Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-06-23


having my pleasure along with other
folks" And she quaffod her cider with
satisfaction and content.
Her husband regarded her with twin.
kle in his eye. "Now confess Mary, from
a girl you have had fondness for fine
| clothes, haven't your You don't often
give way to it, but there 1t is.
She blushed little-albeit her fifty win
ters-and moved uneasily on her chair.
He laughed and continued:
"There's handsome furs, now, for one
thing. You've been hankering for real
outand-out set for years."
She started. Why father, how in this
wide world did you ever guess thatP"
| And she stared at him in open eyed won
der.
He chuckled. "I was in the next room
the other day when you and your old
crony, Nancy Jones, were talking about
the iurs her cousin from town had on. 1t
beats Inc" Gn a tone of contempO "how
Nancy does go ON about that woman.
There amt a thing about her but her
clothes, and to hear Nancy talk, you
would think nobody could come nigh her.
heard what my little woman said, plain
enough I've wished for just such set
all my days, but | expect to take it out in
wishing There's the exact words for
you, and they we're said in dreadful
longing way, too gazing at his wife with
laughing eyes.
She fidgeted and looked away. at was
a foolish speech, Reuben. OF course l
never really thought of having such
things. People often wish for things, you
know, that they never expect to have"
And why shouldn't you have them"
he asked, coolly.
Law, fatherl have emp Why, did
you hear what Nancy said such iurs cost ?"
Yes" replied he, beginning on a plate
of nuts; she said they cost four hundred
dollars"
"Welll" said she, impatiently, "that
settles it, should think"
Mr.. Flowers put his nuts back on the
table, poured out mug of cider for his
wife and another for himself, watched her
calmly while she drank hers, which she
did rather reluctantly, and then, after
taxing his own with an air of thorough
enjoyment, slowly produced from the
depths of his pocket u mysterious roll.
when went TO .Masonville to-day"
said he, II drew this out of the bank for
an especial purpose" and forthwith he
counted on her knee four hundred dollars
in crisp, new notes then slapping her on
the shoulder, and bestowing an affection.
ate kiss ON her cheek, he added: There
Mrs. Flowers, that's for your furs, every
penny of it. won't have my wife crav-
ing and craving thing, and going with
out it, if | can get it for herw
The recipient of these marks of love
gasped for BREATH partly from the shock,
partly from the slap, looked at the donor,
then at the notes, pressed them with stiff,
outstretched fingers, and then suddenly
throwing an arm round the farmers neck,
buried her head in his beard and neck
cloth, and sobbed out:
"Oh, Reubenl you're too good to ne
you are! you are"
After the excitement of the gift was
over, Mr.. Flowers declared, with loud
yawn, his intention of retiring for the
night. ITS of no use waiting up for
Philander and Joe and the girls" said he.
They'll be at that husking bee half the
night parties designated being Mr..
and Mrs. Flowers Z" hired folks"
Many of the matrons of the neighbor.
hood shook their heads over Mrs Flow
ers keepin' tloo girls;" but Mr.. Flowers
stoutly held that he wouldn't have his
wife killing herself over such lot of but
ter and cheese as was made on their farm,
for nobody's notions"
But the eXpectant owner of four hun
dred-dollar set of furs was in no fit state OF
miud for slumber; so, while Mr.. Flowers
took himself off to bed, Mrs Flowers re.
mained seated in front of the fire, staring
into it, and meditating upon her unlocked
for amount of property. At first heI
thoughts ran riot among fur coverings and
their various shapes. She was tolerably
well posted in these things. She subscribed
for one or two affairs, the burden of whose
song was fashion and its belongings, and
every article appertaining to turs was al
ways perused with longing interest After
a time, however, little stabs of conscience
made themselves felt, and, with much re-
luctance, she began to view matters in d
different light.
"You know" murmured that inward
monitor, whose quiet but searching voice
SO often troubles us-"you know that love
of dress has been your besetting sin from
childhood dup. Sometimes, ackno ledge
you have striven well against it but never
have you had SO noble an opportunity as
this. Avail yourself of it; make the sac
ritlce you ought to make. What business
have you with such articles of luxury?"
But" argued the eager spirit of the
flesh, surely in this case am right in
following out my wishesl 1t will be {
cold winter; furs are Dery warm and am
growing old. Besides, my husband wishes
it. Shall wound his feelings? No, in
deed~ And the dame, for the moment
felt strong in conscious virtue"
Little, however, would conscience lister
to this reasoning. She scorned it. "Cold !
replied she sternly There is less ex
pensive ways of keeping warm. Some
thing short of furs at four hundred dollars
can do it. What you say about your hus
band is a mere excuse. If he sees yor
content he will be satisfied"
"But," pleaded keen Desire, "I have fol
years so wished for just these things.
can't give them up Why should l MOI
have them? There is no one suffering
near me that should thus deny mysel
the gift my husband makes me-"
A shuftling step at the door, followed by
knock, interrupted the disturbed thinker
"COme ill.," she cried, rising from hel
chair.
The door opened, and a distant neighbo
entered-an i'll favored, ungaiHly man
noted for his harsh temper and his penuri
Gus soul. Mrs. Flowers greeted him will
surprise; but he soon explained his er
rand. Something was amiss with hi
J horses gear, and, seeing light, he had
come to borrow lantern.
"I'm on my way to the poor-house," hi
said, with a sour grin. "When cam,
home, at sundown, what should find bu
worthless brat my wife had taken in
and she was actually hoping I'd let he
: keep it Keep it, indeed The little IA
was with company of tramps the consta
BILE is after. SO guess they were glad t,
drop it on the road. My wife, like fool
believes the child's gabble, and says the!
left her because they couldn't make her liz
and steal She'd do it, as fast as the rest
t I'll venture to say. Her tale is, that she'l
J no father nor mother, nor any one, ant
them tramps picked her up. | don't be
, lieve word of it. So when l came hom
though I'd been to the mill, and it wa
+, late-I says, says l, She don't sleep in m
/ house a single night. I'll have her wher
: she belongs before daylight, as sure as m,
J names Peter Turner So as soon as
n