The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-06-03


for new meriho dress, with bright, warm
tinis, or pair Of gloves, or collar and
bit Of ribbon for her neck. But these
were not to be thought Of. Nothing but
bare necessities could be hers, for John
had been buying stock and had paid for
his moving. machine, and met a note or
two, and he felt quite poor" he said.
Poor woman! she had not had q nice
dress since her marriage. Then she had
good supply-but things will wear out,
and most of these things are now doing
duty as children's clothes, or skirts for
herself, and her best dress now was a
cheap delainc. She sighed just little
half-smothered sigh, of all this on the day
she went to lay out her money. 1t did
not take her long to dispose of the small
amount, for she had laid awake nights,
pondering how to make one dollar do the
duty Of two, and the problem was worked
out with the utmost precision.
Now that the goods were purchased,
the next trouble was how to get them
made soon enough. She had been oblig.
cd to put off purchasing for want of means
and now she could not tell which was
most needed
TfI only could get somo to hcip
me for week, [ could soon see my way
clear, said Mrs. Wilton to her husband,
one evening, as she sat stitching on her
little garments; or, better still, had | II
sewing machine, she ventured to say.
Mr.. Wilton knocked the ashes off of
his cigar and said; ; don't see how it is
Susan, that you're always complaining of
having so much to do and wanting help
all the time. Why, there's mother. she
used to make everything for eight tf US,
and weaved all the cloth besides
Mrs. Wilton did not answer, her heart
was too full.
Nowadays the wimmen want SO much
help to get rid Of work, continued Mr..
Wilton, I'd like to get a SEWN -machiue.
but its out Of the question now, there's 50
much to be got
Mrs. Wilton thought Of the mower and
corn planter, but said nothing she felt a
little pang shoot through her heart, then
it sank back again as heavy load. She
did not 90 to bed that night, until long
after her husband was sleeping soundlg.
She had worked hard all day, and sleep
would be welcome guest, but the little
garment was much needed, and she must
sit up and make it. On, how her tired
eyes ached, but not worse than the poor,
hungry heart ached FOR sympathy and
cont fort. She thought of her money.ov.
ing husband, and wishes he might become
more thoughtful Of her comfort. If it
we're not for my children, she cried to
herself, | could see very little to live for
Then the thought Of her little ones, moth
erless. sent the fresh tears to her eyes,
hut gave d sudden impulse to her tired
fingers, and she stitched away for another
hour, and saw the garment completed, and
neatly folded away, she sought her much
needed rest. Sabbath morning Mr.. Will
ton put on warm. new undershrt, and
saw his little ones looking fresh and sweet
in their new garments; but he saw not
that the fingers which had so patiently
wrought out these changes were that
morning scarcely stroug enough to fasten
the garments of the little oles about their
chubby little forms.
Spring came, bright and joyous as ever,
dotting the prairies with flowers and fill
ing upland and valley with floods of mel
ody. Mrs, Wilton had been growing
thinner and paler all winter, and was
now scarcely able to be about the house.
The doctor had recommended rest-but
how could she rest with so much lying
undone about her.
If could only go away for awhile, she
said, one morning when she was feeling
weaker than usual. If | could only 90
home to mother for visit, know she
could nurse me up all right again, and the
pale lips quvered visioly.
| wish you could, I'm sure replied her
husband. But Susan, | don't see how |
can afford it, might sell some of my
stock, but prices are low now, it wouldn't
pay at all couldn't get much more
Tor them calves than | gave for them
last fall after keeping them all winter
And buying my corn-panter, about took
all my cash.
Mrs Wilton did not reply Indeed,
doubt very much if she heard his remark:
at all, for she was dreaming of the Old
homestead, with its wide gables and large
comfortable rooms-of the stately NAPLES
that she knew were now putting forth
their young blossoms from their cendela
bra-shaped imbs-of the sloping meadow
with ts violets covered hilsides-of the
rob MS nest in the cherry tree and above
all, Of the sweet, old face that up through
all, and with outstretched arms, yearneC
to embraced her tired birding in the
home nest
John Wilton glanced at her as he wen
out OF the door, and mistook the flush o
anticipated joy for the bloom Of health
and went off saying; | guess she'll ge
better as the days grow warmer | vii
try to hire somebody for her this sum
mer.
can do nothing for her, said DR.
Graves, to Mr.. Wilton who had followed
nim cut OF Mrs. Wilton's sick chamber.
Nothing for her? My God, doctor
You dop't mean to say that she is pas
all help? aud John Witon's hear
seemed to stand still for moment.
did not say she was past help,replle'
the doctor. The truth is, Mr.. Wilton
your wife is worked down; and uules
she has rest, and plenty of it, she vii
die. And | may as well say she wi
never get rest here. She must 90 ava
where she will have no care of the hous
or family or she will die. You may flu
t another wife, but your children will neve
! iiud another mother. So saying, the goo
doctor drove away.
t The door was partly open, and Mr.
Wilton had heard, in her sick chambe
the doctors words, and her heart gave
, great leap; which had undoubtedly woul
4 have created alarm for her had the doctC