Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-02-17
SELECTED STORY
In DOORS AND OUT.
BY MRS. JULIA A. CARNEY.

| A4uW piGdsdub III lOOkS Jul uCTC, mUr
u.ured Mrs. johnson to herself. as she stood
upon the door steps, with the break fast bell
raised in her hand. She paused moment
ere she rang, to enjoy the cool breeze and
look upon the picture before her.
''lt was one of those close, sullry morn
lngs which sometimes come, even in the ear
ly spring. to enervate the frame and make
the labors Of life seem irksome.
Out Of doors there was light breeze,
and as she stood there in the shade and felt
it fan her heated brow, it seemed as if it
must be happiness enough to have ones
work out in the pure air Of heaven The
sky bent down SO lovingly, as if to inclose
the world in fond embrace the trees were
SO beautiful in their new wealth Of foliage :;
in the distance she could see the cleaning
river, and she knew the flowers were spring
ing so brightly in the sheltered hooks along
its banks.
Oh, If she only had time to run down and
get her some No. it was impossible. She
was late already, and she rang the bell with
an energy born of fear, lest she should give
way to the sudden temptation.
"Glad to hear it at last," muttered Far
mer johnson, as he started for the house at
quick pace. Il began to think she was
going to stand out there all day, idling
! away her time while we were starving"
Chow very warm it is this morning."
remarked Mrs. johnson, as she poured the
coffee.
"Guess you'd think SO, if you had 10
work out in the broiling sun this morning"
growled the husband. ''You wimmin folks,
who don't have anything to do but to stay
in the house all the time, don't know what
hot weather is"
Mrs. johnson thought of the kitchen in
which she had toiled all the morning She
had laid the table in the shaded porch. She
thought Of the hours she must yet spend
over the stove, ere the large ironing and ba-
king would be done, and dinner ready for
the hungry household. She felt the cool
breeze upon her brow she smelt the breath
of spring, even amid the savory odors Of
the breakfast. and she really was not in
state Of mind just then to appreciate the
privilege Of ''staying in the house all the
time"
| II suppose the violets are in blossom, !"
che answered. rather absently; ibid you
see any as you came along p
"No; had something else to think of
beside flowers. If dent get that corn cul-
tivated pretty soon, we shall have to eat
weeds instead of corncakes for breakfast,
reckon"
| Perhaps his corn6elds would not have
been injured by pleasant answer to his
wifes question, but she did not say 3d.
The little sigh was not intended as reproof
to his want Of sympathy, but to herself for
having for moment expected it.
''Men can't understand women" she said
to herself softly, as she cleared the table
and went to her ironing The little sigh
came again, however, and vague wish that
she had known this great truth of her girl
hood
School time soon arrived, and the little
ones were to be gathered from all kinds Of
exploits by the brook and from the fields.
They were to be washed and dressed, and
started on their way to school, with clean
faces and nicely combed locks. books ali in
order, and good dinner in the basket.
Then the mother looked after them a mo-
ment with pride and pleasure. Her face
Frightened and smile, fair as in her gi H.
hood, passed over her matron face. Jen-
MES eyes we're blue as the violets, and Min
MES hair as golden as the sunshine. Their
'Good-by, Mother rang in her ear more
sweetly than the wild bird song, and she
went back to the heated kitchen and arouous
tolls with pleasanter thought, and therefore
swlter step.
'For nothing like the heavy step
Betrays the heavy heart"
: Farmer johnson had Something else te
think about besides flowers" but somehow
his surly answer to his wife's question KEEP
. intruding upon his thoughts all the morning
q was it because her only reply was the one
little sigh
"What was the use of woman's think.
ing about when she ought TO be thinking
about her work ! Well, we'll Edith always
was fond Of flowers, and she has little
enough time to cultivate or gather then
;. now" He wondered if she ever thought o
II time wlen she had nothing else to do but t.
gather all life's fwers at her sweet will
A dim remembrance of the time when h
It would have walked miles to have brough
" her some rare flowers, was in his mind, a
J. he turned little out of the beaten path
and with the excuse that he was tired ant
would rest moment in the shade, sat dow
upon the violet bank; it was but few mo
ments, yet when be turned again to tn
homeward path, his toil-browned hand wa
filed with flowers.
"Here's your posies," said he, rattle
roughly, as he laid them on the dinner ia
BILE.
"Oh! how beautiful !" she exclaimed
almost dropping plate Of food in he
eagerness. Here are violets and pprint
beauties, and, oh, here is darling arbutus
How kind in you to gather them for me-
The one little act Of which the farmer va
half ashamed had frightened the day to thl
weary wife. Yes, and its memory woul'
tighten many weary steps to come. Did
3 not as well as corn and potatoes !,
n A cold spring rain soon followed tn
+ warm days. Mrs. johnson, busy with ne
househsld labors, amid fhe pleasant confq