The Journals of Martha E. McMillan

important, mid-century morality and hospitality ought not to be defined by parlor furnishings as those two ideologies had been during the antebellum time period (see Bushman xvii-xviii). It stands to reason that Martha read House and Home Papers because during the month of October, at the same time that her mother-in-law and her sisters-in-law were preparing to move to a house in town, Martha writes numerous entries about choosing carpet, the first furnishing, according to Crowfield, that families should purchase for their parlors (McMillan, October 3, 1867). As she is purchasing carpets and other commodities to begin her own housekeeping, she calls the McMillan farmhouse “our home” for the first time in the October 15 entry. By purchasing her own consumer goods and by decorating the McMillan house with them, she acts as the newlyweds Crowfield portrays as they endeavor to set up comfortable housekeeping. Just like the couples Crowfield mentions, Martha and James are newlyweds who must buy consumer goods to make the McMillan house their own. Between October and December 1867, Martha is busy purchasing goods and installing them in her new home. On October 25 and October 30, she receives carpets at her house and travels to purchase more carpet. By December 14, the carpet has been put down in the front sitting room. On October 11 and October 16, her father delivers new furniture to her house. Just as Crowfield suggests, Martha adds wallpaper to her siting room (Stowe 89-90). She and Mary work on “papering” the siting room on November 7 and November 9. Of course, Martha must add blinds to the windows. Crowfield reminds his readers that women add blinds so that the sun will not fade the carpet (Stowe 17). James installs Martha’s blinds in the front sitting room on December 16. Finally on December 16, after all the carpets have been laid, the wallpaper applied, the window blinds installed, and the furniture arranged, Martha records that she and James have their “first sitting in the front room.” 32