The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-07-03
A HOMELY STORY

"A zIlOMhL1 L p1Oh l.
"Hang it all there is no use help
ing those who will not help them
selves w exclaimed Uncle John.
Now "Hang it all" was an uncom
mon expression for John West to use
If, in its place he had substitute,
Indeed !" my pen would have beel
more ready to transcribe his thought
But this vulgar, meaningless sentence
did escape his lips, and having eX
pressed himself thus, he seemed re
lieved.
Uncle John had favorite nephew
and his nephew had a wife. Uncl'
John was rich: and owned several fnt
farms. On young Johns wedding
day the uncle brought no gift of golt
OF silver or plated ware-"nothing
not so much as you could wind AROUND
| your finger" the bride said that nigh
when, far from home, the newly made
husband and wife discussed the events
of that eVentfuI day. But when John
returned from his wedding tour, Un.
Gle John paid them visit, and said
quietly, as he was ready to leave
"What are you going to do now,
John ?"
" l think of taking Joel Benson's
| farm on shares, for a year at least"
"You can do better than that here
is your wedding gift;" and placing
some papers in his hands, he hastily
| left.
The papers were: First, the deed of
a valuable farm with, second, mort
gage upon it (aWaiting, of course,
/ Tahn1u n eif .oA
of Just half its value-said mortgage
to be paid in small annpal installments
The land was fine the house nearly
new, and all=the outbuildings in ex-
cellent condition.
The tears sprang to Johns eyes
as he read it; he was sensitive to the
very hearts core.
"Oh, won't that be grand ?" ex-
claimed his wife, when he showed the
papers to her; "now you can buy that
new carriage and a silver-mounted
harness. | shall want to go great
deal. He will never expect you to
pay anything more than the interest,
and give the rest to you by-and-by /;
anyway when he dies"
"Neverp exclaimed John, looking
at her in amazement ; " he has given
me enough already. Be the times
good or bad, shall pay the interest,
and the installments when they are
due"
You see he had little of the old
John in him. The sequel would seem
to show that the bride had said under
the breath, "We viii see,"
1t was just two years from that
time that Uncle John used that inele-
l., Il
than that he said -" Such a woman
a Kansas dug-out."
The truth was Mrs. John was not
very young, but she was very selfish
and designing. She courted John so
assiduously and yet so delicately /; and
he-he had nothing but a good head
and strong hands and his heart-Well
the fair-skinned, golden-haired Wo-
man, he felt sure, loved him. She had
always been obliged to work: of
course she would be willing to work
with and for him.
Poor John! But he deserves his
fate, You say, What, when his failing
was his perfect faith in Womanhood !?
1t was Uncle Johns faith too. Once
a ciear-eyed, sunny -broWed little girl
had ever called him "Dear John" but
ere he had pressed husbands kiss
upon the June lipe, the angels called
her. In those early days he thought |
all women were like his LOST darling ; !
but as years passed he came to know |
that she had been one of the few lent |
to earth, to show all Womankind what |
they might become. 1t was the men,
ory of the sweet, self-sacriticing life |
that made John West, though SEEM
ing lonely man, so strong.
For the reason that Johns wife had |
worked hard and lived economically |
all her young life, was to her sufficient |
reason, now that she was the wife of |
the favorite nephew of rich bachelor |
uncle, that she should olive like other
folks" meaning by this, like people of |
wealth; never seeming to realize that /
happiness is of the heart-never stop
ping to think that large share of the
gains from the farla must be returned
10 it in one shape and another, and
that farm life means to most a home,
and its comforts and pleasures.
How few realize that work greater
than that of any artist is given Amer
lean farmers wives and daughters to
do; to show the world what a home
may be-a place where work and cul-
tuFe may dwell together,
The house was very pleasant, and
loving hands might, with simple means
have made it a beautiful picture. John
to furnish only the kitchen,
and their own room
opening from it; but Mrs. John had
set her heart OH having her parlor fur
nished Con the Benson farm, they
would have lived in a tenant house,
small but comfortable, and there
would have been no parlor to furnish;
but it has been proven many times
that only we'll balanced mind can
stand sudden prosperity. But John
was firm.
Wait, Cella," he said, "until we get
ahead little, then you shall furnish
The house from top to bottom TO SUIT
yourself: :" and Celia knew that he
meant it, for John had not miserly
trait about him. Well, if she could
not furnish the parlor she would fur.
nish one of the chambers.
"What will it cost ?" John asked, '