Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-12-08
Leaving the Farm.
A STORY FOR RURALIST WIVES
BY NEAL NEWTON. J..

BY NEAL NEWTON.
| III Is nothing but work, work, work. fro,
morning I'LL night. A farm lifs Ia ,erf,c
saves ire, and for my part am sick and lin
| And the face of the woman standing In The
| dairy room ofthe farm house grew darker An,
darker, more dissatisfied than ever. as on,
aiter another the rolls of golden butter cam,
10 perfection under the touch of her ouIcl, fin
gers. fN" ""
She was handsome woman of two-and
twenty, with wavy brown hair, scarlet lps. a md
and dimpIes. WI '''iiie'
When Gilbert Drew married her three vo, q.
oeiore, people said he made sad mistake-
that IN dainty girl, with her graces and ar.
compiishments, would never be fit for farm.
ers wife, and would have 10 idea of thrift and
economy. '"''' anu
mus iar IN her matrimonial career she had
no. IulnIled the prophecy of the gossips. BIest
W Nun g1od heaith aud an active temp ,rament.
sue tooK 10 household duties, and with tbe
heip OF stout girl during the summer months
house. "''ae iarih-
Inc farm itself, Gilbert's wedding gift from
grandfather Drew, was large, fertile and siI-
usteu nn. M pleasant valley, and if wen worked
s sia ,;ving and something iur rs,." comforts
Wy ~. in,sn WAS roony and pleasant, htIfu ~.
eo".fsnt 90 convenience. To Gilbert
Drew this place seemed the very parad So Of
homes.
lie lsved his young wife with an absorbing
affection; he took pride in Lis fine, well stocked
farm and comfortable Surroundings, and was
perhaps as thoroughly content with lis lot in
life us II Is possible for any man TO be. But Of
late feeling oi dissatisfaction had been CT, ep-
ing into the heart ofhis wife; and, like many a
mistaken mortal she failed to appreciate the real
and solid comforts that she every day. enioyed,
and coveted the fair, forbidden fruit that
seemed just beyond her reach.
few mouths previous TO the opening of our
story she visited an old school.friend whose
home was In the city. She attended several
pa ties, Vist.d the opera and other places ot
amusement, and rode in the park on sunny af-
ternoons; ahdIthe iyety aud glitter of those
few weeks 80 completely turned The lie I'd of the
c1nntry-bred woman, that the visit which her
| husband expected would be recreation to her,
OILY 10 her Restless and disSa isiiei with her
life. Ever since then she had been consider
ingthe possibi lily of inducing Gilbert to We up
farming and remove to the city; but as she had
not broached tie subject to bin, she had felt
isluctant to 90 so, for kn wing how much lie
was attached to b 0 present ONE, she was well
| aware that a knowledge of her feelings would
shock and pain him.
F., But OH this particular morning she was even
more discohtenied than usual, and as he came
WhiSthiib UP the plin anu W tle room where
| she was working, she made no effort TO hide
her gears, but met him with such a gloomy
pouting face that lie stopped surprii Oh and won
| dering, in the doorway.
! "Wby Alice! what is the maiiei?' he asked
quickly.
81 am tired of this everlasting housewcrk,
she answered gloomiy.
Giber Drew went forward then, anC
drawing his pretty young wife 10 him said ten
derly:
"Den't cry, Alice. did not know that yor
were working SO hard; you should have tolt
me before. We will have better girl, or yo,
can get little Mamie Briggs up here to hell
Susan il that will suit yon."
'I don't want no more help. If We must liy
In this out-of'way place, may as well be
| kitchenmaid as any thing else. But | dom
want to live OH farm, and l wish that vol
would sell out and go to the city,"
"Sell the farm and go to the city Do yol
mean thata"
'Yes, mean ii. What's the use of us sla
wing ourselves 10 death here, when we can I've
great deal easier and happier by far, In th
cityp"
~ am not sure of that. The farm affords Il
a comfortable living, and if We should sell
and 80 away, am afraid we might see the d.,
5 when we would be glad TO come back"
IL an sure that l never should. In the eli
YOU could get In some busint So that would occt
py only part OF your time, aud when you wei
at liberty we could 60 out and enjoy ourselv,
!. aud see something Of the world, instead of bt
ing coopedup In this lonesome out oi-the-wor
J. place."
"Oh, Alice, am so sorry TO hear you ta
In this way. thought you were coutente
aud happy here"
He was surprised and deeply grieved, and A
Ice know it; but she had pondered this matt
IL too long 10 give il up easily now. and 81
would bring forth every argument that 81
could devise to convince him that she w
~ right, and Gilbert Drew went back to the ne
10 that morning with a sadder heart than he h.
as carried for many day.
IN IN After that Alice gave him no peace. She hi
o. set her heart on leaving the farm, and she W
Ne constantly picturing to him the easy, care-fr
L life she imagined they might live Ia the city .
n Gilbert was far from sharing her views of I
to- subject; but he loved her too well to b. unnir
Of full of her pleasure, land finding that sh1 Won
-, be satisfied with nothing less, he finally yiel
,rs ed to her wishes.
he Having All opportunity 10 dispose of !
r.. farm aud stock for good price, he did so, a
ras a. other sping-tlme found our country frien
he safely settled in city quarters. They purchi
or, ed handsome house In fashionable local.
"a and Gilbeit obtained the position of clerk IL
''s dry good establishment.
%. Through friendly influence they gained
mittauce TO an aristocratlc circle, coinpos
mostly ofpeoi le with wealth and leisure at th
!. disposal.
Alice, with her lovely face and easy, q ace
hc manners, became quite belle, and her iii
nd was completely occupied in shopping retul
AZ Ing the calls Of her fashionable friends and '
ey iting places of amusement. Gilbert grew us
TO finding the house closed and still, and he
In ing the servant girl say that her mistress I,