Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-05-27
Hardly was breakfast over the next NOR

Hardly was breakfast over the next morn
ing, and the men folks out to work, when a
boy from the ncighboring town came to the
farm house door.
''Please, ma'am," said he, can you tell
where our folks can get a girlgto help through
harvest Father told me to take the wagon
and ride until I found one. He wants me
to bring one home with me, if it is possible
hut have been trying two Or three days
before, and [ see no chance for us yet
Every one is harvesting, and all the girls
are busy everywhere CO."
Have your folks a wringer %
eyes"
s'And washing machine p
Eyes; frst-ratc one. run it myself
every week.
"What kind of a churn p
ooh, we don't wish the girl to do the
churning. Father says that is too hard for
the women-folks; so We take turns in doing
it-us men and boys"
"What wages do you pay -
''Father told me to offer three dollars a
week in harvest, and if found good one,
he would pay FOUR
"Well, I will 60 with you, if mother is
willing"
This little deception was used in order to
avoid the danger Of village gossip Step
ping into the next room. she wrote brief
note to her husband, stating, as men do
sometimes in such notes. that.she was called
away suddenly upon business, and would
return in about three weeks.
Then packing few necessary articles in
to small valise, she accompanied the de-
lighted boy to his home.
Great was farmer Browns astonishment,
upon returning home to dinner, to find upon
the table, instead Of the tempting viands, his
wife's note.
It was carefully kind, and he had really
nothing Of which to complain. But it was
appalling Six hungry men and boys; din
ner time, and no dinner; worse than all, no
wife to find fault with for the delay. The
closets were ransacked, and hasty meal
was the result; but the stove was stiff cold,
and they all thought they had had no din
ner.
"But why on earth didn't Sally write me
where she was going? Perhaps some Of her
folks are dead Harvest time, too. Bow
can we manage to get along Heavens and
earth where can I get a hired girl? Bust
ness,'-what can woman have to call her
away from home in harvest Pm afraid some
of those Women's Rights wimmen has been
talkin' to Sally. She's seemed very queer
lately"
It would be useless to attempt to write all
the troubles for the pext three weeks to
Farmer Brown.
A girl was hired after long and vexa-
tious search, but the bread was sour, the
coffee muddy. the tea Stops, potatoes soggy,
and the meats ali served SO late that the
hungry men were glad to get them in any
condition The harvesters grumbled, and a
portion deserted him when the hurry was
greatest, and quite quantity of grain was
lost in consequence of not being stacked be-
fore heavy rain.
Just three weeks after her departure Mrs.
Brown alighted from farm wagon and en-
tered her own house Disorder and dirt
reigned, supreme, but with the help of the
girl, who really tried to do her best, and
needed only careful supervision, she sue
ceeded in changing the aspect Of the kitchen
and sitting-room in few hours
When the men folks came to dinner the
table wore it's former inviting look, and the
pretty hostess sat at its head in her accus-
toned place Farmer Brown was so delight
ed he forgot the lecture he had so carefully
prepared, through three weeks of indigna-
tion, for her return
"Where on earth have you been, Sally?
he asked, the first time they sat together
alone
cat Mr.. Thompson's in A." was
the quiet answer.
''Any of your folks? I never heard you
speak Of them"
"No; they were strangers
Heavens and earth, Sally !"-this was
all the swearing Farmer Brown ever did
what ever possessed you to 60 off among
strangers in harvest time?"
Il was earning money for a wringer,"
was the simple answer
Had a thunderbolt struck Farmer Brown,
he could not have been more completely par
alyzed She went on:
Il thought while [ was about it | might
as we'll earn myself this pretty and cheap
dress to work in. like as well to look
neat as before I was married and, if I mis-
take not, my husband likes to have me.
Mrs. Thompson kindly taught me how
to sew upon her machine, so [ made the
dress in few hours. [ could earn sew
ing machine for myself by staying there a
| few weeks longer, after l have fixed you all
up again at home"
'Never !" said Mr.. Brown, decidedly
Why. Sally, your absence has cost us over
a hundred dollars already, and it will take
us a long time to get back in the old track
again"
II never intend to get back into it again"
she answered, slowly and solemnly, cit
was the path to an invalid's life, and sure
death. If my absence was cause of mon
ey lost, then by my presence in my house
holdaaand performance of my duties there [
help to earn that money, it is only Just that
a reasonable portion of it be expended in
tightening my tolls"
"Well, Sally, I suppose the old farm will
supply all the help and tools you need,
without you going anywhere else to earn
it,"
II hope So" she replied, the slightest
possible CLEAN Of merriment flashing in her
eyes, Gas it will be so much pleasanter
The subject was never resumed between
them but one would think, to peep into
their kitchen, that Mr.. Brown was agent
for all the Women's Labor Saving Ma
chimes
When I behold fashionable table set out
in all its magni6cence, fancy that see
gouts and dropsies, fevers and lethargies,