Page:Salem - a tale of the seventeenth century (IA taleseventeenth00derbrich).pdf/42

 frame, made the little mirror look like a cool, quiet lake, smiling out amid the green woods.

On the many-twisted-legged little table under the glass stood a large flat dish of water, its whole surface covered with the sweet pink buds and graceful leaves of the May-flower—first herald of the spring—sending out the perfume of its breath to fill the room; and over the wide mantel-piece stood small, high glasses of dark-green leaves and scarlet berries, arranged with the artistic taste which speaks a loving hand; while in a rude, clumsy-made cage in the side window hung a tame robin, piping his farewell to the day, and coquettishly picking at the fresh chickweed that ornamented his cage. But the little presiding deity of the place—she whose innocent taste had so impressed itself upon these minor arrangements—was not present; and it was in search of her that the grandmother's loving eyes were so often turned to the window.

"Haint she kim yet? Wall! I 'clare I niver see notting to beat dat are!" said old Winny, the colored woman, who was the