The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-07-28
John .Jones' New Leaf.


were smoky, the dishes stood on
the table in the middle of the floor,
the cooking stove was open, with ket-
ties and pans on it, and cold ashes on
its hearth, its sooty plates awry, pot
of dish water standing on top of the
stove, and the broom and poker and
tongs lay just where the little riders
had left them when they were called
to prepare for school. Johnny had
gone off crying. and his whine could
even then be heard coming up the
hollow, in the direction Of the school
house. The milk had not been strain.
ed, and the flies were buzzing about
it as they sat on the edges of the two
brimming pals, slipping and rubbing
their hands together in q satisfied way.
The baby was teething and CROSS, and
tho one pair of hands that could have
brought order out of this disorder were
trying to soothe it.
Is il any wonder that tears were in
the mothers eye, as she cuddled her
baby to her bosom, and walked across
the floor trying to still its cries?
80, dear, what life what life !"
said she II try to be patient and
make the best Of it, but it does seem
hardp Just as the babe was growing
quiet, and as his little blue hands had
fallen listiessly upon his bosom, a
shadow fell across the doorway, and the
husband entered, saying, "Jane, can
you tell me what the children did
with the hatchet yesterday ?"
at was out on the rock, behind
Johnny's wagon last night" said she,
speaking low, and gently laying the
baby down in bed that had not been
made up yet.
"Seems to me you're a good while
gettin' your chores done you haven't
the knack of gettin' along like Mrs.
Lovendike-her work is done up long
ago, an she's busy in the garden. Tell
you, she's nice garden; don't look
much like our'n; you don't put the
time on our'n that she does On her'n."
"Oh, John," said the little woman,
slipping back her sleeves and tying
OH big apron, and trying to keep her
face turned away to hide the gather
ing tears, with four little children
and baby sick, and three cows to milk,
and calves to feed, and hands to cook
for, and all the other work to do, / on
ly wonder that get half my chores
done in a whole day."
"Well, TN sure l don't see how ii
is," said he; "my mother had ten liv-
ing children, and she managed to get
along first-rate, and do all our own
weaving, besides taking in weaving
for the neighbors.. You have more
room than she had, and you don't
have to carry water forty rods, like
she bad-here it is right at the foot ol
the hill and you never have to cut
your own fre-wood, unless it is in the
midst of harvest, and / think you
shouldn't complain. If there is any.
thing hate to hear, it is a growing
whining wife. Now 1 have to be out
O. doors all the time, no matter how
hot the sun shines, or how cold the
wind blows, while you are in the shade
and. comfortable-if you only knew
it. All, you have an easy time of it
you women, if you only knew it; so
cheer up. married you for help
mate, don't you know? The girls will
be big enough in three or four years tt
help you, and then you can take times
easier, and maybe by that time the
bottom farm will be paid for, ant
we'll be able to ride in a carriage like
the LSfeadikes.
"How long SINCE you brought il
this wateri" said he, as he took {
drink from the tin dipper, and finding
it not fresh he squirted it out coolly
on the floor among some pans that hac
slipped down off shelf.
| AS he took the hatchet and started
out to the hay wagon to fix the hay
rigging on It, he said, "Jane, if yor
can as we'll as not, sposin' you have
some O. them new beans that grow il
that fur lot for dinner?"
"Well, I'll try" said she hopelessly
as she slipped her shoes off so sh'
might step softly and with more com
fort. All we working women know
what task it is to bring disordereC
kitchen into neatuess, especially wher
little children have been about. Firs
she strained the milk, saving on
!. quart, with which to mix the bread
for the yeast was set the night before
and had been bubbling two hours; sh'
mixed it and set it in the warm sun
shine, and then started fire and mad
feed of skim milk aud meal for tn
noisy, frolicsome calves that ran in tn
dooryard. Then she swept and pick
ed up playthings after the children
hung up their coats and aprons, ant
set their old shoes away, and moves