Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-08-12

rather 90 on just the same. The boys
are grown, and there no little ones to
take care of. Besides, I'm used to my own
ways, and shouldn't like any one to
break into 'em. Jerry's place is so con-
venient, tool know it well il wont be
hard to work there
Still work, work /; it had grown to be a
habit. and there was no charm that could
win her from it.
They were settled in the house-their
own house, and much of the old furniture
WAS replaced by new; yet So fearful was
the good vile that things would not be
kept up just to the point where she found
them, that it was scrub and delve, dclvc
and scrub from morning Till night-just
the old way only little worse. AT last
nature would hold out no longer. After
enjoying the new farm for six months,
Sally complained one evening that she
felt strangely, fell down in a fainting fit,
and was taken to her bed never 10 leave
ii again.
Poor John Grimes he bore hopeless,
melancholy face al the funeral, and his
new smart house felt like new smart
tomb, where the bricks, the paint and the
varnish are MI fresh.
1t took him two years to get accus-
toned to his loneliness, and he might
have lived. on, single, forever. il some
presumptous friend had not undertaken
to find him a wife and then almost do his
wooing for him.
Dolly Duncan WAS the party fixed up
on TO fill the place ofthe late Mrs. Grimes.
She was an active, enterprising woman
whom no one thought OF miscalling old
maid, though she had turned the corner
of thirty She was \ merry, almost jolly
person, who knew how To take care OF
herself. and had Away declared that she
never wanted husband ON her hands.
She had little homestead, full of sun
shine, and she wouldn't thank the best
man that ever trod in two shocsto ask her
to change her condition But somehow
Dolly did come TO have the prefix Of
Mrs before her name. She went into
the house OF farmer Grimes, and the
gloom took itself off at the sound OF her
merry laugh-at sight OF her sunny face.
She must have help, she said the first
thing; smart capable help. John rather
opened hs eyes at this, for it seemed
new doctrine trauiused into the old life,
but he was able 10 bear il, and forthwith
strong girl was installed in the kitchen.
Still John Grimes, having acquired the
habit, stopped rs he walked. and looked
Is if strange porpleXities had got hold OF
him. 1t quite startled him, one fine
spring morning. when his wife asked him
to spade up a bit of land in t,vcrite spot
where she could plant flowers, and
stranger still commissioned him To go 10
the city and procure some choice seeds
and slips. Why, Sally would never have
thought of asking him-she would have
done both. or gone without them; this he
did not say, but he kept up hard think
ing, and Dolly with woman squicSnoss,
read his thoughts.
In it's due season. harvesting came on.
Dolly saw what was expected OF her, and
concluded she wouldn't do it. In her half
serious sporiye way. she protested that
She could not do the work for the iarm
laborers who were expected.
Why, Sally-Stammercd he.
Il know, was the rapid rcjoinder,
poor Mrs Grimes, always did those
things, but you know, and everybody
knew, that she died of hard wo rk. |
don't want to die. | want to run my
three-score and ten, and mean to, Provi.
dence permitting.
Il don't know but what you are right,
Dolly,' said the farmer. ncrvously finger
ing his hair-'but what shall do? There
amt no more hell to be had.
Dolly pointed from the door. See
here john she said quietly, there's
little house on your farm doing nobody
good, and being ruined by dry rot. Fit
it up aud let Harry Lee take it. Give
him ground for good garden, and u
privilege in the wood lot, and small
sum yearly. He will bring his wife here
she will help me then let the men eat at
their table, you paying the difference Of
expense, and you will save money and
health, besides having a good reliable
man always within call
John Grimes looked at the cute little
wife uneasily. 1t is just possible that he
drew q comparison, mentally, between
the ever saving Sally and this more ex-
pensive help mate.
After that they had talked together. and
he felt and saw that Dolly had n mind of
her own and she had it made up. With
her merry brown eyes upon his face, what
could he do but submit? So the plan was
put in execution.
The next move of the adroit little wo-
man, was to induce her husband 10 pro-
cure a neat carriage, and after that, as
she couldn't drive very well, John must
90 out every day and drive for her. John
did not like this at first. 1t broke in up
on his habit of taking 'snOoze' as he
called it, after tea, but the break up put a
new life into him. 1t was great point