American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-09-20
HOW 1T CAME TO PASS.
BY MRS. NJ. J. SMITH.

THIS was how it came to pass: l 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 herself9
Now, George and lived i'm 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 l went
there to buy groceries, we had never
bought one pound of store butter from
said store, or, l might as well 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:"
said, as we gathered around the dinner
table, on which small amount OF that ar
ticle was placed.
why, Jane" he 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 sou
Eyes I do; she told me herself this
morning. And now what is going to be
done about it?"
HOW muCn nave you on manu-!
"Only three or four pounds"
well" said George, cant you skimp
little and make it hold out till can look
around, for you know l never can eat
store butter''
''Nor l 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 fOur-year- was an active
energetic being, and George was a 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 hear
ached for the poor little dears, who never
before had been denied that luxury, good
sugar, though temptingly displayed, had
deprecated in their eyes, and they had nc
appetite for ANYTHING else.
"What shall we do, George?" 1 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
1 thought, and left me to cogitate the mat
ter over alone, which 1 Immediately be
gan to do.
The farm was for rent. Mrs. B. had
told me that, and now came brigh
thought. Why could we not move Out
there this summer, and shut up our house
in town, or rent 1t for the next six months
p That would be just the thing. No more
bills then for butter, eggs, chickens OF
fruit. In short, everything at hand, at ne
expense, except the rent, which would bt
just nothing, compared to the amount tina
we now had to pay for these things.
L had always loved the country; it wa!
such pleasure to get out of the crowded
city, and had been in the habit of visit
ing Mrs. Butterworth twice year, eve
since began to buy of her. How IloveG
to sit in her cool parlors, or watch hel
strain and put away the milk in brigh
tin pans. 1never rose in the morning til
the milking process was all over, but a
the children needed the new milk t.
strengthen them, l used to cut my morn
ing nap short, and hasten to the dair,
with baby Maude in my arms, and M
boy and girl following. 1t was trying t
be obliged to do this, and had limited a
much to Mrs. Butterworth, by asking he
If she did not think if the milk wa
brought Immediately to their rooms, ant
dealt out SO the children after drinking il
could have another nap before breakfast
it would be more beneficial; but that wor
thy lady insisted that the morning air wa
so invigorating, they ought not to be KEEP
in their rooms later and so 1 became
martyr to early rising.
1 used to enjoy lifting the churn dasl
Tor few moments after the mOrnin.
meal. 1t was almost as good as play un
til l began to grow tired, and then l would
call my two rOmps, and catching up baby
go lie under the green old apple trees til
dinner time
was fond of Mrs. Butterworth, and tw,
weeks in spring, when strawberries begal
to ripen, and the air was sweet with tn
breath of flowers, were 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 W,
were gone, and it was so nice to get GU
of the clutter. l liked to spend the hot
test part of the summer there, too. TIL,
perfume of new mown 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 10 go out into tn,
country and rest. You don't know how
refreshing it was to us. We used to tel
her so when we could get a sight of he
face, for as we were always planning pic
mic excursions, sailing parties, or ramb
ling. through the fine old orchard ant
garden, while she, dear soul, Yves bus,
baking and brewing. from long before w
were up, till long after we were in bed, o
course we could not see her as much a
we wished. Housework seemed to be he
forte. 1t did astonish one to see how at
tached to it she was. l used to say t,
her, IF ever l live in the country meal
to enjoy life. One can live so easy here
Nothing to buy, for everything grow
here. Cows are waiting to be MIXED
one has plenty of cream and butter
chickens are cOaxing - be fried, eggs lii
all around loose and everything grow
spontaneously"
Mrs. Butterworth smiled a dreary smil
and said: IF it is ever your lot to liv
in the country you will see things in
different light, and you will find that al
these things require great deal of care
True, everything grows; bat it takes
great deal appropriation before the GROUND
is ready for the seed, and then it is work
and care all the way along. Hoeing
wedding, pruning and finally gathering
in fact it is all work, until ready fo
the table,
To return to my story. Now all my an
ticipations of rest, country shade, egg
and early vegetables had vanished, ant
looking out of my window, saw nothin,
but the wooden sidewalks and DUST
streets. l have no doubt that my disap
pointment had as much to do with m,
unamiable mood as the loss of my butter
hough L did not express it. l felt as if
somehow, had been abused. What RICH
had she to change her location, and leav,
me and my precious children destitute o
a resort from the cares and trials inciden
to a city life?