Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1871-08-12


In the porch door of white cottage
that stood under its 4" old ancestral
tree and among its fields Of wheat
and corn, like q poets vision of a
quiet resting-place for some weary,
suffering human soul.
And one of these two women had
eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to
feel and appreciate 1t all. She was a
tall and stately lady, apparently some
thirty Years ofage-nOt exactly hand
some, but with grace of air and
manner peculiarly her own. The
careful toilet, the nameless air of ele-
gahce and luxury, the pale cheek, the
soft white hands betrayed the city
dame. While the weary glance in
her large, dark blue eyes, which even
the pleasant quiet of that sunset
hour could not drive away, showed
that time had not dealt gently with
her and her hearts idols, but had
thrown them, shattered and ruined,
at her feet.
Her companion was some Eve years
her junior, and many times prettier:
a little rOund-nced, apple-cheeked
woman with dark blue eyes and dark
brown hair, and rounded figure that
was set off to the best advantage by
the afternoon dress Of the tinted mus
lin that she wore.
At present the pretty fhce was al
most spoiled Ivy qnerulous, discon-
tented expression She was contrast
ing her own hand, plump and small,
hut certainly rather brown, with the
slender white fingers of Tier city
friend, all glittering with rings. "Just
look Mt the two ~ she exclaimed.
"That comes of making butter and
cheese, and sweeping and busting,
and washing dishes, and making beds
all the time. That man told the
truth that said that woman's work
was never done. know mine never
Is. On, dear, dear! To think that
you, Margaret, should have married
q city merchant, and be as rich as q
princess in fairy tale; and here /
am planted for life, plain Mrs. Hiram
Parke, and nothing i'm the world to
compare with you. am sick Of be-
ing a farmers wife,"
Margaret Van Howth looked down
at her grumbling little friend with a
sad smile.
"Jennie, 1t seems to me, as we sit
here in this quiet place and look out
over all these pleasant fields that are
your own--it seems to me that you
are almost wicked tn talk like that"
"I dare say would never like 1t,
Margaret. You would never wish to
change with me-"
Perhaps not. Would you not like
to change with me"'
"Yes.r
"And be Mrs. Van Howth, instead
of Mrs. Hiram Parker"
Jennie hesitated. She dearly loved
her handsome husband.
"Well, I don't mean that I want
to give up Hiram. only mean that
I wish he was rich merchant instead
of a farmer, and rs rich as your hus-
band is; that is ALL"
"And that Is great deal. Jennie,
ifyour wish could he granted, do you
know what your life would be ?" said
Mrs. Van Howth, coldiy.
Z What yours Is, suppose. What
any lady's Is in your position"
"But what Is that life. Do you
know" 1c.n 0tsiar
"HOw should ~"
at is a weary one, Jennie, with
more genuine hard work In 1t than
all your making of butter and cheese"
"Oh, Margaret ~
"And OH, Jennie! Believe me, my
dear, there are no people on earth
who work harder than the fashiona-
bles who only have their own anus
ment TO provide for. A long life of
mere amusement Is dogs life, Jen-
ME, at the best"
~ should like to be convinced of II
by actual experince," said Jennie,
$50 / said and thought once. l
have been 80 convinced. And IL is all
vanity and vexation Of spirit, my
dear.n
But howe" persisted Jennie.
"How? In ten thousand ways. III
you live In the fashionable world,
you must do rs the fashionable world
does. You must rise and dress, and
shop, and lunch, and dress again and
appear ut certain balls, parties, con-
certs, exactly as your friends do, or be /
voted bizarre. and out of the world
altogether. You, my poor Jennie,
who are by no means fond of dress,
what would you do at fashionable
place In the hottest days of
with five changes of toilet |
between morning and night, and
French lady's maid To tyrannize over
Won all the time into the bargain ?"
"Horror % calculated Jennie.
Balls that you must go to In spite
Of fatigue, parties that you must go
To In spite 81 the heat, calls that You
must make on people that you detest!
Oh. Jennie, ] should far rather be
home with the butter and cheese II i
We're YOU" |f