The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-04-01

! 81
mated with an "angcl unaware.
His voice grew softer, tenderer, his
yreat talonv hands touched her fol o
head and her hair lovingly as wouiC /
, woman's-touched her as though |
he were afraid she would fade away
nto a white mist.
Weeks afterwards, when he was
lble to ride out, the old whimsical
buggy that had done good service IN
the days of his church-going parents,
was made comfortable by soft
WOODEN blanket and an armful OF
sweet-smelling oat straw. John
didn't tell where he was going, but
he looked wise, and his mouth had a
perky look about the corner that
seemed to say: Just le' me alone,
| know what i am about J"
1t was evening when he came
home. He was still as wise as when
he went away. His cup of tea was
waiting, and his toast and the tender
little pullet fried nice and brown.
He seemed really happy-jolly. He
trotted the baby on his foot that
night, and he called his wife, Jenny,
as IN the days when he won her, and
he let Johnny play horse with his
boots and there was such a contented,
rich man expression on his face, that
his wife couldn't help wondering
what made such a change in him.
The next morning the crazy old
rig was called out again; and the soft
blanket spread in it, and John Jones
took the lines in his emaciated hands
and drove off in the same direction
as he did the day before.
When he returned, he was accom-
panied by broad shouldered, good.
looking German girl whom he intro,
duced to his wife as "our girl"
She looked with amazement upon
"our girl" and then stared at John
he soon explained things to her sat
isfaction.
The upshot O. the matter is Jane
that I've abused you long enough
the Lord helpin' me, I'll never see
you make a drudge O. yourself ag'in.
It's a burnin' shame for any great
lout like me to expect a frail little
body like you to be man, an dog
an wife, an mother, an niger, an
me a slavin' an a hoardin' up money
and means to leave the Lord only
knows who. / beg your pardon
Jane; and now you'll tell this girl
Barbara Groetz, how you want things
done, an let her take your place and
work in your std, an you'll live
hereafter like a human mans wife orr
to-"
BY the time his speech was made,
the poor weak fellow was blubbering
! like a whale. Poor little surprised
wife, She few to his neck, and laid
her head on his bosom, and cried like
a baby, as she said: John Jones
you darling"
mo, not q bit of darlin', just an
old bear, regular old heather, to
sacrifice the best little woman under
the sun, inch by inch, this way that's
been a goin' on for years an years, y
snuffled he, as he fumbled over her
face in an aimless, loving way"
! Then "our girl" Barbara went in.
! to Jane Jones' harness. and il fitted
her TO a fraction.
Now we've turned over a new
leaf, 60 and dress up, Jenny, bless
yout ~ said the new convert.
So, with the memory of lang syne
warming her heart, Jane unearthed
her wedding dress in the afternoon,
and put it on with pretty, old-fash
ioned collar, and brushed out her nut
brown hair that once upon a time
curled beautifully. Perhaps she felt
foolish, and out of her sphere, but she
looked sweet enough to makeup for
all discrepancies.
She sat sewing, putting new
band on Ruby's new skirt, when the
children came home from school.
her back was toward the door. Tom
came TO a dead halt as he stepped on
the sill, and then ran around the lean
to to find his mother. No mother
there, but the smiling pink-faced Ger
man girl, who was preparing potatoes
to bake for supper.
Tom Dawled out: as mother dead?
o, l want my mother!" and circled
around the house and peeped in with
wet eyes.
Was that lady in a soft gray meri-
no dress, wearing an embroidered
collar and gold ear drops, his mother?
That pretty woman surely it was,
for Nettie was feeling her face, and
was sparkling over and saying: as
this you mother? Why where have
You been?"
"0h. ma" said Tom holding her
around the neck as though she might
Hit away the next minute, "why
where did you go, and when did YOU
come back?"
Poor little ones, how proud they
were OF the household drudge in her
new and beautiful transformation
But this is not all. Before the first
cold blast of winter came, steps were
taken to Tighten the labors of the fem
mime portion of the farmers house
hold. An addition was built to the
house, new siding was put on and
painted white. New windows were
added, and green blinds and spouting,
and big cistern close to the door,
and a wide, long, roomy porch
Closets were put in all the rooms; the
old verminy bedsteads split up and
used for kindlings; new chairs were
bought, including a new rocking chair
and sewing chair for mother, a new
sewing machine, that WAS a love of
a friend; the door-yard paled in, and
the calves and colts kept where they
belonged; and evergreen trees. and
towering shrubbery, and rose bushes.
made beautiful the new ward. An
easy chain pump took the place of the
old moss covered bucket that held as
much as a churn. 1t was packed off
TO the barn to put cioverseed in, and
the heavy windlass was borne away
forever from the little arms that had
tugged at its ponderous weight with
a sick WEAKNESS many and many and
many a year. The big well rope
made nice swing under the oaks for
Tom, Belle and chubby Harry.
Now that the no LONGER enslava3