoon pipe. "You must help me arrange them, Renestine. No
real home without books, little girl."
Josiah brought in the large drygoods box, which he opened, and
together Jaffray and Renestine took out the books, dusted them and
placed them on the shelves built in one side of the wall. Among them
were Byron,
Moore, Pope, History of the United States, Josephus, Irving's Life of
Washington. It was late when the last one had been put away, and they
were glad enough to rest in their rockers on the porch in the gloaming.
CHAPTER IV
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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