American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-29
MRS. POMEROY'S PIN-MONEY,
BY MRS. o. W. SCOTT.

with active brain, healthy body, and that
peculiar trait which is best characterized
as spirit" say fortunate, because she
was left, when a mere child, to the char
ity of the world, which. as every one
knows, somewhat resembles that of GER
tain Indian tribes-letting the weakly
children die off lest they become trouble
some. But the world honors spirit, and
when ii saw that the little maiden was
determiped TO beat down all opposition
with her own tiny fists, it straiehtway
smiled upon her; so Nellie found work
here and there, and friends to counsel her,
until she accumulated little money.
Then she went to school, and in the course
of time became competent to teach in the
common schools; and proud enough she
felt when she found herself sole mistress
of dozen lakewood urchins. Thus,
teaching and studying alternately, she
struggled ON, until She found herself one
of the most acceptable lady teachers OF
her native State. Districts that mourned
over peculiarly intractable pupils were
hers to subjugate; and many willful
Ounce did she lead with firm, but gentle
hand, up the hill of science.
And how she loved her work, and how
she rejoiced in her freedom, and her well
earned independence; and how her black
eyes would sparkle as she affirmed that
she would always be cher own mistress"
But alasl she went to the rural village
of Colebrook to teach during the fall ar,
winter, and there she met Chest, Pome-
roy, fine young rmer, VINO lived mile
from town. He lqTed her from the mo-
ment he saw ner winsome face looking
up from Esquire Gilman's pew in church;
and she confessed to herself, as he stood
up so straight in the gallery, leading the
choir, and swelling out grandly on the
i,
was considerable for Nellie Winthrop to
admit of any young man.
Esquire Giiman's wife was Cbester's
aunt and with her consent and womanly
assistance, a match was made; and before
spring, Nellie yielded her boosted indie
pendence. There was some who said it
was a shame for her to marry a farmer; a
college professor would not be half good
enough. But the trouble was, Nellie
loved the farmer better than any profess
sor; so, when her school finished, she sat
down to Mrs. Gilman's- sewing machine,
and meekly stitched away at her outfit.
Mrs. Gilman made an old-fashioned
quilting, too, SO that each enthusiastic
lady could "set a stitch" for Nellie; and
her parlors were filled with those who
had learned to love the energetic young
teacher
Yah, Nellie" said Miss Eunice Perkins,
who was just little past thirty, you'll
have to give up your Independent ways
when you are married. How do you
think you'll relish going to your husband
for all you have?" looking up keenly as
she threaded her needle.
Nellie tossed her head in very unsub-
dued style as she answered: I'D like to
see the man that could make beggar of
me, Miss Perkins. l expect to help do
the work, and then share in the profits.
would like to know what right a man has
to call everything his? But then, l do
not anticipate any difficulty" and quick
blush rose to Nellie's cheek as she
thought, Chester is too generous to be
like other men-bless him.
Miss Perkins arched her eyebrows, and
Mrs. Smith and Mrs Middleton exchang ed
glances, which said as plainly as words
could have done, "Poor child you don't
know anything about l.. We thought
just so once"
Time passed on, and Nellie Winthrop
became Mrs. Pomeroy, and took her place
among the matrons of the land. Her
husband had been able to pay but little,
as yet, howard his farm, which he had pur-
chased of wealthy and misery old Mr..
Goldthwait. So, to lessen his burden,
Nellie spent all her precious earnings in
furnishings for the cosy farmhouse, of
"
The manifold duties of housekeeping
were new to her; but she assumed them
with the same courage and energy that
had characterized her whole life, and
soon conquered even the mysteries OF
butter-making and poultry raising. She
blistered her hands almost daily, and
grew as brown as gypsy in making ex
cursions over the farm to assist and en-
courage Chester's numerous enterprises
MT cha vx-ac no oh rfr1I hov
unaccustomed labors, for wasn't every
thing to be ours by and by?
Thus brightly the summer months
passed, and the early autumn. The butter
was sold and Chester announced, with
pardonable pride, that it brought the very
highest price. The apples went next
and then the plump chickens that Nellie
had SO assiduOusly watched; then the
wheat and oats, and everything that could
well be spared, went to swell the income
Chester was jubilant over the result.
II tell you, Nellie,'' said he, 'its wortf
everything to have a good wife. We have
been wonderfully prospered. Mr.. Gold
thwait wants To get thefarm back into his
hands, but he can't do it, for the SECOND
payment is ready for him, and l hav,
considerable money besides"
Nellie heard all this, and rejoiced with
him; but she began to wonder vaguely
when she was to receive her share of the
wonderful income.
Not cent had she in the once well
filled purse; and as she ruefully surveyed
her boots, she fully realized that even thu
strong ties, supposed to exist between sol
and upper leather, must yield to the foot
steps of time. She was so hard on boots
"And who wouldn't be?'' she said to her
self grimly, 'trotting all over the house
and out into the yard every half hour t,
see if stray hawk is after my chickens y
When the cold November winds begal
to blow, Mrs. Nellie said to herself, at i
no usel my lace bonnet and white glove
look ridiculous at this season, and IN,
boots grow worse and worse. l mus
stay at home from church,
But no, her husband would not listen +
that; he felt lost without her company
and her alto in the choir. So, withou
telling him the cause of the proposition
she retrimmed her old hat. mended he
second best kids, and patched her boot
with the aid of an anvil to pierce the sole
Not being a cobbler by profession, he
fingers received some wounds which mad
her feel almost exasperated and she con
cluded that if men were not as blind a
bats by nature, Chester would see that sh
needed some new ones. He, innocen
heart, thought she looked uncommonl
well, as she appeared on Sunday morning
arrayed in her 'old things" and, al
though she took the pains to put the frs
foot forward as she stepped into the cal
riage Chester only thought, "What pref
ty little foot my wife has got"
His new broadcloth suit, so stout an,
firmly made, was warranted to last yea
at least, and what should he know of
woman's wants.
Monday morning Nellie scrubbed on