Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-02-29
John Reynolds Lesson.

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what is the matter, my little wo-
man?'
'Only tired, john
Lima Reynolds looked up as she spoke,
to smile bravely into the face bending
anXiously over her.
eTired, Lima p he said, lifting the lit
tie figure as he spoke, and taking his
wife like child upon his knee. what
have you been doing to tire you?'
'Only the days work. Don't worry,
John,' for shade passed over his kindly
face.
4 don't worry; but 1 can't see what
makes you complain so often of being
tired. | am sure the house work amt
so much. Other women do it,
There was just little fretfulness in
Johns tone, though he did not mean to
be unkind.
Il know they do. Mrs. Harper has
four children and takes care of them,
besides doing piles of sewing. Per-
haps, John, it is because have not had
experience in country work, and don't
manage well. l will learn better after
a while. Now, tell me what you did in
town.
Il did quite well. Sold the whole
crop of wheat at good price, and put
another installment in the bank for the
Stanley farm
your heart is on that farm, john
Indeed it is! Let me once own that,
free of debt, and 1 shall be happy
man. 1t is the best land in the country,
and the house is twice as large as this.
Lima thought of large floors to scrub,
more rooms to clean, and additional
work of all kinds, and swallowed lit
tie sigh that nearly escaped her.
'John,' she said, rather timidly, don't
you think if you spend part of the
money on this house we might be very
happy here?'
Spend money on this housen cried
the astonished John. 'Why, what on
earth ails this hOuse?'
Il mean in things for it. Now, the
parlor looks so stiff, and is always shut
up. was thinking if we had pretty
carpet, and some curtains of white mus
lin or lace, and a set of nice furniture,
and-and--a piano. o, John, if We
could have piano.
"A piano! Do you know what a piano
cOsts?'
NO. Aunt Louise had one, You know,
ever since can remember. But think
if we had pretty parlor to rest in the
evening, 1 could play for you and sing.
You never heard me play or sing,
john
& have heard you sing, but not lately
said John, rather gloOmily.
'Oh, that was just humming around
the house. Imean real singing. l have
lots of music in my trunk
But you are only farmers wife
now, Lima. 1 thought when we were
married that you understood that you
were not to have city finery and pleas
ure.'
so did, John. I don't want finery.
l don't want any pleasure but your
love, John. Don't scowl up your face
so. ! am silly to think of these things
at all. There, kiss me and forget it. l
am nicely rested now, and I'll get your
tea in ten minutes
John put her down with very ten
der kiss, and straightway fell into a
revery.
Lima Rivers had been district school
teacher in Scottfield, just four months,
when John Reynolds offered her his
hand and heart. She was an orphan
from infancy, but her fathers sister had
adopted and educated her in a life OF
luxury, and without altering a will
made years before, leaving her entire
fortune to a charity asylum. Lima, left
alone, had thankfully accepted the po-
sition of country school teacher, pro-
cured for her by some friends, and was
thinking life hard burden, when John
came to brighten it. She gave her
whole gentle little heart into his keep
ing at once, appreciating ut their full
value his honest, true heart, his frank
nature, his sterling good qualities, and
looking with the most profound admir-
alton upon his tall, strong frame ant
handsome face.
1t was a perfect love-match, for John
fairly worshipped the dainty, refined
little beauty he had married. And
having married her, he took her to hi
home, and in all Ignorance, proceeded
to kill her.
There was no blame to be laid upon
him. Living in the old farIn-hOus'
where he had spent his entire life, tn
one ambition of his heart was to owl
land, stock, barns, and a model farm
lie had seen his mother cook, churn
feed poultry and drudge all her life, al
the women he knew did the same, ant
if Lima made a mistake, she put Il will
ing heart into her work, and soon con
3 quered its difficulties. Surely, h
thought, it was an easier life to be mis-
tress of his home, with the Stanle
farm i'm prospect, than to toll over stu