The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-05-16
Select Story.
ONLY A FARMER.
BY MARY GRACE HALPINE.

of Mrs. Wilson and her three unmarried
daughters, and the subject under such ami
mated aud anxious discussion was how and
where they should open their usual summer
campaign.
1t has always been an interesting subject,
and, to the maternal element, attended with
considerable anxiety, but never such a mat
ter of perpexitv, almost amounting to de-
spair, as now.
The contents Of the various wardrobes
had been laid out and examined silks and
muslns, cambrics and lawns, sufficient. it
would seem, for dozen, and yet the two
elder Misses Wilson declared, with tears in
their eyes, that they had nothing, absolute
ly nothing fit to wear.
1t is noteworthy with what surprising
unanimity the two sisters agreed on this
point, who so seldom agreed on any
other.
Mrs. Wilson looked with dismay upon the
finery spread out before her, after listening
to the above assertion.
Pm sure, my dcars,' she ventured to say,
some of these are hardly worn, and with a
little alteration
Now, mamma y interrupted Belle, why
will You talk so ridicuously, when you know
that there is not thing here but what is
wretchedly out Of style? And as to alter.
ing anything, it always gives me pain in
the side to sew, and I'm not going to Sara.
toga all tagged out, if l never go p
OF course, this settled that 1t is a little
curious what a small amount of work will
flag girl all out who can dance until the
break of day without the slightest incon-
venience.
There's one thing certain said Lucy, the
second daughter, we've got to have at least
one new dress
i don't know where it's coming from,
then responded Mrs. Wilson, sinking down
wearily into chair. 1T was as much as
could do to get your pa to consent to your
going at all. 1t was 2 O'Clock last night be-
fore he gave in, and then, verify believe it
was from pure WEAKNESS and inability to
keep awake any longer
Mrs. Wilson said this with the air of a
woman determined to perform her duty at
all hazards, and anxious to obtain credit for
the same
But it seemed to have quite the contrary
effect upon Josie, the youngest daughter
who had not before spoken, but who now
burst forth
4 declare, if it isn't sin and shame
mamma, for you to worry pa so'
Mrs. Wilson cast a reproachful look upon
the speaker
4 will say, Josie, that you are the most
ungratetul child | ever saw I'd like to
know how much money I'd get out of your
paif | didn't worry it out But that's all
the thanks | get for lying awake nights
scheming and planning how to give you a
chance to get settled in life
I'D thank you for not doing so. I'm not
going to Saratoga or Long Branch. In the
first place, know that pa can't afford it.
And then | promised Mary Croften that
would visit her this summer
Though Mrs. Wilson affected to be dis
pleased at this announcement, she was se-
cretly relieved
Belle and Lucy were very well suited with
this arrangement, too. Josie was very handy
at furnishing up and making over, and if
she was determined to bury herself in a
country m-house, she would not need to
do so much of that for herself, and could
therefore devote more time to them. And
so busy did they keep her during the two
weeks that followed, that Josie was glad
enough to see the big trunks all packed and
waiting in the hall.
To save expense, Mrs. Wilson had ar
ranged to dismiss the servants and shut up
the house, with the exception of one room
for her husband, who was to take his meals
at his sisters.
of course, she won't charge him any.
thing, so that will be one item saved re-
marked Mrs. Wilson, as she regarded COM
placently the effect of Bells new dress
which her management had secured.
As though pa would board there for
nothing was Josie's indignant rejonder,
when Uncle William has such hard time
to get along
well, il your pa chooses to pay when he
needn't and it isn't expected of him, it's
his own loss. For my part,I don't see what's
the good of having relations if you can't
make Use of them
Mrs. Wilson certainly believed in making
her relations useful, carrying out that be-
lief to its fullest extent, wherever it was
as some of them knew to their
cost. Even her love for her daughters par
took of the selfshness of her intensely sell
fish nature her chief anxiety being to get
them off her hands and in a manner that
would reflect as much credit on herself as
possible.
But they were gone at last, and Josie was
at liberty to make her own simple prepara-
tions, which it did not take her long to com.
plete.
The father aud daughter had nice quiet
tea together Josie was going ON the NOR
row, and as, sitting opposite him, pouring
out his tea, she saw the hard lines soften in
his careworn face, and how happy he was
in her society, her heart reproached her for
leaving him.
I've half mind not to go, papa it
seems too bad to leave you here all by your
self
But Mr.. Wilson would not hear of
this.
Il insist on your going you have been
working hard and need change, My life
would be much the same, any way
You may expect me in three weeks, papa,
smiled Josie, from the car window, the next
You'll want your little house
keeper by that time, know
And Mr.. Wilson went back to the corrod-
i anxieties which had made him an old
man before his time, thanking God for this
bit of sunshine and which left its glow in
the heart long after it had vanished.
There were only few passengers for Bay
bridge, small country town in the interior
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