Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1871-01-13
\ pleasant Gittle STORY
ONLY A FARMERS WIFE.

Two women sat together at sunset in the
porch-door of white cottage that stood under
its cold ancestral tree" and among its fields
of wheat and corn, like poets vision of
quiet resting-place for some weary, suffering
soul
| And one of these two women had eyes to
see, ears to hear, and heart to feel and ap
preciate tall. She was tall and stately lady,
apparently some thirty years of age-not ex-
actly handsome, but with grace of air and
manner peculiarly her own. The careful
toilet, the nameess air Of elegance and luxury,
| the pale cheek and soft white hands betrayed
the city dame. While the weary glance in her
large dark eyes, which even the pleasant quiet
of. that sunset hour could not drive away,
showed that time had not dealt gently with
her hearts idols, but had thrown them, shat
tered and ruined, at her feet.
| Her companion was some FIVE years her ju-
Nor, and many times prettier--a little round
faced apple-cheeked woman, with dark blue
eyes and dark brown hair, and rounded
| figure was set off to the best advantage by the
afternoon dress of the tinted muslin that she
| wore.
At present the pretty face was almost spoiled
by querulous, discontented expression. She
was contrasting her own hand, plump and
small, but certainly rather brown, with the
slender white fingers of her city friend, all
glittering with rings, Just look at the two p
she exclaimed "That comes of making but
ter and cheese, and sweeping and busting, and
washing dishes, and making beds all the time.
That man told the truth that said woman's
work was never done. know mine never is.
o, dear, dear, TO think that you, Margaret,
should have married city merchant, and he
as rich as a princess in a fairy tale and here
| am planted for life, plain Mrs. Hiram Parke,
and nothing in the world to compare with you.
| am sick of being only farmers WIFE"
Margaret Won Howth looked down upon her
grumbling little friend with sad smile.
"Jenny, it 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 to talk like that"
az dare say" replied Mrs. Jenny, "but
You would not like it, Margaret. You would
never wish to change places with me-"
"Perhaps not. Would you like to change
with me ~
ayes"
"And be Mrs. Van Howth, instead of Mrs.
| Hiram Parke2"
Jenny hesitated She dearly loved her
handsome husband.
Well, | don't mean to give up Hiram,
she said at least. C. / only mean | wish he
was city merchant, instead Of a farmer, and
as rich as your husband is that is all"
"And that is a great deal, said Mrs. Van
Howth, coldly. Jenny, if your life would
be-
"what yours is, I suppose. What any
lady's is in your position"
"Exactly. But what is that life. Do you
know ?"
"How should I?'
alt is a weary one, Jenny, with more genu-
inc hard work in it than all your making of
butter. and cheese can bring"
"Ob, Margaretp
"And oh, Jenny Believe me, my dear,
there are no people on earth who work harder
than the fashionabes who only have their own
amusements to provide for. A long life of
mere amusement is a dogs life, Jenny, at the
best"
81 should like to be convinced Of it by ac-
tual experience" said Jenny, doubtingly.
So said and thought once. / have been
so convinced And it is all vanity and yexa-
ton OF spirit, my dear"
"But how ~ persisted Jenny.
"How 2" In ten thousand ways. If you
live in the fashionable world, you must rise
and dress aad chop and lanch, aad dress again