Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-02-20

h"' boH you llluk IL would De
easier for her if l was away?"
ooh dear, my child, I cannot say how it
will be. lido not think your father will
like it. Does George know how you feel p
AND the poor woman sighed heavily.
Eyes, mother, l told him last night: he
thinks his wife would have an easier time
than you have had; but a farmers wife is a
slave; her work is never done. Mother. if
George Hartwell was anything but a farm
er, | think | could love him enough to mar
ry him but as it is, I would rather remain
an old maid to the end of my life"
"1ou do not object to him-only his &C.
cupationT
"Ihat is all; | really think he is very
pleasant" Just then Mr.. Wells voice RANG.
out from the top of the load of hay which
was being drawn into the barn.
Jennie. its time to get the cows. You
girls will have to do the chores for we must
get in three more loads OF hay to-night.n
Jennie Wells knew what that meant: she
and her sister Eta had the cows to drive
from the pasture, more than half q mile off:
twelve cows to tie up and milk eight hogs
to feed milk to strain find the turkeys.
count and feed them chickens to feed and
shuttlp in their coops; two horses to wa
ter, feed and bed down, and a supper to ret
for four men and it was now about EIGHT
o'clock! She laid her work down and with
compressed lips, Joined her sister, who sat
on the door step fanning herself with her
nat; her pleasant face was R%sunburnt. COW
cred with perspiration and dirt. and the
tears were trickling down her cheeks.
''What is it, Eta darling? Don't cry:1
will bring you a basin of water and the tow
cl, and you rest. I will get the cows alone.
Poor little s~ister!" Af1
II am tired almost TO death, Jennie! IT is
not going to rain! They are going to gain
time to go to the bear hunt tomorrow! T
never can milk the cows tonight, I'm so
tired"
"sitand rest you feel better now you
have bathed." :
''Some !; the Hartwells have more hay
out than we have, and their milking is done
and the girls did not have to do it either;
the girls did not rake after the cart over
there; they have a good time"
"Etta had better take care and rest on the
%settce, Jennie, while you are gone for the
cows" said the mother softly from. the sit
ting room, as Jennie started from the door.
"Yes, Eta, go in ! He cannot see you in
the house when he goes back-so he won't
set you to work. #tf{$
The poor, tired girl went in doors, and
Jennie walked with a brisk step toward the
pasture.
MIR. Wells was a well-to-do farmer. He
from bis father a snug farm. well
and in goodacultivation. He was a
ine-looking man, and was considered the
best match in town; SO when he married
he minister's eldest daughter every one
thought she was q fortunate girl-such a
lice home, so smart a husband, and so well
1T too! So thougltsthe young bride for a
while, but that was before she knew what
vas before her. ss
Though she never complained. she did
lot think so now, neither had she been of
hat opinion bu. few months after her
marriage, she was a perfect slave, both soul
body, held in bondage by Ezra Wells.
lie would have been astonished if any one
'ad told him he was a tyrant in his family:
his children did pct love him thai his
wife was afraid Of him. But yet this was
truth. Property was all he cared for:
ofiaye the best crops, the latest cattle, the
est horses, and make the most butter and
heese of any man IN town, was his highest
nbition, and every person and thing had
} be snbservient to this end. Hisfour eld-
it children were rirlS. tire TWO MD oct 70 ,a