Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-12-14
WHAT MRS. GILES DID.

ner to place upon the table. just
as she had begun TO lay the table,
Mr.. Giles appeared at the door and
said: put on an extra plate; that
man viii take dinner with u.s."
Dinner was soon ready and as
soon dispatched, for ceremony was
| one of the unknown things in the
\ Giles family. Mr.. Giles and the
stranger retired so the sitting-room,
| to discuss the merits of a new reap
/ er aud mower, while Mrs. Giles re-
mained and cleared away the din
ner table. When she ha1 finished
and made herself ready TO- he AZ
ternoOn. she went into tn, ting
room. The Stranger was about TAX
ing his leave. Mr.. Giles was say
ing:
"If you have anything new and
better; anything that will make
work easier, and do more of ii, Pm
your mani am in favor OF all ma
chinery that viii Tighten work for
man." emphasizing the word man.
"Why, bless you, just look around
my farm. It's run mostly by ma
ceinery."
profitable? certainly" replied he
to an Interrogation from the stran-
ger. "More than pays expenses.
Money in the bank" he added, new
er omitting an occasion OF mention
ing a small deposit he had in the
city bank. The stranger was gone
at last, and Mrs. Giles sat down
with weary limbs and aching shOul-
ders, 20 finish suit of clothes she
was making for her oldest son, a
lad of fifteen. Slowly and wearily
the needle went in and out; stitch
after stitch was taken, but to little
purpose; il did seem as ii she never
would come to the last. But If
stitches progressed slowly, her
thoughts flew fast enough. 4 he
last words or her husband fingered
in her mind, and again and agaia
they recurred TO her.
"Yes," said she, at last, breaking
| forth into soliloquy, her usual habit
when much disturbed in mind.
~ es, men can have their burdens
| ightened, but poor women may
! drudge. Every year, Giles has add
ed something new 10 his farming
implements, while have 10 plod
along with hardly sufficient uten-
sils TO cook a decent dinner; an old
stove, without a boiler or griddle,
and cracked door. No wonder 1
can't bake loaf Of bread decently.
Then here 1 have to sit, and stitch
for q week on this suit, when two
hours on a machine would COM
plete it,"
1t is needless to record all of Mrs.
Giles thoughts aud words as she
sat stitching the hours away. a
dim consciousness of her wOrngs,
and faint determination TO assert
her rights, was entering her mind.
She had so long given up her opin-
ions, set aside her needs, and foster
ed the selfishness of her husband,
that it was hard to-break through
the meshes of habit Which his stern
will had woven around her. The
afternoon wore away, and Mrs.
Giles laid aside the unfinished gar
ment to prepare the evening meal.
The next morning at breakfast,
she remarked to her husband that
an agent for q sewing machine had
called the day previous, and wished
her to try one of his machines.
81 told him, she said, che might
leave one when he came back next
week"
Mr.. Giles laid down his knife and
fork, and sat with utter amaZement
depicted On his countenance. "a
sewing machine" he gasped, when
he had recoved himself. "Hs need
not leave any of his newfangled
humbugs here. I've no use for
them.'
"But 1 have" interrupted his
wife. -
''You," interrupted he, "don't see
what use UON have for a machine.
You could never learn TO use it, or,
I if you did, what have yo' sew?
| Only my clothes and tn. loys. -
Women no g-a-days are getting
mighty independent, wanting ma
chimes to do their work; too lazy to
do it themselves. Suppose they want
/ time to get about and gossip about
their neighbors."
"Why, Philip"
ssWoman's work is nothing" con-
tiRued SIR. Giles, not needing the
interruption. MY mother had not
as many cOnveniences for doing her
work as you have, yet she always
had her meals regular, and well
cooked, and that is more than / can
say for you. No, don't want any
any sewing machine about my house
God made as good a sewing ma.
chine as L want, " hen he made wO-
man."
With this ultimatum, he left tho
table and taking his hat, he mounted
his horse and rode away TO look al
the new reaper, which he cOntem.
plated buying.
One by one the members of the
family finished their break fast, and
passed out, leaving Mrs. Giles alone
She sat with her head resting upon
her hand; her thoughts wandered
back to the days when in the fresh
ness of her youth she gave hel
hearts deepest and best affections
to Philip Giles. Blinded by hel
great love for him, she saw not the
extreme seltishness nor coarsenesi
of his nature. She implicitly be
lieyed all his promises, and needed
not the warning OF her friends.
1t seemed a long time since then
! so many shadows had darkeneC
their pathway; darker yet seemed
to grow life's rugged journey. She
Z saw her six sons growing up around
her, amidst rough and evil infiu
ences, without the ability wholly u
counteract them. Mrs. Giles re
mained long time bowed over tha
breakfast table, praying with
sense of helpless and feeling of need
such as she had never before expert
enced. A loud rap at the door star
tied her. On opening it, she fount
Mr.. Harris had called to pay a not
which had long been due; note Mr.
Giles had often declared he shoult
never be able to collect. ''The poo
wretch" he insisted, twill neve
be able to save enough to pay hi
. honest debts, while his wife spend
| all his earning on such foolish thing
( as washing machines"
e Mrs. Giles informed Mr.. Harris @
! her husbands absence, but said sh
/. would attend to the business. Whe
!. all was satisfactorily settled, an
/. Mr.. Harris had gone, Mrs. Giles sa
for some time looking at the roll {
money in her hand. At length
: new thought came into her mint
: Carefully placing the bills in he
e pocket, she went into the kitche
:, and hurriedly finished the morl
u ing's work, and then, dressing he
L self, she walked down to the ST
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