The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-01-19
SELECT STORY.
THE NEW SPAP Z r;
OR
THE wIFE'S GOOD SENSE.

man Of method and order-old Richard
Heath-and aside from bis regular ac-
count books, which he always kept with
scrupulous care, he always set down in
his little book, in the simplest manner
Iossible, all his expenses, (no very COM
plieated account by the way and all he
had received during the year, in the
metal, as he said, not by the way Of
trade.
The last account he had just reckoned
up, and the result was highly satisfacto-
ny, II one might judge from the pleasant
expression OF his face, as he turned TO
his wifehnd addressed her by her pretty |
old fashioned name:
"Millicent," said be, "this has been
lscKy year. How little we thought,
when we moved to this place, twenty
Eve years ago, that we should eyer get
Eve hundred dollars year out Of the
rocky and barren farm"
at does pay for good deal OF hard
work." said she, ito zee how different
things look from what they did then"
NOW | am going to figure up how
much wo have spent, said Mr.. Heath;
don't make noise with your knitting
needles, cause il puts me out.
Tho wife laid her knitting in perfect
good humor, and gazed over the broad,
rich fields Of waving grain which grew
80 tall around the laden apple trees, that
thoy looked like massive piles OF foli-
age. Hearing her own name kindly
spoken led her thoughts far back to the
past, for, after the lapse Of twenty. i've
years, the simple sound Of the name she
bore in her youth, means more, TO a
wife, than all the pleasing epithets Of
dearest, and darling offered in q long
past courtship.
Very pleasant was the retrospect to
Millicent Heath. The picture of the
past had on il some rough places, and
some hard trials, but no domestic strife
or discomfort married its sunny aspect
There were smiling faces on it-happy
children's faces, without which no life
picture is beautiful. Soft blue eye,
shown with unclouded gladness, and
wavy hair 1oatsd carelessly over un
written foreheads. She forgot for mo
ment bew they were changed. and al
most fancisd herself again the youns
mother and tiny hands stole lovingly
over her bosom and young heads nestled
there as Of old.
The illusion vanished quickly, ant
she sighed; one thought Of her younges
born, the reckless boy who had left he
three years before for q home on the sea
Once only had tidings reached her G
the wandersr. The letter spoke of tn
hardships and homesickness in that ligt
and careless way that reached the moth
er's heart more surely than repinIng an
complaint. To know that be suffere
with strong heart, with noble and vi
yielding resolution, gave her feeling
pleasure, not unmipgled with pride.
HE will surely come back" murmu
ed the afectionate mother to hersel
and ! road the paper SO carefully evei
week, that II IL says anything about Il
ship Alfred sailed in, shall be sure
see IT,"
"Mrs. Heath" said her husband il
terrupting her meditations somewh
rudely, 1--WE have spent thirty dolla
more than usual this year? Where C,
1t have gone tot"
"The new harness." suggested Nj
Heath, shat don't come every year, y
know"
"Well, there's twenty dollars accoul
cd for"
"We had the carriage fixed up VIII
you bought the harness." continued
wife.
"Well, that was eight dollars, tina
twenty eight, we don't spend that eve
year-but the other two, where can th
have gomez"
Glancing his eye over the pages
his memorandum book, he continued
an tell you what It's, the newspa
cost just two dollars, and we can
without it. II isn't anything to eat,
drink, or wear. / don't do anyth
with IL, and you only lay it away up
the chamber. II may as we'll be left
as not, and I'll stop my subscrip.
right away"
"Oh," said his wife, "you don't kr
how much ] set by the newspaper. l
ways have a sort Of glad feelisg whe
see you take it out Of your hat and
IL on the kitchen mantel.piece, just
do when some of the children C,
home; and when am tired sit d.
with my knitting work and read. i
knit just rs we'll when am reading,
feel 30 contented. don't believe o.
Victoria herself takes more solid c
fort than do in sitting by the east
dow on bright summer aftern
reading my newspaper"
"But you are just as we'll off will
H." answered her husband for wan
anything else to say. ---.
al never neglect anything else
reading. do II" asked Mrs. Heath, n
ly.
"No, I don't know as you do, ans
cd her husband; "but 1t seems an {
like-I shall stop it," he added in a
that showed plainly that he wish,
stop the conversation.
81 shall take the paper, remarke'
wife, "if ! have TO go out washing t
for it,"
This was net spoken angrily, b
firmly that Mr.. Heath noticed il, tn
by no means remarkable for discern
in most matters. II sounded 30 diff
from her usual quiet as you think
that he actually stopped nome
consider whether ii was at all likel
would do what she said.
Mr.. Heath was AZ kind husba
that indefinite description is gem
understood; that is he did not be
wife, and always gave her enough