The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-04-13
THE NEWSPAPER ;
OR, THE WlFE'S GOOD SENSE.

4 SKETCH TO BE READ by THE MAN VINO RETRENcHEs
By piScoNTINUING HIS PAPER.
The old farm honse wore quiot, pleasant
look, as the sotting sun glded it's email
windows, ovor which the luxuriant grape
vines were carefully trained. In the open
door sat tho farmer with littlo morocco
covered book in his hand, on which his at
teution had been fixed for the last hour.
He was man of method and order--old
Richard Hesth--and aside from his regular
account books, which be always kept with
scrupulous care. he always set down in his
little book, in the simplest manner possible
all his expenses, Ono very complicated
amount by the way, and oil he had received
during the year, in the metal, as ho said
not By the way Of trade.
Tho last account no had just reckoned up,
and tho result vas highly satisfactory, if one
might judge from the pleasant expression OF
his face as he turned to his vito and ad-
dressed her by her pretty, old fashioned
name:
"Millicent," said ho, "this has been luck y
year. How Iittlc We thought when we
moved to this place, twenty Ave years ago,
that we should ever get five hundred dollars
year out of the rocky and barren farm"
'It does pay for good deal of hard work. u
said shc, TO SEQ how different things look
from what they did then"
"Now am going TO figuro up how much
we have spent" said MIR. Heath; "don't
make noise with your knitting noodles
cause il puts mo out"
Tho wife laid by her knitting In porfec,
good humor, and gazed over the broad, rich
fields of waving grain, which grew 80 tai
around tho laden apple trees, that they
looked like massive piles of foliage. Hear
ing hor own name kindly spoken led hel
own thoughts far back, to the past for after
the lapse of twenty five years, tho simple
sound of the name she bore in her youth
epithets of dearest and darling so laviShly
offered in long past courtship.
Very pleasant was tho retrospect to Mil.
liccnl Heath. Tho picture of the past hao
! on it some rough places, and somo hare
trials, but no domestic strife or discomfort
marred its sunny aspect. There were smi.
ling faces on it-happy childrcn's faces
without which no life picture is beautiful
Soft blue eyes shone with unclouded glad
ness, and wavy hair f1oated carelessly ove
unwritten forehca ds. She forgot, for
moment, how thoy were changed, and al
most fancied herself again tho young mother
and tiny hands stole lovingly over her bo
some and young heads nestled there as o
| old.
The Illusion vanished quickly, and sh,
sighed she thought of her youngest born
the reckless boy had loft her three year
before, for home on the sea. Ono,
only had tdings reached her of the wander
er. The letter spoke of the hardships anC
homo sickness in that light and careless way
that reached the m mothers heart moro surel,
than rcpining and complaint. To know
tha. he suffered. with a strong heart, will
noble and uny;olding resolution. gavo her
feeling of pleasure, Lot unmingled will
pride.
"He will surely como back" murmurei
the affectionate mother to herself; land
read the paper so carefully overy week, tina
if il says anything about the ship Alfre'
sailed in, shall be sure to 500 it,"
"Mrs. Heath" said her husband. inter
rupting her meditations somewhat rudely
two have spent thirty dollars more thar
usual this year, where can it have gone to !:
"The new harness" suggested Mrs. Heath
"that don't come every year you know"
"Well, there's twenty dollars accoupte,
for"
"We had the carriage fixed up whom yo,
bought the harness." continued his wife.
"Well, that was eight dollars; that
twenty eight; we don't spend that every yea
but the other two, whore can they hav'
gone 2
Glaucing his eye over the pages of th,
memorandum book, he continued
"I'll tell you what tits, the newspape
cost just two dollars, and we can do without
it, It isn't anything to cat, drink or wear
l don't do anything with il, and you only
lay it away up chamber 1t may as woll b.
left out as not, and I'll stop my subscription
right away"
"Oh." said his wife, "you don't know how
much 1 set by the newspaper. l always
have sort of glad feeling when / see yor
take it from your hat and lay it on the kitch
en- mantle.piece, just as do when some o.
tho children come homo; and when an
tired sit down with my knitting work anC
read. can knit just as we'll when In
reading, and feel SO contonted. don't be
Iieve Queen Victoria herself takes NOR,
solid comfort than do sitting by the cas-
window, on summer afternoon, reading
my newspaper"
"But you are just as wslI off without il,
answered her husband, for want of nythinl
else to say.
"I never neglect anything else for read
ing, do !" asked Mrs. Heath. mildly.
"No, / don't know as you do" answered
/ Lo.. k,,k 10