Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-12-21
ONLY 4 FARMERS WIFE.

Two women sat together at sunset iu tn
porch dooT Of white cottage that stoo,
under its ancestral tree" and among tn
fields Of wheat AM corn, like poets Wis
lou Of quic; resting place OF some weary
suffering soul.
And one Of these two women had eyes t
We, ears to hear, aud a heart to feel an,
appreciate il ALL She was 4 Ia II and state
y ssdy, apparently some thirty years of ag
not exactly handsome but with grace o
cir and manner peculiarly her own. Tn,
careful toilet, ,ha uamclcss air. elegance all,
luxury, the city dame While the wear,
glance in her large, dark eyes, which ever
the pleasant quiet of that sunset hour coul,
not quite drive away, showed that time haC
not dealt gently with her aud her heart
idols, but had thrown them, shattered ant
ruined at her feet.
Her companion WAS some five years he,
junior, and msny times pretrier--a litil,
roaad faced, spple checked woman will
dark blue eyes and dark brown hair, and
rounded figure was set off TO the best ad
vantage by the afternoon dress of the tinted
muslin tina, she wore
At present the pretty face was nlmos
spoiled by 3 querulous discontented express
zion. She wss contrasting her own hand
plump aud small, but certainly rather brown
with the sieud-r white fingers of her city
friend, all glil,ering with rings just
l1ok At the two?" she exclaimed That
comes Of making butter and cheese, and
sweeping aud dusting. and washing dishes.
and making beds all the time, That man
told tho truth tina, said woman work i.
never done. know mtnc never is Oh.
dear, dear 10 think that you, Margaret.
should have married city merchant. and
te as rich ~ princes, in q fairy tale aud
here ! am planted for lite, plain Mrs. Hiram
farke, aud nothing in the world to com pare
With you am sick OF being only a far
mer's s wife -
Margaret Van H,wth looked down a, her
grumblinE little friend with sad smile.
Jenny, 1t seems to me az We sit here in
this quiet place and look out over all these
pleasant field that are your own-lt seems
to me that you are almost wicked to talk ike
that"
Il dare ssy" replied Mrs. Jenny, .'bu,
you would not ike it, Margaret. You would
never ~lsh 10 change places with me.
Perhaps not Would you like to change
with mr?"
Yes"
And be Mrs Vsr How,h. instead Of
Alrs Hiram Pzrke p
Jenny hesitated. She dearly loved her
handsome husband.
Veil, don't mean to give up Hiram,
she said at last Il only mean that wish
Re va city merchant. iastcad o. farmer,
ssI as rich as your husband is thar IS all 4"
Ard that IS great deal, raid Mrs,
FsG Howth coldiy. Jenny, if your wish
could be granted, do you kn ow what your
life would he p
What yours is, | suppose. What any
iscys is in your position.
Exactly Bu, what i, ,ha, life? Do
you know -
How should r.
1t Is weary one, Jenny, with more
genuine hari work in it than all your max
lag butter and cheese can bring"
Oh. Margaret!''
And oh. Jenny! Believe me, my dear,
there are no people on earth who work har-
Ter than the fashionable who only have
'heir OWE Amusement to provide for. A
i'ng lie OF mere amusement Is dog life,
denny. at the best"
/ should like to be convinced Of it by
a'f1a! experience, said Jenny, doubtingiy.
10 said and thought once. l have
oetn convinced. And it is all vanity aud
VeIatlon Of spirit, my dear"
But hov?'' persisted Jenny.
bow In ten thousand ways. IF you
i've IL the fashionable world, you must do
As the fashionable world does. You must
t''e and dress and shop and lunch, and
u'eSs ssaln aud drive, and dress again and
SpPear at certain balls, parties, concerts,
exactly as your friends do, or be voted BI-
IAeRE, and out Of the world altogether.
tou' my poor Jenny, who are by no means
Ioad OF dress, what would you do at fash
'Onaoie Watering place in the hottest days o.
august, with five changes of toilet from
morning to night, and French lsdy's mait
20 'yranlze over you all the time into the
bargain? o.
Horrors y calculated Jenny
Balls that You must go to in spite of ia
Nsae' parties that you mnst grace in spite
o. heat, calls that you must make on peopl.
eAom you detest Oh, Jenny, l shoulc
-'' ra;aer De at home with the butter and
t'eSs ii were sou