Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1870-04-08

they met at stated intervals, taking thI
different houses in rotation, dining at homs
at twelve, assembling at one O'Clock, and
working steadily for several hours. Ii wa
surprising how much work got done, how
many little petticoats and frocks were made
in the long afternoons. In less than month
it would be Mrs. Thompson's turn to re-
eeive the company-for the first time ant
she naturally began to consider ways and
means For they met for an entertainment
as well as for sewing tea in the afternoon
grand meal later when the stitching wa:
over
What was Mrs. Thompson to do2 Then
stock of plates and dishes consisted of a few
odds and ends Of cracked delf, that had once
been kind of mulberry color. She long
wanted some new white ware, she wanted it
more than ever now. Grover, the keeper
Of the village crockery- shop, had a lovely
set for sale, white, with delicate sprig Of
eonYolyuli and fachsias, looking every bit as
good as real china. Mrs. Thompson had
set her heart on the set. and that morning
had broached the subject to her husband.
What's the matter with the old ones p
asked he
Look at them, she answered They
are frightlully old and shabby.
/ daresay the food will taste as well of
them as of Growers set of white ware.
But there not half enough We have
as good as none left
Mother has some best china, Where is
+ it?"
That's nearly all gone. We couldn't /
pat the two on the table together.
why not?'
''0b, Robert Look at this. 1t is the
shabbiest old lot ever seen.
Twas good enough for mother.
( Mrs Robert Thompson disdained COM
ment
You'd not have thought of this but for
the sewing g-circle having to come here. If
they can't come and eat from such dishes as
we've got, they are welcome to stay away. :"
There we're tears in Mrs. Thompson 5
( eyes. But she crowded them bravely back.
He took bis hat to go out to his moving.
We really want the things, Robert
Those at Grover are very cheap. I can
get all want for mere trihe; do give me
/ the money.
Grover u have to keep en- for US. I've
got no money TO waste on fine china, re
turned the farmer. By the way''-look-
ing back from the door Jones and Lee are
coming TO give me a helping hand. want
TO get the south meadow down to- day if l
cau-it's famous heavy crop; so / shall
bring them IN to dinner, Oh, and the Hub
bards want six pounds Of butter tonight;
\ don [ forget to have it ready.
( With these words, Mr.. Robert Thompson
bad marched off, leaving his wife to her
long, weary days work, darkened and made
( distasteiul BY her disappointment. She was
both grieved and angry. It was little
thing perhaps, but it is the little things Of
life that delight or annoy
Existence seemed very bare and homely to
/ Jane Thompson that summer day With
her love Of ease, aud beauty, and symmetry,
how rude, and coarse, and hard looked all
her surroundings. 1t was only one long,
monotonous round Of homely toll, unrelieved
By any of the little swetnesses and grae-s
that might make even toll pleasant. She
. did not often think Of it; but she remem-
bered that day, with the faiutest little air Of
regret, that she might have..been far difFe--
emily situated, and as she looked up to the
pretty French cottage on the hill, embov-
cred in perfect forest Of bIossoming vines.
and caught the cool gleam of urn and foua-
tain, something very ike sigh .rembhd
on her lips. Squire Burnham's wife dtos
not have to beg for paltry bit of money to
set out her table deeently, she thought,
rebelliously.
And then, IN her spirit Of aggrievement
she mentally went over the other things she
needed, and that Robert knew ,cere needed
Why was life to be all toll and bare uglinessl
There was no reason, he had plenty oI
money. \ new carpet for the best parlor,
paper for the walls, so stained with time,
Ehitewash, paint, some fresh chintz, she
remembered it all, as she toiled through the
long sultry forenoon with an aching head
and discouraged heart 1t happened to be
washing-day; and on those days she took all
the work, that Molly might not be disturbed
in Der help at the tubs
What business had she to marry Robert
Thompson she asked herself, her slender
wrists beating away at the butter for the
Hubbards. For in the green and gloomy
light that Mrs Robert Thompson looked al
things to-day, she quite forgot the fact that
she had fallen in love with the honest
steady, and good-looking young farmer,
choosing him in preference to Joe Burnham,
whom she might have had. Joe had 1
patrimony of his own; TIVE hundred yeai
at least, and good bit Of land, which b,
rented, and was called Squire, as hi
father bad been before him. He wanted t
marry Jane Lawrence, and she would not
Likes and dislikes cannot be controlled, anC
she cared more for Robert Thompson
little finger than for the whole of poor un
der-sized Joe. Squire Burnham founC
another wife. And Mrs. Thompson, thu
weary day was furiously envyiDg her Mrs
Buruham would come amidst the rest of thr
sewing club, too, and see the miserabl
shabbiness Of the mulberry ware and thl
home generally. The butter got beater
savagely at the thought
Robert Thompson was not an unkind man
only thoughtless He was a type Of YER
large class, more especially farmers, who d.
not feel the need Of life's rugged pathway
being softened with fowers Absorbed il
his stock, his money getting, he did not re
alize hos monotonous was his wife's life a
home. He had his recrearions. the weekly
market, gossip with his brother farmers
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