Mary Jane smiled gently. A peace and happiness had come into her heart that knew no words. She turned to John to say good-night. Her father’s blessing shone from her loyal, brave eyes, and John Lewis knew that he was truly fortunate among men.
HOW TO BUILD A COLONIAL KITCHEN
IN SCHOOL, LIBRARY OR MUSEUM
Give to an intelligent carpenter the following directions:
Make the kitchen, if possible, as large as 16′ × 20′. Put the fireplace in the center of one of the longer sides. On the opposite side make the wall the height of an ordinary table, 31″, except for a space of 3′ at each end, thus leaving an opening on that side about 14 feet long. Through this opening the kitchen will be chiefly viewed. At the right of the opening put a door, cut in half in the old Dutch fashion. ([Plate I].)
Build the walls of “compo-board,” a trade article easily obtained, and costing (January, 1921) about 8 cents per square foot. We have found nothing so serviceable as this for light and temporary interior construction. Make the walls not over 8′ high. Construct rafters of thin boards—they may even be of compo-board and hollow, and lay them across from wall to wall. ([Plate II].)
At one end put 2 or 3 windows. These windows should be small and have small panes. The sash need not be movable. The windows in the picture were found at a junk shop, as were also the door already mentioned and the one for the corner cupboard. ([Plate III].)
[Plate II] shows the character of the fireplace and its size, and gives the mantel-piece in ample detail. The bricks are, of course, only such in appearance, being painted on. The crane may be a genuine old one, or of wood. The fire is made by an electric lamp, hidden in the sticks and covered with red tissue.
The wainscoting and the mantel-piece are simple in the extreme. The appearance of paneling is produced by tacking molding on the walls of compo-board, all as indicated. The ceiling is made of cotton cloth stretched tightly above the beams.
In one corner is a cupboard. This can be made, as in the picture, with an ordinary small door, or can be a genuine antique. On the walls may be hung a hood, tippets, mittens and a few other domestic articles, all as indicated. Above are peppers, a few strings of dried apples, etc. But be chary of objects and keep the whole atmosphere simple. ([Plate IV].)
Paint rafters, wainscoting and cornice all the same color, as suits the taste of the constructor. The walls above the wainscoting should be very near white for lighting purposes.