The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-08-29
scrllancnus.
A Husbands Dose.

II wish you would tell James when he
comes in, to turn the COWS into the lower lot
And if Turpin calls, tell him have conclud-
cd to take those sheep-I want the Merinos
And while am getting ready, please take my
memorandum book and note down four har-
ness straps, five pounds of nails, and a gimlet,
half jockey strap, and-and-yes, | believe
that is all. forgot them when l made out
the items this morning"
Mrs Streeter rose YEARLY, laid her sleeping
babe carefully in its crib, and proceeded to
record the articles named She was young,
not over twenty-five, but the complexion was
sadly faded, and faint lines were already mark.
ing the white forehead, while the tired eyes
told of care and limited strongly of an unsatis-
fled heart.
And this thin-cheeked, pink-eycd woman
had been called n beauty only seven years be-
fore And when she gave her hand to New
ton Streeter she could say what few girls can
II married my first love-"
Judge Streeter, the father, was supposed to
be wealthy But soon after his sons marriage
financial crisis came, and the thousands
dwindled into hundreds.
1t was false pride, perhaps, but the young
man shrank from position under those
who had once looked up to him, and his
thoughts turned wistfully toward the Western
prairies.
He expected objections from his young and
accomplished wife. But she saw with his
eyes, and was not only willing, but eager to
20 and help him make home that should be
all their own. The purchasing of n prairie
team, some farming implements, and the OK
pense of building small house, exhausted his
capital, and the young couple commenced
life as many others have done who had been
blessed with their advantages. The small
dwelling contained but three sleeping apart
mcnts, and this fact, added to their uncertain
income, induced Mrs. Strcctcr to take upon
herself the entire care of the household.
Two children had come in the seven years
to nestle on her bosom. But one, a fairy
child of three summers, had slid away from
them, and was now sleeping beneath the flow
crs of the prairics; and the tired wife sighed
us she looked on the cold, folded hands.
"She will never toll ms have done ; but,
oh, wanted her so much, the lonely mother
sobbed forth.
Mr. Streeter was considered wealthy far
mer His acres had broadencd and his stock
increased Physically and mentally strong,
and with gentle, loving wife ever studying
his tastes and wishes, why should he wear out
fast.
But Other Naturally frail, she had been like
willow lending beneath burden voluntar-
lily taken up. With the exception of an eff
Client girl for n few weeks when little Mary
died, she had performed all the labor rcquir-
cd in the house since she became its mis-
tress.
Newton Strceter took the memorandum,
glanced hastily at the neatly written items,
and then stepped into the light buggy and
drove away.
But no longer might she lingcr, for the
sponge was waiting i'll the kitchen to be
lneaded, and the baby's maps were like angels
visits. And before the task was well over his
bugle note sounded to arms, and the fretful
child was taken up and caressed and soothed
to quietncss.
She was conscious of u strange dizziness
When she arose from STOPPING position her
head was aching miscrably and her eyes seem
ed burning. What was coming over her p
She must be ill., Oh, no; she had no time for
that. And her thoughts drifted away to the
dear old home of her childhood, and she ask
ed herself, for the first time, if she had done
wisely TO leave it for this life of toll and
care?
1t was dangerous question for wife and
mother, and she clasped her child more closely
to suppress in her heart the disloyal an.
| swcr
the dollars he had deposited in the bank he
found no supper prepared and his wife help
less upon the bed, with cheeks flushed with te
yer and the wailing child distracting her with
demands for care
A physician and nurse were soon sum
moned from the city, and the weary wife en-
joyed the luxury of being i'll.
| But convalescence soon followed, and be
fore leaving his patient the doctor, close
observer and deep thinker, took the husband
aside and asked:
"Did you know what brought this fever or
your wife, Mr. Streeter? You have worked
her nearly to death"
"You are speaking of my wife, not my
horse"
"Granted; and l say again you are working
her to DEATH"
"Really, doctor, such language is unpardon
able"
"And yet you will pardonit And further
more, by your great love for the sclfsacrific
ing woman we have just left, shall perform
an operation on your eyes that you may SCI
as | see."
And then he placed the cold hard facts be
fore him, from the time she came n bride
beautiful and accomplished, to the village, W
to date of present illness, in which domestic