South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-08-06
w WORRIED TO DEATH
BIZ FRANCES nENsHAw BADEN.

Edward Barton entered the sitting
room, dropped into the arm chair. and
with great sigh dropped his head in his
hand. In an instant, agentle, frail look
ing little woman was beside him, bend
ing her anxious eyes over him, as she
asked:
"Are you sick, dear?"
YES; sick enough. Almost sick Of
| life"
'6Oh. Edward! what is it? What has
troubled you so? Bad news from homer"
bad enough home without going else.
where to find trouble, think. 1 have
heard nothing from our old folks. 1 sup
pose it is all right with them. 1t always
is with them. Somehow they manage,
and they have ever since my remem.
brance, to live within their income
Mother seems to understand how to do it,"
There was q sharp tone in his voice,
and worse than all, one-two-three cuts
which went straight to The poor, sorely.
tried heart, wounding it severely. A
painful flush spread quickly over the
pale face and sharp retort rose to her
lips but no further. TWAS pressed back.
The quivering mouth tightly closed,
kinder thoughts filed the heart and tears
the soft, sweet eyes.
! "Poor Edward; something-every-
thing must have gone wrong with him
to-day. 1t is the first Of the month, and
he is worried enough, l won't mine, if he
is cross"
She placed her hand gently on his
shoulder, and asked:
"What is the particular trouble dear?"
! Tell me; perhaps can help your
Its no use. I'm tired Of striving to
get along. I'm worried TO death.''
"Oh, Edward don't talk so! Please
don't. Just think how much we have to
be thankful for. Your own good health
and mine-well, / am almost well, and
getting stronger, hope; and think of
the children all well over that terrible
fever. 1t might have been different
Look over the way; a little coffin went
in there last week, another to-day"
! "For mercy's sake. hush Susie |
can't, to save me, see how imagining ill
can relieve real troubles" Edward said,
turning his back to the window through
which he could see the badge of sorrow
on the door of his friend across the street.
"The real trouble Of our neighbors,
Edward, should make us more fully APP
preciate our great blessings, and make
us strong to bear and overcome our diff
ticulties. | think that is the true name
for the present subject Of annoyance"
Susie said gently.
| "fes, that's woman's way of talking
and thinking. OF course il might be
worse. Coming home, / might have
slipped and broken my leg and upon
reaching home, [ might have found YOU
down with the smallpox, and one ofthe
young ones, not having your watchful
eye upon him, might have been playing
with fire, and gotten nearly or entirely
burned up, and-and-"
"Don't stop, dear; finish the chapter
of accidents. Willie, while running n
cross the way screaming for help, might
have been run over and crippled for life !;
and little Fannie trying to get away from
the terrible scene, might have fallen
down the cellar steps; and the remain
ing two little ones, of course, might be
in fair way of taking the terrible dis
ease from me. All, there now. n smile
has come ut last. Do, dear, cheer up.
Let us look at these difficulties straight
in the face and conquer them. Indeed
we can. Only just let us consult to9eth.
er and work together. Now tell me all
about it, Susie said. pleadingly.
I'D like to- know how we can get over
these difficulties, rs you wish to call my
troubles. How can we pay bills 20 the
amount OF one hundred and seventy dol
lars with just one hundred? That's what
the matter is, and | am just worried to
| death"
IL know it is rather annoying. but in
deed, if you will only keep up heart and
| look wee bit cheerful, / can work so
much better.
GLOW can look cheerful Do You
know that the grocery bill is ten dollars
more this month. the butchers six dol
lars, the milkman's four dollars instead
of two and half? Then, from the drug.
gist, was surprised by pleasant re-
mndcr of eleven dollars and seventy-Gve
cents owed there. Gas, almost double
the amount Of last month. These, with
n half dozen little balances on last year s
bills are just about driving me crazy. If
this thing goes on"
"But IL won't, dear, indeed il will not.
You don't reflect that in the month Of
December we always consume rather
more OF almost everything. Then you
forget the children's illness and the
friends who helped 90 take care ofthcm,
and tho long nights when we watched
them. The gas, of course, was used
more than usual-I'm sure double rs
much. But this is all over now. 1.-THE
children will only keep well-and think
they will, they've had almost every di.
sease incident TO childhood-we shall
soon be all right again"
ooh, Susie, it is we'll enough for you
TO talk 80. but can't feel any way but
very gloomy. am harassed and wor.
ried enough all day. You, here, quiet
at home. nothing TO worry about, you
cannot imagine the state my mind is in"
Snsin only nnvn q LITTLE ainh In nnsunr