Mower County transcript., 1871-07-13

my mouth water to think of it. q, |
do think country life perfectly chalm-
ing"
Delightful" echoed the friend, "an.l
l only hope Mr.. Ma ton will be persuaded
to purchase in the country, 50 that | can
have one nice cool place to visit in such
dry, dusty, hot weather us this And
with this, to say the least, selfish remark,
she took her Lave.
Mrs. Manton, true to her word impor-
tuned her husband continually, to plr:
chase the suburban home in question,
until he wcaricd of the subject Never
theless she persuaded him that no air was
equal to country air, no fruit or berries or
vegetables, or milk, or cream, or butter,
equal to those obtained from ones own
premises without expense, and to cap the
climax, no life equal to country ilr lie
had his misgiving ut times about the prac.
tcability of his schemes. as his business
was established in the city and he could
give no attention to a farm, however
small, but Mrs. MlntOn settled that Qucs
tion by replying that she and the Children
could manage it admirably, and it would
be such a pleasure to drive him back aud
forth to the city, morning and evening
the ride alone would be tho best punacua
for Illness
Thus after time he came to regard the
matter through his witcs spectaclcs, and
the purchase was made toward the close
Of the winter, and the first days Of spring
found the family pleasantly domicilcd in
their new home. Mrs. Manton had read
Mr. Shealys work entitled "Ten Acres
Enough For Farm" and as she did not
wish farm, considered five quite enough
Tor her purpose. Her house was in good
repair, and the garden fruit and shrubbcry
had been carefully tended the previous
year by tenant, 50 that she looked for
ward to very happy summer.
With the approach OF warm weather
came work enough, but stcady man who
understood the care of garden, was en-
Manton and her two boys bravcly kept
their word and wcedcd and hoed diligently
late and early. The fruit blossom,d finely
and gave promise of an abundant harvest.
The season, however, happened to be Il
very dry one, and many blossoms failed to
mature. Berries, particularly, felt the Ct
feet OF the drought, still there was u suil-
uicnt supply for the table fresh from the
vines, and hopeful Mrs. MAntnn reasoned
that by II little self denial there would be l.
few to can and preserve for winter stores.
With the labor occasioncd by the care
and cultivation of n ll,wcr and fruit gar
den, the care Of milk, butter making, tn
ordinary family houscwork, and the time
occupied in conveying Mr.. Manton to and
from his place Of business, Mrs. Manton
found but little time for visiting. Country
life, while it brought her most of the lux
vries in which she so delighted, also
brought with it great abundance OF work,
more than she had ever expected. 1t was
difficult to keep servants, and she was
often forced to do all her work with only
the aid of her children and a days help
occasionally. Still she did not complain i;
1t had bee her wish to remove in the
country and she was determined to meet
annoyanccs and difficulties bravcly Her
puny, delicate boys were growing strong
and athletic, and she herself enjoyed r0
bust health. She was we'll aware that in
pccuniary view farming had thus far en-
tirely failed to pay, for every pound of
butter that was churned anG every quart
OF berries that were gathered, had cost a.,
much as they could have been purchased
for at the hucksters and grocers in the
city. She could not understand how it
wes, but it was nevertheless u fact, and
she sOlaced herself with the reflection
that the season was al unusually dry one
and that she did not yet fully understand
managing her new situation. But she
ceased to blame farmers for being parsi
monious, and learned that nothing grew
spontan, ously, but required constant
lab u and care from the time the seed was
planted until truition and harvest.
Her city friends had waiter impaticntly
for an invitation to pay her and ext. lllcu
visit. With the advent Of June came
warm and dusty weather, which caused
the denizens of the crowded city 10 long
for the enjoyment Of rambles over green
fields and walks beneath the shadows of
the woods and orchards. One Monday
morning Mrs. Linton said to her husband
at the breakfast table, My dear, think
Mrs. Manton has forgotten TO invite us to
p'ss few days with her during straw
berry tune. The berries arc almost gone
and think | will wait no longer for u
special invitation, for I'm sure She'll b..
glad to see us, so order a h,ck at once
and I'll take the children and spend tn,
week, and when Bridget has finished her
washing, she eau clean house as had in
tended she should do, when 1 was to make
the visit"
Mrs. Manton's washing was done, and,
tired with her mornings work, she had
just set ont picked up lunch for the fam
lily dinner, intending to gather strawbcri les
during the afternoon for preserving. a
shower had fallen few days prcvic,,, ;l.,i
developed the last growth ni the berries,
promising grcalcr yield thus late in the
season than had been expected. The un-
expected arrival Of ilrs. Linton, her three
children (thc youngest but four years ull),
and nurse girl, at this .iuLctulc, caused
some emotion, not to say disappointment.
But cheery Mrs. Mantnn made the b. ST of
it, rs she did of everything " 1t is so for
tunatc,' said she to herself, that havca
girl IN the kitchen; for though not q very
good one, she is better than none, and will
enable me to give some time to tntrl;ain-
ing Mrs Linton. l will delay gathering
the berries until evening, AMI lay aide nc
ironing until next week. She Was r,~.l!,
glad to see her friend, and af;cr maxim.
some additional pr, lr,ra'inns for ten, seat
cd herself with her in the cool, airy par
Ior, to have Il social chat, while Mrs. lin
tons children aud their nurse, anxious to
make the most OF the country, went out to-
walk
Just before tea they returned, covered
with strawberry Stains from head to foot,
} ulia, the eldest, having her apron full OF
the ch"lccat EcrbcI.;:s, roses and gcIani
ulns. Mrs. M.ut' n had expended many
an hour Of labor u!'on tbrs flowers They
were newly planted, had grown slowly,
and during lac dry weather had been daily
Watcrcd, and now, in rcEurA lorall,hc c:,rc
they had received, yielded their first love
ly blossoms
"Sce, mother, what beautiful flowers"
said Julia. Yes, darling," WAS the re-
ply, "isn't it delightful to visit in the
country. really never saw such lovely
geraniums, Mrs. Manton"
1t required AN effort for the latter lady
TO reprcss her tears, and she was about to
reply when Gcorgy, her youngest son,
burst INT" the room, saying, 80, mother,
mother, Julia Lin,un has picked all tic
VeaIrnts hri T. ianlllH'H, and he rn.a',
too. toll" her you Wn,,i,in t. let IN" ,ick
single one, but She newer mind, Il auu
picked and picked them all"
III real sorry julia gathered Your
flowers, Mrs. Manton,' SAID her m''j,rr,
" but really, the dear child j, 80 t,'''t {"
flowers you must forgive her, they arc 50
dear in the city. W. seldom Indulge o. r.
selves in the luxury of a lpIuuc', inT h r.
are so many NOR. I"c ,~"ly ,hin!1 ~
qured, anil 50 mary Nays i'r mnA,.'
eyes," nl>wvlr'i Mrs. Mnrtn.,, "th"r,.
are many ways for nn"nty, crrthniy; but
the cultivatnrs Of ilnw' RS are vriy poorly
paid. Their products require the nf,nrt
labor, care and skill Since have cui,-
vatcd flowers myself, viii never a~';in
begrudgc ti!c prt" of Il hou4u't. II flow
crs are not Il necessity, they s"cctcn llIi''s
thorny pathway, ant u'.ch II. 'Ery is *