The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-09-21
Mrs. Brown DiscOursetll.

the rank and file against the wall, and
offered it to her neighbor, Mrs. Jones. In
performing this hospitable action, Mrs.
Brown called the ghost of a smile to her
face, and in the care-worn features could
be seen signs of beauty and sweetness
that time and trouble were stealing from
her. She resumed her seat, and while
rocking the cradle, YEARLY proceeded to
pare, quarter and core the apples in the
pan beside her, while she discoursed in
this wise to the strong, hearty locking
farmer who sat opposite:
"No, John isn't in, Mr.. Jones. He's
gone to the village 10 hear about secession
-something or other. I can't keep track
Of it, I'm so hurried and tried-'Tugged
with fortune and Eearied with disaster
as my mother used to say"
"Iou mean to say you amt any patri-
otism don't care what them rascalIy FIRE
eaters do, any how, suppose; little odds
to you whether Major Andersen holds OFT
or not Mr.. Jones said this in a Won
dering, good nat2red way.
"NoW, look here, neighbor," and into
Mrs. Browns pale cheek faint crimson
crept and waYered uncertainty, then sta
toned itself il the pnaccustomed blace.
'LoOk here, neighbor, you know th] It her
Of ours--the speekled one, that's 30 "a
nous fox raising chickens? You know
how she worries over 'em, and cluck and
scratches aud watches fer 'em, and gets
poor and tretted like, SO she's nothing at
last but bundle of bones aud feathl Rs
but the chickens come through a!l light
fat and plump and byight-evcd You
know old Fuss-that's the name John
gave her-never minds what she eats, or
how heavy the raia pelts down on her,
and she isn't afraid CT anything for the
chickens sake. Well, somehow | think
I'm Ike the poor old hen" Mrs. Brown
dropped heg knife and bent over the era
de moment. Farmer Jones didn't no
tice the tear that fell on the baby's cheek.
."You see, neighbour" the woman went on.
"when my heart and hands are full of
thoughts and work for John and the
chlldren-of how l can manage to save
here, and get along without this, and
make that last he7oud all reason-I don't
have much time left to think about these
politics, or anything beyond tk;s -oem we
live In. But | used to have thoughts
outside of this, about the countries away
over the sea"-and the woman's eyes had
a far-off, uournful lock in them. "Tn
geography, l remember how l liked to
learn about 'em, and then I thought may
be I'd see all those beautiful things some.
day; you know girls have their fancies.
But I've given all that up. 'Tisn't easy
to 60 'wool-gathering' when I see bulbs.
toes coming out of his stockings, and
Johns mittens needing a patch. I'm
afraid you men don't make hardly allow
anee enough for US, always. We're not
so strong as you, and then or work IS
different. You are OFT in the fresh air
and sunshine, but we stay in the house
and don't have much change. You SO to
market, and haul wood and straw, and
meet your neightors and have . pleasant
Tor1 with them, but We zee the same
things day after day, and sc: lonesome
sometimes, and wonder why we were put
iEto such kind of 3ices as these. Then
It's trying to woman's nerves-the kind
Of work she has to do. 'Tisn't like plow-
ing and sowing and driving horses that's
heavy work, to be sure, but then you're
strong to do it. But we have such par
ticular, careful work. Now, there is
bread-making-yor don't know how much
worry there is about it. You must take
so much into the account, the kind of
-four, the kind of wood you have to make
your fire, the yeast; all these are chang
Ing, and you must make allowance for
this. You must let the bread rise lust
SO much, and 6x the hampers just right,
and handle it 50 careful. Why, DR.. D
told NE that It's Ike managing chemicals
and he said that men that had to work
with chemicals were the most nervous
kind, because they were SO full of tho'ts
and care. Then, there's preserves and
pickles, and cakes and coffee. You don't
know anything about the care and trouble
it is to get them up SO nice, when you sit
down to eat the light, crisp pastry and
drink the coffee, creamed to the color that
suits you. Yon don't know how tiresome
it is to feel 60 much care always on you, /
nor how much patience and watching it
takes before turkey or roast is done to
a turn"
Mr.. Jones looked steadily at his neigh. |
Dor while she talked. She paused a mo-
ment to replenish the fire. He sat 10 a
kind Of maze, without Offering her any
assistance. Finding that be dia not
speak, she continued
"And SO you see, with all these things,
I don't think much about what's going
On nr1fE,1a- that ror or1 lin tnIl- nho,,t !