Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-01-12
An Example for Thoughtless Husbands.

wish YOU would tell james, when he
comes in, TO turn the cows into the lower lot.
And if Turpin calls, tell him | have con-
cluded TO take those sheep. want the Me
rinos. Aud while | am getting ready, please
take my memorandum book and note down
four harness straps. five pounds Of nails and
a gimlet, half jockey strap, and-aud, yes,
believe that is all. | forgot them when |
made out the itams this morning"
Mrs. Streeter rose wearily laid her sleep
ing babe quietly in its crib, and proceeded
to record the articles named. She was
voung-not over twenty-five, but the blonde
complexion was sadly faded, the brown hair
thin and sadly lustreless, and faint lines
were already marking the white forehead,
while the tired eyes told OF care, and limited
strongly of an unsatisfed heart.
And this thn-cheeked, pink-liPped woman
had been called beauty only seven years
before She had been admired and petted,
but not spoiled. And when she gave her
hand to Newton Streeter, she could say what
/ few girls Of eighteen can, | married my
/ first love"
Judge Streeter, the father, was supposed
to be wealthy. But soon after the sons
marriage a financial crisis came, and his
thousands dwinded into hundreds.
1t was false pride, perhaps, but the young
man shrank from a position under those
who had looked up TO him. And his thoughts
turned wistfHlly towards the western prai
ries, where the sum he could now call his owr
would render him Independent Of others al
least. He expected objections from his young
aud accomplished wife. But she saw Will
his eyes, and was not only willing but cage
to go and help him make a home that shoulc
be all their own. The purchasing of a prai
RE team. some farming implements, and tn,
expense of buildng a small house, exhausted
his entire capital and the young couple be
gan their married life as many others hat
done who had not been blessed with thei
advantages. A hired man seemed necessary
on the farm, but girl could he dispensed
with. Indeed, the small dwelling contained
but three small sleeping apartments, aud thii
fact, added to their uncertain income, in
duced Mrs. Streeter to take upon herself thu
entire care of the household.
She was a systematic housekeeper-abhor
red dirt in all its phases aud the rich, al
luyial soil seemed ever haunting her, like
taunting spirit that could not he appeased
Ia dry weather it was fine black dust tina
found its way everywhere and in wet |
became smutch that was hardly less ag
gravating.
Nn tlillult " llll tell- III Allt stNtl
years, 10 nestle in her bosom. But one,
iairy child Of thres summers, had slid ava
from them aud was now sleeping beneat
the flower Of the prairie And the tire
wife had sighed as she looked on the colo
folded hands.
" She will never toll as have done, bu
oh. wanted her 50 much % the lionel
mother >obbrd forth.
Mr Ntraafltp a. ttPtx snna tlapt4H "A uanltl Ia
farmer. His acres hal hroAdened and hi
stock increased the little village, a mil
away had put ON city airs, and the steal
horse waited respectfully at its depot
Still the thrifty farmer confined himse
closely to labor, hardly taking time for nee,
ful rest The love OF getting had increase
with hi, gains, and he was constantly plal
I ming 10 adj to his already many acre
Physically aud mentally strong, he grapple
2 with toll, and il hardly loft q mark Oh hi
/ splendid physique -bronzed little; an,
= with gentle, loving wife ever studying ii
- tastes and wishes, why should he wear OF
I fast
4 But of herY Naturally frail, she had bee
Il like a willow bending beneath burden vo
h UNFAIRLY taken up. With the exception
{ an efficient girl for few weeks, when lit
= Mary died, She had performed all the lab'
e required in the house since she becau
mistress.
As girl, she was a great reader, and e
travagantly fond of music. But there WI
no room in the small dwelling for q plan
aud books only added TO her labor by n
! cumulating dust, for where was the time 2
know this is dreary picture for a farm
!. ers wife but, perhaps, there is another sid
Newton Streeter took the memorandum
: glanced hastily at the neatly written item
I and then said
One thing more, Mary, and then I'm o
: Please sew this button little closer"
The loose button was confined to its pac
L aud then Mary Streeter watched her husbai
y as he stepped into the light buggy and dro
away.
But no longer might she lingar, for Il
sponge was waiting in the kitchen to
kneaded, aud the baby's maps were like a
a gels visits. Aud before her task was W,
u over his bugle note sounded 10 arms, and Il
= frctful child was taken up aud caressed al
o soothed to quietness. But he would not
5 down again. aud back aud forth from u
" hot kitchen she carried him, as she watcht
It the browning loaves in the oven.
e She was conscious of strange dizzne
d when she arose from a STOPPING position
/, her head was aching miserably, and her sy
n seemed burning. What was coming ov'
y herr She must be i'll Oh, no ol--she ha
II no time for that And then her though
drifted away to the dear old home OF h
childhood And she asked herself, for Il
A first time, If she had done wisely in leayir
4. it for this life Of toll and care,
@ It was a dangerous position for a wife al
!. mother, and she clasped her child mo
/. closely TO suppress in her heart the disloy
N answer
q She heard James, the hired man, come /
n and, reeollecting the message for him, aros
and that unaccountable giddiness seized h
and she sank back utterly powerless.
=, When Mr.. Streeter returned, exutant ov
n the thousand dollars no had deposited In d
;, bank--and with which he hoped to purcha
h another parcel Of land--he found no supp
" prepared and his wife helpless upon the be
@ with cheeks flushed with fever, and the wa
|, ing child distracting her with demand +
care.