Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-05-20

had taken MS WIG iIOm iOsiuS hoho ~
nm Eastern State and made for himself a
home on the prairies of The West. lie
was deemed q very shrewd man by the
neighbols around. He knew when to
buy stock and when TO sell. He knew
when piece of land Vas worth buying
or selling and was always gettin. Some
good chance" His wife had long ago
found out that money WAS his idol. and
everything must be sacrificed To it-even
herself she sometimes thought. wheii.
with aching head and tired feet. she had
sought her pillow. Thus the years had
gone by until few would recognize ia the
hollow. eyed ,sunken. check od, premature
ly.old woman. the fresh. rusy girl John
Wilton had brought there eight years bc.
fore
Mrs. Wilton did not ask her husband II
be had stopped at Mrs. Films, sbO sup
posed OF course that he had; aud thu
following week she watched every day
for her expected help. Watched but not
waited. but rs the hours went by she hc.
gan the task and kept at 1t until NJ was
done.
Mr. Wilton pretended not to see all
this. lie kept aIoof Us much as possible
50 AS TO avoid any explanation hn might
be called upon TO make; but when alone
by himself. he said: "Well Susan Is
getting along nicely. after all Shoil
havu tho house shiniu' asiu SATURDAY,
night. aud then I'll just give her tn
money d hal /" pay Mrs. Finn LII
gu ,nwqrd hn>ip' tho wiuter tal"ss ior
the family" aud hs gave IEo Will lllpd
pocket book loving squeeze.
Saturday night found the house all
shining, as Mr.. Wilton had prophosicd.
but Mrs. Wilton look ed more tiicd aud
worn than ever. 1t had been i hard week
tor her, and even the clean house was
hardly recompense. But Mir Wilton
felt satisfied. Strange that he could not
perceive the odor oi tho essence oi life
in tho shining window and whitcned
walls; but he only said, As he glanced
about him:
The house-cleaning is over .eh? Well.
here is five dollars to pay your woman
with" aud he chuckled to himself. Tor
we'll he knew somo ot II would come
back TO him in the shape OF socks and
under shirts
IL wouldn't, Tor four tim Is that much.
Icel SO worn out as do to night, sighed
Mrs. Wilton 10 herself, as she thanked
him. and slowed the pittance away Ior
future use.
The weeks wore on toward winter. and
Mrs. Wilton sighed heavily as she thought
of tho garments, large and small. to be
bought and made. First, John must be
fitted up; then the tour little ones. and
lastly. herself. Her own share would be
slim. sho thought. but then She had not
much out door work 10 do, and she could
get along with less. But. oh! shc did
long 70 much tor new merino dress,
with bright, warm liuls. OF pair "i
gloves, or col lar and II bil OF ribbon ioI
hcr neck. Bot these were not 10 he
thought OIL Nothing but bare necessities
could bee hers, for John had been buy ing
stock. and had paid for his moving
machine. and met note or two. and he
lett quite poor" he said.
Poor womam She had not had Il nice
lress since her marriage. Then she had
a good supply-bul things will wear out,
aud most oi these were now doing dlty
as childicn's clothes or skirts Tor herself,
and hei beat dress now was cheap dc.
!aine. She sighed just little, halt
smoIhcred sigh. as she thought of all
ihis the day she went to lay oul her
moLey. 1t did not lake her long TO dis
pos. of the small amount. Tor she had
laid awake nights. pondering how TO
make one dollar do the duty OF two. and
the problem WAS worked out with the vi.
mosl precision.
Now that the goods were purchased,
the next trouble was how 10 get them
made soon enough. She had been
obliged to put of purchasing for want of
means, and now she could not tell which
was most needed
III only could get some one TO help
me for week. could soon sec my way
GEAR" said Mrs. Wilton TO her husband
one evening. as she sat stitching ON the
lilIle garments; "or better still. had
sewing machine" she ventured to say.
Dir. Wilton knocked the ashes out of
his old pipe. and said: IL don't see how
it is, Susan. that you're always complain.
Ing OF having 30 much to do. and want.
iug help all the time. Why. there's
mother. she never used to think of hiring
any work done. She used to make every. |
thing for eight OF us, and weave all The
cloth besides.
Mrs. Wilton did not answer. her heart
was too full.
Now u days. the wimmen want so
much help TO got lid OF work" continued
MIR. Wilton. AID like to git - sewin'-
machine, but it's out OF the question now.
there's SO much to be got"
Mrs. Wilton thought OF the mower and
he corn. planter. but she said nothing
she felt little pang shoot through her
,e,rt tben IL sank back again as q heavy |