The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-10-01
MORTGAGED.


across the tea-table at his pretty wife,
"say what they may, there is nothing Oh
earth so pleasant as this having n home
of ones own !"
Mrs. Graham smiled fondly on hel
husband as she handed him his care
fully-prepared cup of tea.
81 am so glad you feel like that,
Harry; | will do my best to make it a
happy home for you"
"You darling! You shall have kiss
for that sweet speech the moment tea is
over, cried the young husband, commit
ting ravages among the "rolled bread
and butter, the homemade preserves,
the dainty shavings of dried beef and
cold ham, and the delicate cake, with
which his Margaret had furnished her
tea-table on the first evening in their
very own home. "Where did you
get these delicious preserves, my dear p
:" / made them, Harry"
POSSIBLE Z"
:" Yes, l made them i'll the last days Mt
the farm. Mother showed me how -
"Then you shall ask her to come and
see us in our little cottage before the
preserves are all eaten.
INV WIZ w NOl1 SltiAi w WIN, NbiNl
Margaret, with delighted look "She
Aever liked our plan of boarding,
Harry"
"Whst else could we do, my
dear?" asked the young husband, in Il
slightly altered tone. 81 was too poor to
buy house when we were first married.
AS we could not well roost upon the trees
like birds when they begin life together,
to board was the only way possible. But
/ never liked it myself, he added, his
face clearing again. SIT was nuisance
to be confined to two rooms as we were
and how John Grey's children did scream
at night, on the opposite side of the
hall. Besides, that untidy chambermaid
never half cleaned our rooms. "Now
this is what l like :" he concluded rising
from the supper table, and glancing
proudly round the neat, bright parlor,
with its open fire and easy chair drawn
mp beside the CRATE its crimson curtains
and table-covers and carpets its tea
table, sparkling with china and silver,
and its tall, glass-doored book lease,
stored with volumes which he had to
read aloud while his wife sewed, on
chilly, rainy evenings such as this.
Mrs. Graham rang the bell. A tidy
young servant maid came in and took
away the tea things. When the room
was made orderly for the evening, a
pair of embroidered slippers appeared,
coniured from some mysterious closet by
the happy wife.
My first present TO you in oar home,
Harry" she said, with moistened eyes.
And he drew her fondly toward him
and gave her the promised kiss,
with many another after Then,
putting on the comfortable evening at
tire, he selected book from the crowded
shelves, and sat down in the easy chair,
while Margaret drew her little sewing
stand nearer the fire, and prepared to on
Joy, with heart and soul, the first quiet
evening beneath their own roof. But be-
fore the book was opened shadow had
fallen over the brightness of her Joy.
"Your mother would like 10 look in at
lis now, my darling" said Harry, glanc-
ing round the room again. i know she
will think this house bargain when she
ees it. Six rooms and a garden-a
good-sized garden, too-and for two
thousand dollars !"
"And the pretty furniture, Harry. All
paid for, too. That is the best of it all.
And very good, substantial furniture it
is," replied his wife.
eyes, was determined it should be
paid for on the nail. What sticks have
about me must be my own
ooh, Harry! How can you call our
nice new things sticksg"
"Chairs and tables, then, child
got good discount, by the way, because
i paid cash down. / wish could have
done the same by the house. / might
have had il two hundred dollars cheaper.
However, If we are careful of our ex-
penses, chickabiddy, we shall soon clear
off the mortgage. 1t is only nine hun.
dred dollars.
The fancy work dropped from Marga.
ret's hand.
"Nine hundred dollarsl" she said
turning little pale. GA mortgage Oh
this house, Harry2"
"On whose house should il be Z" saiC
ne. laughing. "Why, you look az
scared as if L had stolen the house
child !"
"I thought it was paid for"
Chow on earth did you suppose