Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1861-09-21

self, Squite we'll" and then I tried to
make conversation, in order to push
aside, if possible, the unpleasant
thoughts that intruded themselves. =
But | remained i'll at ease. Conscience
kept accusing me. Had I been just,
humane, considerate? | could not an
swer. Fifty cents for gilt and tint,
was thing of no consideration, but
twenty-five cents to my poor washer
woman, who toiled wearily from sun to
sun, was SO wei ghty a matter, that
self interest would not let me decide i'll
her favor. Two or three times during
the evening had resolved to send my
cook to Mary, who lived not far dis
tant, with the twenty-five cents | had
so positively refused to advance on her
wages. But this would have been ac-
knowledging myself wrong, and hu-
man nature is weak. | was not quite
ready for this.
"You needn't get me those photo
graphs" said [ to Mr.. Wilkins, on
the next morning, as he was leaving,
after breakfast.
"Why not?" he inquired, looking
at NE curiously.
| really felt as ifhe were reading my
thoughts, and my eyes fell away invol-
unfairly.
"Gilt edge and pink lining!" Mr..
Wilkins looked at me from the corners
of his eyes, just little wickedly.
'For shame - [ answered, hiding
the real state ofmy mind under show
of mock dlspleasure.
I could not get Mary out Of my
mind. Every now and then thought
of her would intrude and continued,
throughout the day. Several times [
resolved to send her the extra sum she
had asked for her days work, but
pride, | call the feeling by its right
name-held my good intent from ac-
ton; and SO the days went on, and the
week closed.
Sunday evening found my thoughts
going forward to Monday, that day of
days to houskeepers- I had never
known more faithful or punctual
washerwoman than Mary, and had Of
ten said Of her, speaking to myself,
'EShe's a treasure" The question Of
her appearance as usual, on Monday
morning, was therefore serious one,
and the doubt involved made me feel
uncomfortable. Rather than lose her
I would have paid dollar for the
days work cheerfuly. She was bet
ter worth that than most washerwomen
the usual seventy-fiye cents.
II wonder if Mary will be here in
the morning? ?" said [, speaking to the
cook.
"Don't know, ma'am," answered
cook, soberly. | could see that the ex-
ira quartz was in her mind, and she
wished me to remember how [ had
refused to advance Mary's wages.
s'Did she say anything about giving
up the place ?" / inquired.
ssShe said it was worth q dollar, ma
am, and she could get it-and SO she
can"
I said no more, but left the cook,
brooding over the matter, with no pleas
ant anticipations.
| arose early the next morning, and
went down to the kitchen. There
stood Mary over her washing tub, as I
had seen her on every Monday morn
ing for the last twelve months. She
looked up as came in, with her usu
al grave smile Of recognition; but the
smile was more f1eeting than usual, and
as it faded out, [ saw lines of trouble
on her face.
care you not we'll, Mary ?n I asked
kindly.
IN OF very we'll, ma'ma," she answer
ed, in tone that stirred nay heart with
feeling of sympathy.
"What ails you?'I inquired.
"Johnny's been sick, and ! have had
to be up with him almost every night"
"What's the matter with Johnny %
II don't know ma'am. He has fe
YER, and such dreadful headache?"
Fever. All, [ knew too well what
that word meant, for many an hour had
I lain scorched with fever, and often
tormented by thirst My thoughts
went realizingly to one well remember.
ed time, when after a long delay, a cool
juicy orange was placed to my eager
lips, and then, as my thoughts passed
to Mary's little boy, an accusing spirit
enlarged me with holding back from
his lips like refreshment.
ssIs he no better this morning? %
"Not much, ma'am."
turned away from the kiteAen, and
went UP stairs with strangely uncoH
Portable feeling about my heart. An
image of the sick child haunted me [
fancied him suffering with thirst as /
had once suffered, when the hot breath
of fever seemed to be drying up my
blood.
After breakfast I sent for few oran-