Jannette, a well-balanced, conscientious young woman, had married a
sign-painter, who kept strictly within the limits of his business. She
had now three children, healthy, nice-looking, docile children, but
without any special characteristics. They had been living in a rented
house, but now Jannette’s father, having met with success in some
business venture, purchased for his daughter a good lot, on which they
were able to build a moderate house. Mrs. T. at this time was pregnant
with her fourth child, and she entered, with the zest such good fortune
would naturally call out, into the planning and replanning the new
home, so as to secure the maximum of space, comfort, and architectural
beauty out of their modest means. With this her thoughts were occupied
during the day, and the evenings were passed advising together over the
height of doors and windows, the odd spaces for closets, the precise
wood for the different floors. This was during the latter half of the
rainy season. The storms once over, the lumber was hauled, and the
house put up forthwith.
It now became necessary, with the last remnant of the savings before
her, as basis and limit to her operations, to calculate what, of the
new furniture needed, could be bought. The papering also must be
considered.
“I want a touch of what is called the artistic in our room and
the sitting-room, if we can’t do more. Let me help to choose the
wall-paper. _I_ shall have to see it every minute of the day,” she said.
A first-class Brussels carpet, somewhat worn, was bought at auction.
This was so remodeled as to appear new and elegant. A fringed
lambrequin for the mantel-shelf (which was _not_ marble); a few
pretty, but cheap, brackets; a few photographs of fine paintings,
which had lain out of sight for years, made into passe-partouts, and
hung judiciously. Pretty imitation chintz curtains, with lambrequin
top, for the bed-room; sheer muslin, lined with Turkey-red, for the
living-room; well-fitting chintz covers for the old couch and armchair,
the colors made to harmonize with carpet and wall-paper, which latter
was, of course, neutral-tinted; a hanging-basket, already well-filled
and growing, in each window; a few inexpensive, urn-shaped vases
for flowers; a graceful evening lamp. This last Jannette feared an
extravagance, but “it will be so restful to our eyes; think of it,
dear, _every_ evening.”
When all was ready, a house-warming was given, and was not our little
wife proud of her success? She really had not realized before her own
talent and good taste. “I am sure, Mr. T., you must have spent hundreds
of dollars on all this,” said Mr. T.’s partner’s wife, who frowned
severely on all extravagance. Jannette shook her head and smiled.
And now, in a few weeks, all was ready for the newcomer--Master Thomas
Bliss Trescott, as he was named. In after years the mother still
remembered the pleasure she had had in the arrangement of their lovely
home, but she did not connect that fact with the sterling intellect
and marked artistic ability of her fourth child (and second son),
notwithstanding that he was seen by all to be head and shoulders above
the rest in all that makes a man.