The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-02-22


opinion but few months after her marriage
She was perfect slave both soul and body
held in bondage by Ezra Wells. He would
have been astoniShCd If any one had told him
he was iyrant in his family; that his chill
drcn did not love HIM; that his wife wOs
afraid Of hun. But yet this was the truth
u Property was all he cared for; to have The hes,
crops the latest cattle, The best horses, and
4. make the most butter and cheese, oi any man
in town, was his highest ambition, and every
person and thing had To be- snbscryicnt 10 this
one end
HIS four eldest children were girls; the two
Oldest were very pretty glrls-thc mex, two
died in infancy; then came boy, a delicate
child always, with q spinal weakness that dis
Iab!ed him from labor. Two other boy babies
followed, so frail that they passed from earth
with their first breath and the weary mother
would have followed them but for the strong
lmothcr-lOve she bore to her living Ci.i!Gion.
When Jennie was Is another little gin made
its advent, and now was just able to walk
when another son came into the household.
Mrs. Wells was very delicate in health, ana, -
Jennie said, she was not half ~ well treated
as the high blooded mare that fed nj leisure in
the meadow pasture, with her beautiful colt
capcrng around her side that was worth
money.
| 4 Younger sister of Mrs Wells, who had
married a mechanic, had frequently paid her
short visits and saw with deep regret the hard
! lot that had fallen 20 her sister. She even re.
mOns,ratcd with her brotherin-law when he
| told her he was going to purchase another
| farm, a. she saw il would increase the burdens
of her poor sister, who was ALREADY loaded
down with labor and care; and he did consent
To let his invalid son 90 to live with her, 80 ne
could be- benefited by the sca ar and banning,
not thinking his wife wished him TO 90 for
fear his father would work HIM too hard and
destroy what little vitality he possessed. It
WAS TO pay for this farm that Wells was IN
debt. His family were plnchcd in dress and
comfort, every luxury was denied them, and II
was A. Jennie said, dclvc and dru &c from mora
ing till night.
After the girls we're old enough 10 work they
were kept from school, and had not their aunt
kindly sent them books, and their mother hecn
capable Of nstructing them, they would havc
been dcplorably ignorant If they went e.
church they had 20 walk. for the horses we're
too valuable TO stand hiichcd; they .Iiga: gc:
| frightened and break loose and it ruuid neY-
or 40 for girls to dive the mare, II wOulG ruin
tho colt, or he would get cast or hung or some
dining else would happen; 50 they Seo"m en-
Logged the privilege of Sunday school OF sane
! tuary.
Nj lIartwell, their nearest neighbor, used
to say that "lf Ms. Wells were not an angel
thc children would grow up perfect hcaihcno'
and he always managed to find something
pleasant in.his papers and Magazines for Mrs
Wells and the girls to read or if he purchased
"a new book it found its way 10 Mrs. Wells, ..nd
his only son, George, was generally the mes
SengCr who carried it over. Both Mr.. and
| Mrs lIartwcll were acquainted with her '"'' "'
| her marriage and the memory of hes tat! 90,
who slumbcrcd IN the peaceful Chulchy hd,
was very precious to them, and they tried Iy
every means IN their power tolightcn III" heavy
load that was placed upon her
George llarlwell did not quite despair of
changing Jennie's opinion with regard to
marrying Il farmer and held frequent c0nsu!
,atiOus with his mother upon the subject one
morning he quite astonished his father by sug-
costing that he should like to take his sisters
and 90 to Connecticut to visit some COUSINS,
provided he could get some one to help moth.
cr while they were gone; he had been think
ing of it for some time. The girls were de
| lighted with the plan, and thought, perhaps,
Jennie Wells would come and stop with them,
and assist while they were gone. So, after
breakfast, Mr.. llartwell went over to see if III
could be arranged. Mrs Wells thought she
could spare her if Ter sister could be allowed
TO take her place; and so, after good many
contrary arguments FROM their father, it was
decided that for three dollars Il week Jennie
might go and stay with the ilartwclls, while
the young people went on their pleasure cX.
ICulsiOn.
These five weeks were the most ucli shttut
days of Jcnnic's whole life. She saw that all
| farmers girls or wives were not slaves and
that the sunshine that never illumncd her
own home beamcd brightly in the kitchen and
parlOr of her now station.
| "llOw | wish our home was Us pleasant"
she exclaimed to Mrs. llartwcll as she was
watering the bright flowers that had been her
care each day. IL do love flowers SO much,
but father will not allow us To have one III any
place; and YOU have everything so easy and
convenicnt about the work You have no
idea of the difference; my mother would SO
| like to have things arranged NJ you have them,
but father"
II know all about it, Jennie, We ali love
our home, and try To make il pleasant: and
am glad you have had IA chance To see that far.
mers' daughters can be as happy as any girls :;
can have just rs many pleasant things, and
| Just as good times, rs any class of people in the
world. Farmers are the most independent,
and, think the happiest people in the world,
There are exceptions, Of course, but for myself,
JENNIE, would rather be Il farmers wife than
the wife OF either a merchant or professional
man. or be an old maid"
4 bright blush mantlcd over JennIc's face
rs she bent it over IA beautiful monthly rose
George has told you" and the tears started in
her eyes
"Ycs, dear and did not wonder you felt so,
either. The love OF money has cloudcd your
young life, and thought If you could see day
after day how happy we are, and how pleas
ant our home is, you would tecl differently; SO
we planned the visit for the young folks ,or
your especial pleasure; | could think of no
other way To get you here tor a few weeks and
: think you are not sorry for the change
"Oh, have been SO happy! Every thing l.
So different from what 1t is at home. | shall
never forget these pleasant weeks; such glori
Gus rides with you; and going TO church on
the Sabbath aud so many pleasant things"
my dear | hope you viii enjoy a grca
many more of ouI pleasures with Us now thai
, YOU have learned there Is SO much brigh;nus.
T III farmhouse"
Mrs Hartwell left Jennie caring for th,