Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-07-23
A Husbands Dose.

| have concluded 10 take those sheep
I want the merin0s. And while | an
getting ready, please take my mcm-
orandum book and note down fou
harm ,ss straps, Eve pounds Of ralls, anc
q gimlet, half jockey strap, and-ant
yes, / believe that Is all. forgoi
them when l made out the items thii
morning.
Mrs. Streeter rose YEARLY. laid hel
sleeping babe carefully in the crib. ant
proceeded to record the articles named
She was young. not over twenty-five,
but the complexion was sadly faded. and
faint lines we're already marking the
white for head, while the tired eyes told
Of care. and limited strongly Of an un.
satisfied heart.
And this thin checked, pink eyed
woman had been called a beauty only
seven years before And when she gave
her hand 10 Newton Streeter she could
say what few girls can, L married my
first love-
Judge Streeter, the father, was sup
posed TO be wealthy. But soon after
his sons marriage a financial crisis
came, and the thousands dwindled into
hundreds.
1t was false pride, perhaps, but the
young man shrank from a position un-
der those who had once looked up TO
him, and his thoughts turned wstfully
toward the Western prairies.
He expected objections from his
young and accomplished wife. But she
saw with his eyes, and was not only will
ing, but eager to 90 and help him make
a home that should be all their own.
The purchasing Of prairie team, some
farming implements, and the expense Of
building a small house, exhausted his
capital, and the young couple com.
meuced their married life as many 9th.
ers had done WHO had been blessed with
their advantages. The small dwelling
contained but three sleeping apartments,
and this fact, added to their uncertain
income, induced Mrs. Streeter to take
upon herself the entire care Of the house,
hold,
Two children had come in the seven
years to nestle 10 her bosom. But one,
fairy child Of three summers, had slid
away from them, and was now sleeping
beneath the flowers Of the prairies and
the tired wife had sighed as she looked
on the cold, folded hands.
sshe will never toll as l have done
but oh, l wanted her so much, the lone
" mother sobbed forth.
Mr. Streeter was considered wealthy
farmer. His acres had broadened and
his stock increased. Physically and
mentally strong. and with gentle. low
ing wife ever studying his tastes and
wishes, why should he wear out fast!
But of her. Naturally frail, she had
been like willow bending beneath Il
burden voluntarily taken up. With the
exception of an efficient girl sor a few
weeks when little Mary died, she had
performed all The labor required in the
house since she became its mistress.
Newton Strecter took the memoran-
dunn, glanced hastily at the neatly-writ-
ten items, and then he stepped into the
light buggy and drove away.
But no longer might she linger, for
the spo nge was waiting in the kitchen to
be kneaded, and the baby's maps were
like angels visits. And before the task
was we'll over his bugle note sounded 10
arms. aud the frelful child was taken up
aud caressed and soothod 10 quietness.
She was conscious Of strange dizzi-
ness. When she arose from a stooping g
position her head was aching miserably, |
and her eyes seemed burning. What
was coming over her. She must be i'll. |
oh, no she had 40 time for that. Aud
then her thoughts drifted away to the
dear old home Of childhood, and she
asked herself, for the first time, if she |
had done wisely to leave it for this life
of toll and care?
1t was a dangerous question for
wife and mother, and she claspea her
child more closely to suppress in her
heart the dlsloyal answer.
When Mr.. Slreeter returned exultant
over the dollars he had deposited in the
bank, he found no supper prepared, and
his wife helpless upon the bed, with
cheeks flushed with fever, and the vail
Jug child distracting her with demands
for care.
A physician and nurse were soon sum-
moued from the city, and the weary wife !
enjoyed the luxury Of being III.
But conyalescence soon followed and
before leaving his patient the old doctor,
a close observer and deep thinker, took
The husband aside and asked:
Did you know what brought this fever
on your wife, Mr.. Streeter' You have
worked her nearly TO DEATH
you are speaking Of my wife, not
my horse !
Granted; and say again you are
working her to DEATH
Really, doctor, such language is un-
pardonable.' /
And yet you will pardon it. And
furthermore, by your great love for the
self sacrificing woman we have just left,
I shall perform an operation on your
eyes that you MAY see as l see,'
. And then he placed the cold, hard
facts before him, from the time she
came bride, beautiful and accomplish