Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-03-08

Wnen the stltcnlng was over.
What was Mrs. Thompson to do ?
Their stock of plates and dishes con-
sisted of a few odds and ends of
cracked deli, that had once been
kind of mulberry color. She had long
wanted some new white ware she
wanted it more than ever now. Gro.
yer, the keeper of the village crock
ery-shop, had a lovely set for sale f:
white with delicate sprig of convol-
vuli and fuchsias looking every bit
as good as real china. Mrs. Thomp-
son had set her heart on the set, and
that morning preached the subject to
her husband.
"What's the matter with the old
ones ?" asked he.
"Look at them," she answered.
"They are frightfuIly old ana shah
by"
& daresay the food will taste as
we'll off them as off Growers best set
of white ware"
"But there's not half enough. We
have as good as none left"
"Mother had some best china.
Where is it ?"
"That's nearly all gone. We
couldn't put the two on the table to-
gether."
"Why not ?"
90 Robert Look at this. 1t is the
shabbiest old lot ever SEEN"
"Twas good enough for mother"
Mrs Robert Thompson disdained
comment.
YOU'D not have thought of this
but for the sewing-eircle having to
come here. If they can't come and
eat from such dishes as we've got,
they are welcome to stay away"
There were tears 10 Mrs. Thomp-
sons eyes. But she crowded them
bravely back. He took his hat to go
out to his moving.
'.We really want the things, Rob-
ert. Those at Growers are very
cheap. | can get all want for
mere trifie: do give me the money"
"Grover'll have to keep 'em for us:
I've got no money to waste on fine
china" returned the farmer. "By
the way looking back from the
door-"Jones and Lee are coming to
give me helping hand. l want to
get the South meadow down to-day
if can, it's famous heavy crop: so
| shall bring them in to dinner. OH
aud the Hubbards want six pounds
of butter to- night; don't forget to
have it ready"
With these words, Mr.. Robert
Thompson had marched off, leaving
his wife to her long, weary days
work, darkened and made distasteful
by her disappointment. She was
both grieved and angry. 1t was
little thing, perhaps. but it is the lit
tie things of life that delight or an
noy.
Existence seemed very bare and
homely to Jane Thompson that sum-
N ,r day. With her love of ease, and
beauty, and symmetry, how rude, and
course, and hard looked all her sur
roundings. 1t was only one long,
monotonous round of homely toll,
unrelieved by any of the little sweet
nesses and graces that make even
toll pleasant. She did not often think
of it: but che remembered that day,
with the faintest air of regret, that
she might have been far differently
situated and as she looked up TO the
pretty French cottage on the hill,
empowered in perfect forest of bios
soming vines, and caught the cool
CLEAN of urn and fountain, some
thing very like sigh trembled on
her lips. esquire Burnham's wife
does not have to beg for paltry bit
of m oney to set out her table decent
Iy," she thought rebeIiiously.
And then, in her spirit of agrieve-
ment, she mentally went over the
other things she needed, and Robert
knew aoere needed. Why was life to
be bare toll and all ugliness ? There
was no reason: he had plenty of
money. A new carpet for the best
parlor; paper for the walls, 80 stain
ed with time whltewash paint;
some fresh chintz; she remembered
it all, as she toiled through the long,
sultry forenoon with an aching head
and discouraged heart. 1t happened
to be washing. day and on those
days she took all the work, that Mol
ly might not be disturbed in her
help at tho tubs.
What business had she to marry
Robert Thompson? she asked herself,
beating away at the butter for the
Hubbards. For in the green and
gloomy light that Mrs. Thompson
looked at things to-day, she quite for
got the fact that she had fallen in love
with the honest, steady, and good
looking young farmer, choosing him
in preference to Joe Burnham whom
she might have had. Joe had a pat
rimony of his own; two hundred a
year, at least, and good bit of land,
which he rented, and was called
esquire" as his father had been before
him. He wanted to marry Jane Law
renee, and she would not; likes and
dislikes can not be controlled, and she
cared more for Robert Thompson's
little finger than for the whole ofpoor,
understood Joe. Squire Burnham
found another wife: and Mrs. Thomp-
son. this weary day, was furiously en-
wing her. Mrs. Burnham would
come amidst the rest of the sewing
club, too, and see the miserable shah
biness of the mulberry-ware and the
home generally. The butter got beaten
savagely at the thought.
Robert Thompson was not an un-
kind man: only thoughtless. He was
type of very large class, more es-
pecially farmers, who do not feel the
need of life's rugged pathway being
softened with flowers. Absorbed in
his stock, his crops, his money getting,
he did not realize how monotonous
was his wife's life at home. He had
his recreations: the weekly market;
gossip with his brother farmers; poll
tics; she had nothing but work and
care He did not realize the truth