Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-09-25
HOW LII CAME TO PASS.
By MRS. NJ. J. SMITH .

THIS was how it came to pass: [ had
always bought my butter of Mrs. Butter
worth, but now she had come to the city
to live. SO she of course must needs buy
her own butter, for had she not called on
me that very morning and made the start
ling announcement herself?
Now, George and | lived in a little cot
tage on Pine street, and although four
times day he passed the grocery on the
corner when going to and from his bust
ness, to say nothing of the times | went
there to buy groceries, we had never
bought one pound Of store butter from
said store, or, | might as we'll add, from
any other The very thought was repug-
nant SO the news of Mrs. Butterworth's
removal into town fell on our defenseless
ears like clap of thunder in clear sky.
George, what are we to do for butter?"
l said as we gathered around the dinner
table, on which small amount OF that ar
ticle was placed.
'Why, Jane" lie inquired, whats the
matter now"
"Only this Mrs Butterworth has taken
up her abode here in town, and of course
we can get no more butter of her"
You don't say 500
Yes | do; she told me herself this
morning. And now what is going to be
done about it?"
"Hc = much have you on hand?"
-"OI'T three OF four pounds"
We'll" said George, cant you skimp
a little and make it hold out till | can look
around, for YOU know | never can eat
store butter"
Nor | either" said SO it was set
tied that we must skimp, but it was hard
work Butter had been quite an item in
Our family, and George, Jr., declared that
he would not eat anything if he could not
have all the butter he wanted; and Mamie
threw her thinly spread piece clear across
the table, and kicked and screamed lusti-
ly.
Our little fouryear- old was an active,
energetic being, and George was noble,
resolute fellow. Husband and had new
er punished the children, being deter
mined that no restraint of ours should
break their spirits; so we had a scene.
OF course it was annoying, but my heart
ached for the poor little dears, who never
before had been denied that luxury, good
bread and good butter. Honey, sirup and
sugar, though temptingly displayed, had
deprecated in their eyes, and they had no
appetite for ANYTHING else.
"What shall we do, George?" | again
asked, as he was leaving the house.
Il don't know. Be as cheerful as you
can, Jane, and | will see" SO saying he
slammed the door to, unnecessarily hard,
| thought, and left me to cogitate the mat
ter over alone, which | Immediately be-
gan to do.
The farm was for rent. Mrs. B. lad
told me that, and now came bright
thought Why could we not move out
there this summer, and shut up our house
N fnr q NO : =
That would be just the thing. No more
bills then for butter, eggs, chickens or
fruit. In short everything at hand, at no
expense, except the rent, which would be
just nothing, compared to the amount that
we now had to pay for these things.
| had always loved the country; it was
such pleasure to get out of the crowded
city, and had been in the habit Of visit
ing Mrs. ButterWorth twice a year, ever
since began to buy of her. How | loved
to sit in her cool parlors, or watch her
strain and put away the milk in bright
tin pans. never rose in the morning till
the milking process was all over, but as
the children needed the new milk to
strengthen them, | used to cut my morn
ing nap short, and hasten to the dairy
with baby Maude in my arms, and my
boy and girl following. 1t was trying to
be obliged to do this, and had limited as
much to Mrs. Butterworth, by asking her
if she did not think if the milk was
brought Immediately to their rooms, and
dealt out so the children after drinking it,
could have another nap before breakfast,
it would be more beneficial; but that wOr-
thy lady insisted that the morning air was
so invigorating, they ought not to be kept
in their rooms later and so | became a
martyr to early rising.
used to enjoy lifting the churn dash
for few moments after the morning
meal. it was almost as good as play un
til | began to grow tired, and then L would
call my two romps, and catching up baby
go lie under the green old apple trees Till
dinner time.
| was fond Of Mrs Butterworth and two
weeks in spring, when strawberries began
to ripen, and the air was sweet with the
breath of flowers, We're devoted every sea
son to visiting her l always put off my
housekeeping till that time, for Maggie
could get along so much better when we
were gone, and it was so nice to get out
of the clutter. | liked to spend the hot
test part of the summer there, too. The
perfume of new m0wn hay is always
sweet to me, especially in the country
where one does not have to pay for it.
Mrs Butterworth had other city friends
who, like myself, used to go out into the
country and rest You don't know how
refreshing it was to us. We used to tel
her so when we could get sight OF he1
face, for as we were always planning pic
mic excursions, sailing parties, or ramp