Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-12-13
THE PRESCRIPTION.
Dedicated to the Husbands Of Farm.
ers Wives.

L wish you would tell Jame
when he comes in, to turn the COW
into the lower lot. And if Turpi
!. calls, tell him | have concluded to tax
d those sheep-I want the Merinos. An
e while | am getting ready, please tax
), my memorandum book and note dow
c four harness straps, five pounds Q
J. nails, and gimlet, halt jockey -straI
e and-and-yes, L believe that is all
Z; forgot them when made out the item
(. this morning"
; Mrs. Streeter rose YEARLY, laid he
}. sleeping babe carefully in its crib, AM
r proceed to record the articles named
4 She was yOung-not over twenty five
= but the complexion was sadly faded
= and faint lines were already markin:
} the white forehead, while the tired eye
told of care, and limited strongly o
an unsatisfied heart.
t And this thin-cheeked, pink-lippeC
woman had been called beauty only
seven years before? And when she
gave her hand to Newton Streeter, she
could say what so few girls can:
| married my first love"
Judge Streeter, the father, was sup
. posed to be wealthy. But soon after
his sons marriage a financial crisis
came, and his thousands dwindled into
hundreds.
1t was false pride, perhaps, but the
young man shrank from position un-
der those who had once looked up to
him. And his thoughts turned wis
fully toward the Western prairies. He
expected objections from his young and
accomplished wife. But she saw with
his eyes, and was not only willing, but
eager, to go and help him make a home
that should be all their own. The
purchasing Of prairie team, some
farming implements, and the expense
of building small house, exhausted
his capital-and the young couple be-
gan their married life as many others
had done who had not been blessed with
their advantages. The small dwelling
contained but three sleeping apart
ments and this fact, added to their
uncertain income, induced Mrs. Street,
er to take upon herself the entire care
of the household.
Two children had come in the seven
years to nestle in her bosom. But
once, fairy child of three summers,
had slid away from them, and was now
sleeping beneath the flowers of the
prairie; and the tired wife had sighed
as she looked on the cold, folded
/ hands.
She will never toll as have done,
but, oh, | wanted her so much, the
/ lonely mother sobbed forth.
Mr.. Streeter was now considered q
wealthy farmer. His acres had broad
ened and his stock increased: Physi-
cally and mentally strong, and with
gentle, loving wife, ever studying his
tastes and wishes, why should he wear
out fast?
But of her? Naturally frail, she
[ had been like willow, bending be
meath a burden voluntarily taken up.
With the exception of an efficient girl
/ for few weeks when little Mary died,
she had performed all the labor requir-
ed in the house since she became Its
mistress.
Newton Streeter took the memOran-
DUN, glanced hastily at the neatly
written items, and then he stepped into
the light buggy and drove away.
But no longer might she linger, for
the sponge was waiting in the kitchen
to be kneaded, and the baby's maps
were like angels visits. And before
the task was well over his bugle note
sounded to arms, and the fearful child
was taken up and caressed and sOoth-
ed to quietness.
She was conscious of a strange diz-
ziness, when she arose from a STOPPING
position her head was aching misera-
bly, and her eyes seemed burning
What was coming over her? She must
be Ill. Oh, no; she had no time for
that And then her thoughts drifted
away to the dear old home of child
hood; and she had done wisely to leave
it for this life of toll and care?
1t was a dangerous question for a
wife-mother, and she clasped her child
more closely to suppress in her heart
the disloyal answer.
When MIR. Streeter returned, exult-
ant over the dollars he had deposited
in the bank, he found no supper pre-
pared, and his wife helpless upon the
bed, with cheeks flushed with fever,
and the wailing child distracting her
with demands for care.
A physician and nurse were soon
summoned from the city, aud the weary
wife enjoyed the luxury of being ILL.,
But cOnvalesence soon followed and
before leaving his patient, the old
doctor, 4 close observer and deep
thinker, took the husband aside and
asked:
Do you know what brought this
fever on your wife, Mr. Streeter? You
have worked her nearly to death.
" You are speaking of my wife, not
my horse"
Granted; and | say again, you are
working her to death
'' Really, doctor. such language is
objectionable.
4" And yet you will pardon it. And
furthermore, by your great love for the
selfsacrificing woman we have Just left,
| shall perform an operation on your
eyes that you may see even as | SEE"
And then he placed the cold, hard
facts before him, from the time she
came a bride. beautiful and accomplish
ed, to the village, up to the date Of
present illness, which domestic cares
only had haunted her feverish dreams. |
In concluding, he added:
g truly believe, if she takes up her /
old burdens at once, that before year
has passed the grave or the insane as
sylum will receive her.
The strong man shuddered.
As heaven is my witness, sir, | 1
have only permitted, not exacted this /
sacrifice. She voluntarily took her
place by my side, and has uncomplain /
ingly kept step with me.
- No, she has not kept step, to fol- |
low your own figure. Unable to keep I
up with your long, rapid strides, she /
has fallen, faint and footsore, by the /
way. tell you, she must have rest /
for both mind and bOGy, or | will not /;
answer for the result And 1t would be |
better if found away from home.
Yes, | begin to comprehend; and /
it can be found away. And, offering
his hand, " | will take care, doctor,
that you do not get chance to admin
lister another such dose to me.
Mr.. Streeter went back to the room
where his wife was sitting, prOpped up
by pillows, and rush of unutterable /
tenderness swelled in his heart as he .
glanced at her pale face and almost /
transparent hands. He sat down be-
side her and said softly:
o.. IL l,,,,- sl.1 i