The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-07-03

'ne plain linen collar and bright bow
at the throat, complete very nea
appropriate toilet her hands gianc
IN and out OF the pretty scarlet dres
she is embroidering for Minnie, an
take her as she is she makes a yer,
pretty picture.
Mr.. Ellis comes in. Minnie. will
glad shout, springs to meet him
while little Tommy squeals with de
light, in his best baby language, an,
reaches out his chubby hands to pa
pa. After kiss to Minnie, and
moments frolic with the baby, h
turns to his wife and says:
"Pm going over to Sharon, an,
came in to see if you would not lik
to go along rsa giF
Just what | have been thinkin,
OF all the morning, only 1 feared yol
were too busy" is the delighted an
swer. 81 should like 10 call on Ma
ry Brown. | can ride over with yol
and visit until you return. Can vol
wait until after dinner? | do not like
to be absent then"
"Just as well as not, my dear.
am in no hurry"
"Mary has not called here for 8
long time," continued Fannie. 81 saw
her at church last Sunday, and sh,
was looking very poorly. She sait
she had not been to church befor,
for year, and had only been to rid,
once since Eta was born.'
'Horace Brown is working hi
wife to DEATH" calculated Mr.. Ellis
81 never saw woman fade so fas
in my life. Five years ago she wa
one of the prettiest girls in this place
and now she looks tired, worn, ant
sick all the time. Why she look
fifteen years older than when sh,
married Brown! What is few hun
dred dollars in the savings bank, o.
in government bonds, when compar
ed with a woman's life ?"
"Why do you not speak to Mr.
Brown about it, my dear" said Mrs
Ellis. "Perhaps he does not realize
that she is over tasked."
81 have often thought oft, but you
know, Fanny, that it is a very deli
cate matter to tel man that he il
treating his wife like brute. Clothe
the idea in the choicest language pos
sible, and it is apt to offend. But
believe | shall tell him just what
think, and if he chooses to be angry
| cannot help it. l shall feel that ]
have performed my duty"
81 hope you WILL" answered hi.
wife. 81 cannot believe that he is q
bad man at heart. Mary is such a
sensitive woman, she would work
her fingers to the bone before she
would complain"
Mr.. Ellis shook his head doubtful
IL, but made no reply except to start
up with the exclamation
81 must go to work. Horace
Brown would censure me if he saw
me chatting here all the morning in.
stead of being out in the field where
| belong" And with another kiss to
his wife and Minnie he left the room.
We find ourselves once more in
the home of Farmer Brown.
The dinner hour has long since
passed, but Mr.. Brown has not YET
returned from the village. He will tel
his wife that business detained him
but | shrewdly suspect this "impor'
tant business is political discus
sion with some idler at the post of
flee, or grumbling about the taxes a
the village store.
Mary finished washing the dishes
swept the floor, washed the children
and then sat down to rest moment
She had felt unusually tired and il
that morning, but there was no res
for her; she must work as long al
she could stand. Eta began to cry
in her cradle and reached up her lit
tie hands for "M ANNA to take" The
mothers heart responded, but ex.
hausted nature would not furnish the
stength. The room seemed sudden
ly to grow dark, and with groar
which was almost a scream, the poor
tired woman fell from her chair and
lay on the floor in death-like faint
The children screamed, but "mam
ma" could not come to them.
AT this time Mr.. and Mrs. Ellis
was riding along the pleasant coun
try road, chatting together, and lay
ing many plans for the assistance Of
poor Mary Brown. As they paused
at the gate, the cries of Eta and
Johnny were distinctly heard.
"Dear me -" exclaimed Mrs. Ellis.
SHOW those children cry l don't
wonder Mary is almost worried tc
death. will go right in, you eau
tie your horses and follow suit.
suppose you are in no hurry to get te
Sharon" And the little woman
tripped up the steps and raped al
the door. There was no bell. Farm
er Brown could not afford it.
There was no answer to the knock
but the ear.piercing screams of the
children. Fanny began to get fright
ened. Another rap, still louder, ellie
tied no response, so she lifted thu
latch and entered. Mary Brown lay
pro strate on the floor, with a face al
white and ghastly as death. Will
one wild scream Fanny called he
husband, and together they applied
themselves to the task of resuscita
ting the almost dying woman. Thei
efforts were successful, and in an
other hour Mary lay ON her bed
weak, faint, but conscious.
Farmer Brown was still absent
SO Mr.. Ellis took upon himself tn
responsibility of calling a physician
After he had summoned a physi
clan, he returned Immediately to MI
Browns. Mrs. Ellis had hushed tn
crying children, and made Mar
as comfortable as possible under tn
circumstances but the doctor look
ed very grave as he examined tn
patient, and wrote out a prescription
Well Mrs. Brown said he, 81 az
sorry to say you must content your
self In bed for the present. l may a
well tell you first as last that you ar
bound to have fever; but if yo
keep very quiet and obey directions
you may get up in two or thre
weeks"
40 doctor II can't keep quiet
What will Horace and the childre
do ?" a boss
"Look here, Mrs. Brown" answer
ed he. am not scolding man, bu
shall certainly scold you if you ar
not more reasonable. Your husban
a oh Il