. The New England magazine . -rectly opposite the huge chimney givebut a dim religious light, such as pervadesthe cloistered aisles of great cathedralswhere rest the remains of the departedgreat. The floor and roof of wide, roughboards, stained by age and leaks, haveassumed a rich brown color, the wholetone of the place being warm. Thepeculiar odor from the sunburned roofand the heated contents of the atticitself give a soporific feeling, and the bednear by — though shorn of its trappings— invites slumber. There is but little more than roomenough for a tall person to stand erectunder the ridge
. The New England magazine . -rectly opposite the huge chimney givebut a dim religious light, such as pervadesthe cloistered aisles of great cathedralswhere rest the remains of the departedgreat. The floor and roof of wide, roughboards, stained by age and leaks, haveassumed a rich brown color, the wholetone of the place being warm. Thepeculiar odor from the sunburned roofand the heated contents of the atticitself give a soporific feeling, and the bednear by — though shorn of its trappings— invites slumber. There is but little more than roomenough for a tall person to stand erectunder the ridge-pole, and the fact thatthe roof meets the floor at the eaves ofthe house shows that one must stoop toconquer, if the explorations are to bethorough. of all vandals ; but this one has knownbut one family and has now almostrounded out its century of undisturbedquiet. The way to this heaven is through thedark valley and shadows of a steep flightof narrow stairs ; the words of the oldnegro song, — Jordan am a hard road to. On either side rise the pillars of Her-cules— the two great chimneys, — theirtops beyond sight, threatening towardheaven. The bricks iire laid in clayinstead of a mortar of lime and sand. IN AN OLD ATTIC. 101 and where the rain has beaten and fol-lowed down the sides, little rivulets ofclay have been left, marking the courseof the water. Inside the chimney canbe heard the low twitter of the chimney-swallows, who find ample room for theirlittle homes in the long black shaft. The few large rafters are noticeable, asthe roof is chiefly supported by crosstimbers instead, and the boards are laidup and down, — a deceptive practice,for when a leak is discovered it may per-haps be many feet above the place whereit shows itself. But draw near and examine the con-tents of this end of the old attic. Speakreverently, for who knows what greatthoughts may have been in the headsyon tall black hats once covered. Hereis one with thename and placeof business of theLon
Size: 1967px × 1270px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidnewenglandma, bookyear1887
