Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-05-24

"NOw we are not only out of debt,
but4we have got 81, 900 ahead and the
question is, How are we going to in
vest it?"
Hiram Graham, sitting just ontside
of the 0pch door to enjoy the grateful
GOODNESS Of the summer evening,
threw asidehis paper as he spOke and
awaited a reply. His wife, busy over
her sewing, did not answer immedi-
[ately. Fgs
"Come,Y he said, let me hear your
opinion. : I'll bet you have male up
your mind what to do with il, long
ago. You know the old saying, "a man
I'd save and woman to spend 1t, and
he laughed gOod-naturedly. s.ks
n Yes, Mrs. Graham had ssmadc up
her mind" long ago. The thought of
the time when they shonlds he clear
of debt and some of their surplus
earnings could be expended for home
had helped her to- make
soyerand repair many an oldsgarment
that she was about to throw aside in
despair; it had encouraged her TO
contcadswith numberless disatlvant-
ages and inconvenience. But now
that the time had really come, she felt
q strange reluctance about revealing
her thought. She was oppressed with
the fear that her long cherished nlans
might be suddenly dashed TO the
earth. However, she commenced
bravely enough. "a
II have thought that we would re-
paint theh0use some pretty color, such
ms silvery grey, and have shutters put
up at the windows, the right shade of
green to harmonic with the color of
the house; the same as the green
leaves Of the poplar harmonic with
the soft gray of its trunk and branch
es'-
"Why, Jennie Y exclaimed Mr.. Gra-
ham, ''there is good coat of paint on
the house now. And there is no color
as durable as red lead In my estima-
tion."
Sand" )" continued his wife, II would
have the yard enclosed with neat
picket fence
II don't see any use in tearing down
that fence. The rails are as good
and sound as they were twenty years
ago." s
'Please don't interrupt me so, Hi
ram. l would re-paper the rooms,
buy new ingram carpet for the par
lor and muslin curtains for.the win
doWs."
",Thunderationl What ID the sense
of having clrtains If yon have shut
ters? Besides, the paper curtains an
swer every pnrpose, as far as can
see. The paper on the walls is per-
fectly whole, 1T is true you have
patched IL nOusiderably, but that don't
show much. And as for the carpet
why hayn.t you new rag carpet in
the loom now2"
Eyes, but that would be for the sit
ting-eOoI. And Iswould have bay
window made off the south side of
the sitting-room, for house-plants 2"
MFR. Graham laughed outright ut
this.
'sNow. Jennie" he said, II have
never said anything about it, but have
always thought it was kind Of foolish
to spend so much time as you do fus-
sing with flowers out doors. Bnt
when you come to fetching dirt into
the house to make fower-beds Of
that beats met XAYt
"Hiram," said Mrs. Graham, "you
asked me for my opinion. Now please
don't interrupt me"
every we'll. Go ahead"
II would have porticn built over
where you are sitting, and wood
house and large cool pantry, that /
need so much, built on the back of the
kitchen. One part or the wood house
would be finished of, where the cook
stove could. stand ~ hot weather. II
would be so much cooler working
there than in the hot kitchen. And
the kitchen, too, would be much cooler
for us to eat In. Besides this, there
are many little adornings, such as
pictures, etc, that would add after
wards"
"Why exclaimed Mr.. Graham, s'if
we were to go into all that it would
take every cent of the money"
"Well, we earned 1t to invest in
something, didn't we Z" II
EYES, but i want TO invest my money
in something that will bring me in
some kind Of an income"
at would bring us the best Of all
incomes not in dollars, hut in what is
better far = in joy and happiness.
Life would have fuller and pprer
meaning for us both it would bfing
q higher and better atmosphere in
which to rear our children. We could
leave them the richest of all legacies,
an earthly paradise to which their
thoughts could always turn as to- the
one sweet spot OH earth. Even the
hp.., ,Snsn frI kn
nest with pretty MOSES and licliens.
Ought we not to have as much love
for home and its adornings as Gods
dumb creatures r.
81 have something more important
to live for than humming-bird has,
said Mr.. GrahaW,a lOftily. Il would
rather leave solaething more substan-
tial to my children, such as broad,
well-tilled acres for instance. will
tell what have been thinking Of" he
said, with the air Of one who feltthat
the expression of his opinions must
necessarily bring conviction of his
superior Judgment. "YOn know i
have always wanted that forty acre
lot Of OfSOuthwell's that joins me on the
north. They say he is hard up now,
and when got that paid for would
hare one of tho best farms in the
county. Now what do you say to
that y he asked triumphantly saa
|'It would run us right into hebi
again" suggested Mrs. Graham. &
| HWeu. .su pposing it did. We have
swung clear this time easy enough
and can again. You must remember
that the land was badly run down
when l first got hold Of it, but the
farm is in good condition now" "a,
easy enough" Mrs. Graham did
not repeat the word loud, Her hus.
/ SsAassatSaH llr,