South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-08-13

lie was proud that when the children
needed new shoes he could tell his
wiie 10 take them to Crispin's and get
what they needed And he was very
proud TO call and settle the bill. He
did it with flourish. He was not
one OF the stingy kiud-he liked to
spend money; and when Nettie, who
was once the most spirited young In
dy OF his acquaintance, came meeklv
TO him Tor dress or cloak. he was
sometimes tempted to refuse the mo-
ney just to show her how helpless she
was without him. Yes. he was proud
OF his power over his family, and
wanted them to feel how much thew
depended upon him. He wonld have
teit aggrieved if any one had left his
"ite . LEGACY, thus allowing her to be
independent of his purse. The idea
OF her earning money, ga his other
worA folks did, never entered his
mind. He supported her. that was
his idea of their relations He never
had happened TO think that ii was We
ry good Of her TO take his money and
spend 1t for the good of himself and
children. lie never had thought that
any other woman would have wanted
big pay for doing it. He had even
thought himself very generous for al
lowing her money TO get things to
make the family comfortable
Things began to look differently to
hmm just now. Could it be that he
was not generous, not even just to his
wife Had he paid her SO poorly for
her fifteen years Of faithful labor for
him that il she had been obliged to be-
gin the world for herself that day, it
would have been as penniless wo-
man, Notwithstanding the houses, and
lands, and mills. that he had so often
told her were al! hers; for he knew,
as every one else did, that not one
dollar OF all he had, would the law
allow her to call her own.
| How fast ne thought, standing there
at the Office window looking down at
the little houses where the mill hands
lived. Could it be possible that his
wife cnvied them anything Could
it be that he was not as good man
as he thought? lie had felt deeply the
wrongs of the slaves whose labors had
been appropriated by their masters,
and when a negro who had worked
twenty years for ais muster before the
cnlancipatiol! freed him, came to Jar
Wis Mills friendless and penniless, the
heart Of the proprietor swelied with
Indignation at such injustice. He
was eloquent or tha subject at home
and abroad, and wondered how any
one cou!d be 80 cruel and selfish as to
commit such an outrage against JUS
tice. lie had called him a robber
many n time, bat now Donald Jarvis
looked to himself very much like that
old slave holderl Massa Brown had
taken the proceeds of Cutfae's labor
for his own without even thank YOU
for II. True, when CuHee must eat
tic had given him food, when he was
sick he had given him medicine, and
he had clothed him, too, just as he
himself thought best. Mr.. Jarvis had
married loving, conscientious wo-
man, and for fifteen years had ap-
propriated her labor5. Her recon-
pcnse had been food and clothes, such
as he thought best for her. 4 little
better than CuiYee's perhaps, but the
similarity OF the cases did not please
HIM lie had expected lis wife to be
very grateful for what he had done
for her, but now nc wondered that
she had not rcbelied long ago. Had
ms lie been mistake ? Had his
wife no more money or liberty than
Cutioc had in bondage? Was Don.
aid Jarvis 10 better than Massa
! Brown
/ Ii brain seemed f. be in mud
| die, and Ire looked 50 strangely that
his wife, anxious 10 break The spell.
! took lis arm, saying IJct vs. go home.
dear, tea must be waiting for u.s.
lie took his hat in n dreamy way and
they walked home in silence. The
children ran ioyousiy 90 meet them.
The yard was so fresh and green, and
the flower 20 many and bright, that
he wondered he had never thanked
. Nettic for them all Hitherto ne had
looked upon them a. his. hut now he
felt that hls interest IN them was only
= a fen dollars, that would not have
. amounted 70 anything without his
wite's care Ills children were tidy
, and woet, and everything around and
IN the house had that CHEEKY took that
rested him 30 after TIE hard, dull day
; at The mill They eat again mt the
, table, winch had been a source OF
, comfort and pleasure 10 him so many
years, and he wondered how he could
have enjoyed It 80 long without even
b thanking the woman who lad rrc-
= lviied it True size had used lfs mo.
lnav in bringing 10 alI about. bgt now
b else could lismoncy Jc OF use tohim ?
Who else could have turned d into
just wh1i inc needed day aftcr day for
ycars1 And ha began 20 have MA
ru ictrei feeling that 10 took more