Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-06-28
FIRS. FLOWERS FURS.

A comfortable sitting-room large
old-fashioned open fire; before il ;
round table on which stood a generous
pitcher Of cider, plate of rosy-cheekec
apples, and basket of nuts. Two
persons were seated within the ruddy
glow of the freIights; one a hale
hearty man of kindly, vigorous
sixty; and the other dame, ten wears
younger. Time had touched her light
ly; her bright blue eyes shone as
clearly as they did twenty years before
and, though her round cheeks were
slightly Wrinfled, a pretty color linger
ed on them yet, and her smiling lips
gave good warrant of loving heart.
/" Got all your clothes ready for youl
trip, mother 2 " questioned Mr. Flow.
ers, IN tone of interest.
w. no, father, " replied she ;
I've just begun to think about making
Them
The pair were childless, but years
ago little darling had been theirs !;
and the fond habit of styling each 9TH
CT father and mother which
they had acquired during its short
life, hadnever been stopped
Mean to make pretty good show,
don't you pursued Mr.. Flowers.
peeling an apple and handing it to his
spouse.
Yes, [ do, returned she, decided
ly- Laura shan't feel ashamed of
her country aunt if [ can help it and
fine clothes count everywhere. Tn
gong to write tomorrow, to see if
can't get that dressmaker from Mason
vile. They say she always has city
patterns, so [ guess she can make me
look as near like city folks as any one
can. But it will take deal of money,
father. " And a shade passed over her
face as she turned it toward him.
You say you want me to go and have
good time. It won't be good time
if [ don't have the things I want, and
they'll take d deal of money!
The farmer was just in the act of
raising mug of cidar to his lips. He
put it down untasted, and, gravely
surveying his wife, asked earnestly:
DO | ever begrudge you anything,
Nary"
Law. no, bless you dear " said
she, heartily. E.That WASH my mean
ing at all. There isn't a man in the
country SO ready to give to his wife as
you. I was just thinking it might
seem kind of wastefuI. y
. Pooh pooh! said he g Why
shouldn't you have your pleasure
Spend all you want, and more too
there's no waste about it, We've nei-
ther chick nor child to save for-sur-
pressing igh-s'our niece was brought
up with full and plenty at her fathers
house, and now she's married a rich
man; so there's no need to care for her.
And why shouldn't you enjoy your
self I want nay old woman to turn
out as well as.he best of EN-
Well, father she returned she,
yielding the point with the air of one
quite willing to be convinced, eff it is
your viii and wish, and ma will and
wish, I don't see but what you're right
in what you say about my having nv
pleasure along with other folks. - And
she quaffed her cider with satisfaction
and content.
Her husband regarded her with
twinkle IN his eye. "Now confess,
Mary, from a girl you have had fond
ness for fine clothes, haven't you2 You
didn't often give way to it, but there it
is
She blushed little-albeit her fifty
wlnters-and moved uneasi1y on her
chair. He laughed and continued:
'sIhere's handsome furs, now, for
one thing. You've been hankering for
real out-and out set for years.
She started. why father, how in
she wide world did you ever guess
that 2" And she stared at him in open
eyed wonder
He chuckled 'I was in the next
room the other day when you and your
old crony, Nancy Jones, were talking
about the furs her cousin from town
had on. 1t beats me lin a tone of con-
tempt) chow Nancy does go on about
that woman. There amt 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 wish
ed for such a set all my days, but ex-
pect to take it out inwishing.' There's
the exact words for you, and they were
said In dreadful longing way, too y
gazing at his wife withlaughing eyes
She fidgeted and looked away. sSIt
was a foolish speech, Reuben. Of
course 1 never really thou9 ht of having
such things. People ofte wish for
things, you know, that they never
expect to have
''And why shouldn't you have them?'
he asked, cody.
'Law, father? have sem2 Why, did
you hear what Nancy said such furs
cost 2"
Eyes, replied he, beginning on a
plate of nuts; 'Sshe said they cost four
hundred dollars.
''Welr" said she, impatiently,7 that
settles it, [ should think =
Mr.. Flowers put his nuts back on
table, poured out mug of cider for
his wife and another for himself,
watched her calmy while she drank
hers, which she did rather reluctantly,
and then, after taking his own with an
air of thorough enjoyment, slowly
produced from the depths of his pocket
a mysterious roll.
When [ went to Masonville TODAY d
said he, 9 l drew this out of the bank
Tor an especial purpose, and forthwith
he counted on her knee four hundred
dollars Ia crisp, new notes then slap
ping her on the shoulder and bestow-
ing an ahectionate kiss on her cheek.
ne added: There, Mrs. Flowers, that's
1ory your fsrs, every penny of it. / won't
have my wife craving thing, and GO
ing without it, il I can get it for her. >
The recipient of these marks of love
gasped tor breath, partly from the
shock, partly from the slap. looked at
the donor, then at the notes, pressed
them with stInl, outstretched fingers.
and then suddenly throwing an arm
around the farmers neck, buried her
read IN his beard and neck-clotb and
s 3bbed out
& Oh, Ruben you're too good tc
me-you are you are ="