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

pure voice in song. 1t was an unknown
world to John where his wife's memory
fingered as she secured tins, strained
milk, and cooked huge dishes of food
for the farm hands. He would have
thought it wicked waste, if not positive
insanity, to draw from the bank hi:
hard-earned savings to invest them il
identifying his plain, comfortable
home.
And so the loving little woman toilet
and slaved, undertook tasks far beyont
her strength, worked early and late
until just one year after his wedding.
day, John Reynolds, coming home tt
his tea, found lying upon the kitchen
floor little senseless figure, with s
face like death, and hands that sent ;
chill to his very heart.
The doctor hastily summoned, looked
grave, and advised perfect quiet and
rest. A girl was hired, and John ten
derly nursed the invalid, but though
she grew better she was still pale and
weak.
Take her away awhile said the doc
tor, try change of air. She is over.
worked
But said honest, puzzled John, 'she
docs nothing but the house-work for us
two. She has no child, and the sewing
is not much"
The doctor looked into the troubled
face. You are good man, John Rey-
nolds, and strong one,' he said, will
You let me tell you a few truths?'
Yes. About Lina?'
about Lima. You remember do you
not, the tiny antelope You admired SC
much in the menagerie we had had here
last summer?'
Certainly said John, looking more
puzzled than ever.
Supposed you had bought that little
creature and yoked it with one of your
oxen to cart to do the same work?'
I'D been fool said John; that lit
tie thing couldn't work. 1t was just
made pretty to look at and to play
THAT'S it, John. Now l don't think
God ever made any woman to look pref
ty and play, but he made some for the
rough work of this world and
some for the dainty places,
some to cook and scrub, and some to
draw mems souls to heaven by gentle
lOveliness. Your wife is one of the lat
ter. If you were poor man should
hold my tongue, but you are rich one.
Give your wife a servant; let her have
books, music, pretty things around her.
Let her rest from toll, and you may keep
her by your side. Put her back in her
old place, and you may order her tomb
stone, for she will soon need it. Don't
put your antelope beside your oxen
JOhnr
Il will not! Thank you. under
stand. Poor, loving,patient hearth
'That's right. Take her now for a
little pleasure trip, ard get back her
roses
Lima clappe1 her hands when John
asked her if she would like to spend a
week in New York, and really seemed
to draw in new life from the very idea.
1t was delicious fun TO see Johns
wide-Open eyes as they entered the par
lor of the great city hotel, and were
shown into the bedroom whose beauties
were quite as bewildering.
The best room,' he had told the land
lord, and Lima could not repress cry
of delight at the vista of a cosy sitting
room with a piano standing invitingly
open.
%, john said she, won't you go in
there and shut the door for five min
utes, please
John obeyed, of course. John, she
thought, gratefully refused her nothing,
now.
How lucky brought some of my old
dressesv Lima thought. Il have not
worn them since was school-marm.
Fancy Mrs. Reynolds scrubbing the
floor i'm this dress
John rubbed his eyes and pinched
himself as little figure sailed into the
sitting-room, made him a sweeping
courtesy, and went to the piano.
Was that the little woman who had
worn prints and sun-bonnets so long
The hair was fashionably dressed, and
bands of blue velvet looped the golden
curls. A dress of blue silk with softest
lace trimming and ornaments Of pearls,
had certainly made a fine lady of Lima.
The piano was yielding its most be-
witching tones to the skilled little
fingers, and Johns bewilderment was
complete when voice of exquisite
sweetness, though not powerful, began
to sing.
Only one song, full of trills and
quivers, and then Lima rushed from the
piano into Johns arms.
John, darling,' she said, hold me
fast. Don't let me slip from your
% Linar he groaned, Twas not fit
to marry such a dainty bird. But
loved you, little one.'
'And I love you, John; rough John
Let me sing again. l am very happy
to-day, my husband
But no wonderful trills filled the lit
tie room now. In clear, pure voice,
full of expression, Lima sang:
81 know that my Redeemer liveth."
Every word fell like hot tears on
poor Johns heart, until, as the last
chord trembled upon the air, Lima
turned to him, stretching out her arms
Take me in your arms, john
He took her tenderly to the room she
had quilted so gaily, and replaced hel
finery by white wrapper, whose Lace
trimmings looked like fairy-work, t'
his accustomed eyes.
sAre you tired, love?' he asked. will
a great spasm of terror at his heart, a
he looked at the white, wasted face.
Yes, very, very tired, but happy
John,' and with a little sigh of entir'
contents, Lima nestled down against th'
warm heart whose every throb sh'
knew was all her own. The white lid
fell softly over the violet eyes, and sh'
slept peacefully as child.
Softly, as she rested, the faint pink
flush gathered on her fair cheek and