The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-06-20
Gables department.
A Sensible Wife.

have bought, you will not have that
oninion Look at this" holding up to
her view an elegant pattern of a new
silk dress. what do you think oil
that, my beauty
Now most women would have shown
their appreciation and pleasure In the
warmest manner; but not SO Mrs. Hoi-
lis.
"VVhy, my old one that was mar
ried in is good yet. Why DID you Duy
this when times are SO hard: Ana on
Iy yesterday heard you say that lhe
shop would have to suspend opera
lions for a few months soon"
Il know dear; but you have worn
hat dress ever since we were mar
ried. nearly a year. 1t is time. think,
that YOU have had a new one"
But the times
..Oh. bother the times! We have the
lease of this little house for a year,
and | guess we can live through 1t
somehow: besides our redlt Is good
to an unlimited extent.
well, love. it is a nice present,
said Mrs. Hollis, holding the
ing fabric to the light.
But no supremacy satisfied looked
passed across her face, and shortly al
forwards the dress was put away with
a sigh.
Eugene Hollis, like thousands of
other young men working on a salary,
had married the women of his choice
and settled down into a staid, sober,
home-loving man.. He was open
hearted by nature. and delighted to
to see his little wife look well, though
he had to run in debt for 1T.
Now, though he knew it not, this
said wife was a perfect little heroine,
and well worth her weight IN gold.
The time came shortly after. that
both had feared; the shop had closed
for a few weeks, which time run IN
to months and still no signs of work
People that Eugene had traded with
sold out in disgust, while strangers
filled their places. With them credit
was an impossibility, and Eugene
Hollis soon had the modification of
being reduced to his last penny.
1t was high time that something
should be done, or the little woman he
had vowed to shield from all harm
would suffer.
To this end he went through the
city, and into every imaginable place
where there was a Likelihood of earn
ing an honest shilling.
But hundreds We're there before him,
and one evening about dust found him
vending, his way, foOt-sore and wea-
nv, towards home. He brought no
money MOI provisions with him, for
the last penny he had was paid out a
week before.
But what a contrast he found in the
happy, contented face of his wife to
his own despairing condition.
Come, love, supper is ready; sit
down at nce before it gets cold," she
said, kindly, noticing from the woe-be-
gone look that he had not succeeded.
Supper! What can we make sup
per of, except the imagination that
one ought to be- was the morose re-
mark.
'.Oh, there is the ham that you pur-
chased the other day, and then the
potatoes are not out yet" she smil-
mgly said. Besides. there enough for
several meals"
Eugene thought a good deal, but
said nothing; he was quite positive
that the last potato had gone a week
before But his wife kept right on
talking as merrily as if they had a
house full of plenty instead of ant.
So he mentally decided that she had
received a loan from some relative,
which fact she wished to keep TO her
self.
SO matters went on day after day, but
still no work nor signs of york. There
were theirs III the same condition as
Eugene, SO he had the comfort of
knowing he was not alone in his
woe.
He always went away at the usual
working hour. and spent the time
hunting IN the cherries round after
work; but when he came back again
at night, his wife always met him the
same as ever.
1t had become an established fact in
his mind that outside help of some
KIND was provided for them in suffi-
clent amount to keep them from Starv-
ing.
The bacon never ran quite short. OF
the potatoes either, for that matter,
and they were relieved now and then
by a steak or chop.
He was too proud to take anv no
tic of this strange fact outwardlv, anC
his little wife never meant that he
should, always changing the subject
II -t came up IN their conversations
leading him to believe that some wei
TODD uncle, whom he had never heard
VI. Was dI Tue DOuUOm OF IL.
But this state of affairs was not t.
last always. When a man is homes
and sober, and is willing to do any
thing he is capable of doing, a streak o
sunshine in the shade o~fsuccess is sur,
to crown his efforts at last.
Eugene Hollis, at his trade as en-.
graver was a skilled workman in ever,
branch, and in fair times commanded
a salary.
He now felt himself in luck wher
h position to drive a coal cart a
three shllllngs per day was offere,
him.
Good news. Good news!" he shout
ed, rushing into his home, and search
ing for his wife.
Where was she? The rooms were de
serted. But no, the attic door wa
open. Through it he went, and up tn
short flight of stairs. There sat Net
tie, patiently and rapidly propelling
sewing machine undpr the hpht fror