The earliest unexpressed ambition of my infancy
had been to grow up and wear a cap, and sit in an easy-chair
knitting and look comfortable just as my mother did.
Filled up with these things, the little one-windowed sitting-room
easily caught the home feeling, and gave it back to us. Inanimate
Objects do gather into themselves something of the character
of those who live among them, through association; and this alone
makes heirlooms valuable. They are family treasures, because they
are part of the family life, full of memories and inspirations.
Bought or sold, they are nothing but old furniture. Nobody can
buy the old associations; and nobody who has really felt how
everything that has been in a home makes part of it, can willing-
ly bargain away the old things.
My mother never thought of disposing of her best furniture,
whatever her need. It traveled with her in every change of her
abiding-place, as long as she lived, so that to us children home
seemed to accompany her wherever she went.
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