The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-02-22

life's rugged journey. She saw her
six sons growing up around her,
. amidst rough aud evil influences,
= without the ability wholly TO counter
, act them. Mrs. Giles remained a long
time bowed over that breakfast table,
= praying with a sense Of helplessness
, and feeling Of need, such as sne had
never before experienced. \ loud rap
at the door startled her. On opening
p. it she found Mr.. Harris had called to
pay of a note which had long been
- due, a note Mr.. Giles had often declar-
clared he should never be able to col
lect. 'Ihe poor wretch, - he insisted,
twill never be able to save enough to
pay his honest debts, while his
wife spends all his earnings on such
foolish things as washing machines"
; Mrs. Giles informed Mr. Harris of
her husbands absence, but said she
would attend to the business. When
all was satisfactorily settled, and Mr..
Harris had gone, Mrs. Giles sat for
some time looking at the roll of money
in her hand. At length, new
thought came into her mind. Care
fully placing the bills in her pocket.
she went into the kitchen and hurried
: ly finished the mornings work, and
then, dressing herself, she walked
down to the station, which was but a
quarter Of mile distant. She was
= just in time for the morning train for
the city, ten miles away.
, 1t was nearly 1 o'clock in the after
noon when she returned home. Mr..
Giles was still absent; Leonard, the
eldest son, stood in the yard with the
team.
"HeighO, mother" said he, ''I was
just going to look for you. 1 thought
it was too bad for you always to
walk"
"WelI, my son" she replied, "you
would not have found me; I've been
to the city"
"The city! gee-whittakerr and
Leonard gave prolonged whistle.
"Yes," said Mrs. Giles, getting into
the wagon, "and now I wish you to go
to the station with me, and bring
home my purchases"
Leonard mounted beside her, say
ing: "And so the old man did shell |
out for once in his life and give you
little money, did hep"
Mrs. Giles reprOved Leonard for |
speaking thus of his father, but he |
continued: "Well, I can't help it; |
think it a mean shame. He never |
gives you a cent to spend, but sends |
you to the store at the corner, with |
the same old order: Please let the |
bearer have what she needs I'd |
make it convenient to need a great |
many things, if were you"
1t was late when Mr.. Giles return
ed. He hastily dismounted and gave |
his horse to one of the boys. Enter
ing the house, he called for his supper
in no gentle tones. Fortunately sup
per was just ready. Having satisfied |
his ravenOus appetite, he arose from
the table, saying:
"COme, boys, it's time you were in
bed; I'll want you by daybreak in the
morning." and setting the example he
went to bed and was soon sound
asleep. About II o'clock, Mrs. Giles,
having finished her work and made
preparation for an early breakfast, re-
tired to rest. Being very much
fatigued by the days excitement she
soon slept heavily.
After the first nap, Mr.. Giles was
restless and uneasy; he tossed and
turned from side to side, but no more
sleep for him. He concluded to get
up. Having dressed himself, he took
the candle and proceeded to the kitch-
en-. The slender taIlOw dip threw q
lurid light around the room. Things
seemed to have strangely changed
since morning. Raising the light
above his head, he gazed long and
earnestly around the kitchen. There
stood a new stove, with its black and
polished face, smiling upon him:
IF h-ir nd oh !
was neatly arranged on the shelf be-
hind it. Turning around, his eyes fell
upon q washing machine with n
wringer attached; taking hold of the
crank, and giving a turn or two he
said
ga sewing machine, by thunder;
but how in the name of common sense
they sew on it is mOre'n can tell.
Placing the candle on the table, he
came in contact with patent churn.
"What! another blasted concern!
Polly, Polly ~ he screamed, seizing
the candle and hurrying back into the
sleeping room. In his haste his foot
caught in the frame work of a sewing
machine and he fell full length in the
middle of the floor, while the candle
found a resting place on the opposite
side of the room.
Mrs. Giles suddenly aroused from a
sound sleep, started up in a bewildered
way, saying:
"What is it, Philip? What's the
matter?"
"Matter enough" !" growIed he, pick
ing himself up, and reseuing the can
die from its proximity to the bed
elOthes-"whO has been filling up the
house with all that trumpery, and who
do you think is going to pay for it?
If you think / am, you are very much
mistaken ~
Mrs. Giles sprang from the bed and
assumed an air of dignity. "Philip
Giles" said she, "I have always faith
fully endeavOred to do my duty as
wife and mother. I have patiently
borne my priYations, thinking them
necessary to husband our means,
while you have used money without
stint, to purchase machinery to light
en- your work. Now l have resolved
upon change. What modern i'm
prOvements there are to facilitate
woman's work, I intend to have.
Nay, do not interrupt me-" she con-
tinued, rs Mr.. Giles made an effort to
speak. "Those things are paid for
with the money dear old grandfather
left me by his will. You loaned it to
Mr.. Harris, doing me neither the
honor nor justice to have the notes
drawn in my name. Yesterday he
paid it. went to the city and made
these purchases; they cost less than
the mower you have just bought. The
rest of the money placed in the saw
ings bank.n
ain your name, I suppOse?' said
Mr.. Giles.
ayes, in my name," continued Mrs
Giles, "that might have the use of it
when I wished. This farm was pur-
chased with part of that legacy, and
hereafter I intend to see that my
rights are respected, and my legal
IL sr,,r -in.htIrr nHirrcEn % u