Life — December 5, 1907 — page 24: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Wilmerding Home Scene: Mrs. Nelson's parlor, a cosy, homelike room, simply furnished. Enter Mrs. De Grey, in elaborate visiting gown, heavily perfumed. “LOW do you do? I’ve been coming to sce you for ages; but” (sighing) “I’ve been too busy for anything except calls of absolute duty. Mr. De Grey says my charities are enough to wear out any woman; but I tell him we must sacrifice ourselves for others,” (sighing) “and I try to bear up cheerfully. “T'm here this afternoon really on business. I’ve just got mother nicely settled at the Home, and it uch a relief! You see, Christmas being so near, with its thousand and one cares and worrics, I thought the sooner she went the better. We shall entertain a good deal during the holidays, and mother'll be happier where it is more quiet... . “Well, no; she didn’t exactly want to go at first; but we knew it was the best thing for her, and now she’s there. “There’s another vacancy, made by the death of old Miss Bronson last week, and that is what brought me here to-day. I happened to think of your mother, and what you said about being more confined at home because of her not being very well, and it occurred to me that right here was your oppor- tunity. It is such a lovely place, just the thing for old people— so quict and charming! “You don't! Why, lam surprised! I thought you’d jump at the chance. There isn’t a vacancy at the Wilmerding every day. There are only thirty-five old ladies admitted, and that makes it more select. Still, I advised mother to be a little careful about forming acquaintances—you know old folks haven’t always the wisdom of younger people. Mother doesn’t stand on her dignity as I wish she did. She let our servants run over her. I told her she’d spoil them. Of course, they adore her. Why, actually, in their eagerness to please her they have interfered with my household arrangements! “You'd miss your mother? Certainly. So shall we. She did so many things for the children, She has always taken upon herself the family mending, and she was afraid I wouldn’t get it done to suit me; so she is going to keep on with that. She will have plenty of time. The inmates don’t have much housework to do, only wiping dishes and setting tables and making beds and dusting, and the like. Of course, I shall make it my business to go down there once a week—or some of the children, if I can get them started. It is a pretty long walk, and the trolley doesn’t run near enough to make it of use to ride... . “Yes, the locality is rather lonely; but the old ladies are company for one another. And, you know, they can have their friends come to see them on Wednesdays. . . . Yes, they are allowed to go out when they please, except evenings. They must be in by seven. That's another good thing, they are obliged to keep regular hours. Mother always would attend the midweek church mectings, and she wanted to go comicbooks.com