South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-08-06


the head Of my class. Oh, what shall
we do?''
II know, love! hate to part with it..
But it could not be put to better use
your silver half dollar, Willie. Get it
pet?'
"All right That's it, mamma! don't
care, do you?" SO the little man asked
with doubtful look in his eyes.
'tNever mind, DEAR" she said. And
when Willie ran away to get his hat, she
kissed the coin on which were the prints
Of her first born's teeth. With sigh in
her heart but n smile on her lips, she
bent TO kiss her boy and sent him forth.
More she might have told Of the an
noyances and trials OF her days. That
i'm one particular when the washwoman
came for her pay and found her without
a cent i'm the house. Mortified and dis
tressed at the idea Of having to send her
off unpaid, she offered the woman more
than double the amount due in the way
Of really nice dress; and. when feel
ing greatly relieved that her offer was
gratefully accepted, she was surprised
by the housemaid, who, having set her
mind on the dress. flew into violent
temper, and after having driven her al
most wild by TRADE of abuse, left
With all the additional household cares,
baby was fretful and cross. The poor
little mother had hard work to put on n
cheerful face to greet her husbands
coming. How had she been rewarded?
All these she had kept to herself for fear
of worrying him.
h. -
worry any more. L promise you they
shall not be presented again, and i'm six
months time you shall be entirely re-
lieved from this embarrassment" Susie
said holding out her hand.
Nonsense, child, what can you do?"
81 can help you. Edward. Please
give them to me. Your Office work is
enough for you without worrying over
these things. Let me have what money
you can, and then just brighten up n
little" she pleaded.
Unwillingly he yielded ut last-ungra-
ciously. l should say-for while resign
ing to her the burden he predicted a
complete failure.
And then with a true, brave heart,
she went to her work of retrenchment.
The money on hand was distributed
among the creditors; payments made to
each in part, with pleasant little note
promising more IS soon as possible.
"And now, the first thing must try is
to reduce the grocery bill. But Edward
must not feel this increasing economy.
One thing will give up-my wine and
egg every day. Now that baby is baby
no more, shall not need it. i am so
much stronger. That will save at least
ten cents n day, and can learn to drink
coffee in the morning, and"
Yes, and 50 it was from that time
the rigid economy was practiced almost
entirely upon herself. No servant was
engaged in place of the indignant Bird
get and Susie worked on, day and
night. Through the long lonely hours
when all others slept, she worked some.
times ut the sewing Notwithstanding )
copying writing, or adding up long col.
umns of fgures-any kind of work to
earn something to help Edward along.
At the end of the next month she tri-
umphantly held to her husband the gro
Gerry bill saying:
"See dear it is fifteen dollars less ~
How eagerly she watched for an ap.
proving word-a smile. But it came
not.
1t was his way, she knew but it hurt
her. He might have said "well done,''
just for once. she thought. And so the
days and weeks and months went on,
and ever in her heart remained that lon.
ging for one word of encouragement.
Once, in an hour of weakness, q CRY
escaped the hungry, starving heart. A
friend, her dearest schoolmate said:
Susie, you are getting thin and very
pale. You are working too hard, dear
and for what? You look so tired, al
ways now"
"Yes-for what, oh Mary, for what
will never come. fear. Have you ever
watched, waited-panting for one ap.
proving word-starving, almost dying
for IL? oh. if Edward could say one
word, give one encouraging smile. il
would give all | want-food, rest, ioy?"
And then, with her arms about Mary's
neck she sobbed pitifully.
II detest such men - exclaimed the
impulsive Mary. I'D like TO deal with
such n one !''
Then Susie. with her soft Dyes full OF
reproach, saidi
"iIow can you talk so? You don't
understand. lie is good, and never
scolds. 1t is his way. lie can't help
it, And I'm ashamed of myself for
speaking so, Edward don't mean to be
unkind. and he isn't either,
well. Susie. 1 don't want TO hurt you.
but ] must say his is a disagreeable way,
and If was his wife I'd feel il my duty
10 teach him some other way. I'd soon
er he would scold and blow sometimes
and TO have him considerate and appre-
ciative ut others. But dear pray don't
work and worry yOurselft to death do
rest n little"
Yes. yes, / shall rest. bye and bye.
when ] earn the right. / won't have to
work much longer" Susie said.
Pale and thinner she grew; but Ed.
War1 ppffpaH Il not l. 49, - tgs.r