p. 10 | BEN'S ROOM

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, Cal. · Nov 12, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 45.

BEN'S ROOM.

"What a hideous green you are putting in that tidy," said Belle to her "very best friend," as they sat talking over their fancy work.

"I know it," said Kate good-humoredly. "You see I bought it one night and commenced work on it by lamplight, and thought it looked pretty well. But some colors are so changeable; it looks frightful by daylight. I only know one thing I can do with it—I'll give it to Ben."

"Why—will he like it?"

"O, I don't know; I guess so. It'll help me make out for Christmas, and do well enough for his room. We stuff everything there," said Kate with a little short laugh.

"Why," said the girl, and her fingers stopped in their busy motion. "I'd just as soon think of putting anything ugly into the parlor as into Brother Frank's room; he is so choice of it."

"O, well, boys are different," stammered Kate.

"You must all do something to keep Ben at home these evenings," said her father one day. "I don't like the way he is spending his time."

And Kate, as she heard the words, wondered what she could do.

That afternoon there was a great overhauling of furniture upstairs, and by supper time quite a transformation had taken place in Ben's room. There were pretty, bright chromes and one or two choice engravings on the wall hitherto bare; dainty white mats on the bureau, fresh muslin curtains draped back from the window, and everything as inviting as thoughtful hands could make it.

"Now," she said, "I wonder if he'll notice it."

"Have you a headache, Ben?" she asked, as she passed his door that evening and saw him sitting with his head bowed upon his hands.

"O, no," he answered, "only thinking of going down town, but it looks so pleasant and homelike up here I guess I'll stay."

And he did stay; it wasn't the last time, either. By and by he began to invite some of "the fellows" to come and see him at the house, and with great satisfaction would ask them to "step up" to his room. Was it strange that from these little gatherings more than one went away feeling that it was a grand good thing to have a home, and be worthy of it?—Philadelphia Call.