After my grandmother and my grandfather were married they lived on a farm. I suppose it was the same one where my mother was born. Grandmother churned the butter and took care of the chickens and the surplus was taken into town and sold. With her “butter and egg” money she bought extra things she wanted. One of the first things she bought when she had saved enough money was the bed room set that Dad and I have in our bedroom. We are just using the head board now but Dad had extended the sides to hold a double bed mattress but originally it was much smaller, probably 3/4 size and the chest of drawers is the only other piece I had. I don’t know whether there was a wash stand or not. The dressing table with the marble top and the little drawers was something we bought later for a little more than $100 which I thought was pretty extravagant but which would probably cost over $1,000. It is from a later period, I’m sure, even if the drawer pulls are similar. The chair at my desk also came from my grandmother Howe’s home. I don’t know when she got them but there were four of them and they were used in the parlor. After her death when they were breaking up her home each one of the girls took one of the chairs. Both the bedroom set and the chair were covered with a heavy dark varnish and the seat was out of the chair but Dad refinished them and brought out the walnut and made them the beautiful pieces they are now.
Jane's Notes: Until I read this I never knew the history behind their bedroom set. Missy has those pieces now.
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