Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-07-02
Cuts AID Skettl,es.
FARMER GgIMES'S SECOND WIFE.
By CLARA VANCE.

Poor Mrs. Grimes. she can't live uot
the day"
The words were sadly spoken by more
than one neighbor, casting mourniul
glanees toward that upper window where
the blinds were shut.
Poor Mrs. Grimes. just as she had got
so comfortably settled in her new house,
! too
Yesit was poor Mrs. Grimes everywhere
a withered woman, old at forty. She was
dying in the pretty room where she had
| hoped to enjoysso much. Her husband
sat near her, silently battling with his
grief. for he had loved that patient wife
| for twenty years.
The sharp, pinched features, now gray
with the shadow of death, had been beau
tiull once-the dull eyes had sparkled with
the fire of Joy and health. Children had
been carried in those wasted arms, and
from thence taken all too soon to the grave.
Two sons stood in the chamber with sol
emn faces. unwilling to let ''mother'' go.
Old and faded, wrinkled and suffering
though she was, they held her heart by
the strong cords of love.
Twenty years before, Mrs. Grimes was
installed by happy husband, mistress Of
his house. 1t was not his own farm whose
broad acres he cultivated. consequently
he determined to work hard, to be dill
gent, frugal and saving, SO that in time
to come lie might have some place to call
his own.
In this pleasant scheme the young wife
entered with all her heart she was healthy
and strong, knew how to work and was
not afraid of her labor. So she put forth
all her strength, and her thrift and toll
told. Every year the farmer laid by mon
cy towards his purchase. People wonder
ed why the Grimses would go to meeting
in that rickety old wagon, and why Mrs.
Grimes wore the same faded muslin that
she had worn at least ten years. But she
knew why, and though her form began to
bend, though her hands had grown coarse,
and misshapen, ard she suffered pains and
ills she never felt before, it did not once
occur to her that these Were the effects of
hard and wearing labor
Time to read Why, the good woman
would almost have laughed in the face of
one who asked the question. Look at her
work and thelsimagine, if You could, that
she had any time. She had not even leis-
ire to eat her meals properly; what with
cooking huge messes oi pork and beef,
cabbage and potatoes, filing tub after tub
with apple sauce, making all the cheese
and bread and butter for the household,
and the hired men, how could she eat her
meals as see should?
Strange to say, she never regretted all
this outlay of strength, all this waste of
human life. Ever before her was the
prospect of that pleasant farm, cleared
except when her children were born, and
st. In, Tod ft.,t,
time for repose, but stitched and mended,
propped up by pillows, before nerve or
muscle We're able to perform their proper
functions. Thus it was that she grew old
and shlunken before her time, grew into
machine of flesh and blood that never
slackened in the huge toll it had taken
upon itself to bear The husband be-
came accustomed to the pale face and SO
often had he listened to her oft-repeated
declaration that she would not have help
that at last he gave up all thought of it.
She never took rides in the sweet country
roads, she had no time to tend and love
flowers, she never visited, she had always
something to do"
One day the farmer came in early in the
afternoon. twas an unusual hour for him
and his vile said SO, looking up from a
huge pile of mendng.
"Well,' and he flushed and smiled, AS
he seated himself in one of the uncomfort-
able Kitchen chairs, "Iye bought Jerry's
place at last, and paid for 1t every cent
The faded eye kindled, the lips parted
with smile, but suddenly the woman
bowed her head and burst into tears.
why, Sally,-why, wite-I thought
you'd be mighty pleased :" cried the far
mer, startled ut this exhibition of feeling.
81 am, DEAR and Sally struggled to
overcome her grief, '.but such il lone
some, drearisome feeling came over
me then, only thought OF the dead babies
in their graves.
'You're tired and sick, Sally; fact is