Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1880-12-01
Only a Farmer.

consisted or Mrs. wilson and her three
daughters, the subject under such animated
discussion was how and where they should
open their usual Summer campaign.
1t had always besnsan interesting subject,
and, to the maternal element, attended
with considerable anxiety, almost amount
ing to despair, as now.
The contents of the various ward robes
had been laid out and examined; silks and
muslins, cambrics and lawns, sufficient. it
would seem, for q dozen, and the two elder
Misses Wilson declared with tears in their
eyes that they had nothing absolutely moth.
ing, fit to wear.
1t is noteworthy with what surprising
unanimity the two sisters agreed upon this
point, who seldom agreed on any other.
Mrs. Wilson looked with dismay upon
the tinery spread out before her. after list
ening to the above assertion.
"l'm sure, my DEAR" she ventured to
say, "some of them are hardly worn, and
| with little alteration"
Now mammal interrupted Belle, "why
will you talk so ridIculousiy when you
know there is not thing here but what is
| wretchedly out Of style! And as to altera
| ting anything it always gives me a pain in
! the side TO sew, and I'm not going TO Sara
toga all tagged out if never gor
OF cours ., this settled that. 1t is IA little
curious what IL small amount Of work will
| flag IA girl "alI out" who can dance until
| the break of day without the slightest in
convenience.
| There is one thing certain said Lucy,
| the second daughter, we've got to have at
/ least one new dress"
| 81 don't know where it's to come from
| them" responded Mrs. Wilson, sinking
I down YEARLY into chair. ut was as
much as could do to get pas consent to
| going at all. 1t was two o'clock at night
before he gave in. and then verify believe
| it was from pure WEAKNESS, and inability to
keep awake any longer"
| Mrs. Wilson said this with an air of
a woman determined to perform her duty
4 at all hazards, and anxious to obtain credit
| for the same.
| But it seemed to have quite a contrary
4 effect upon Josie, the youngest daughter,
| who had not before spoken, but who now
1 burst forth:
| IL declare, if it isn't sin and shame,
mamma, for you to worry pa So"
Mrs. Wilson cast reproachful look at
the speaker.
Il will say, Josie, that you are the most
uncrateful child ! ever saw. I'd like to
know how much money I'd get out Of your
pa if didn't worry it out. But that's all
the thanks 1 get for lying awake nights
| scheming and planning how TO give you a
chance TO get settled IN lie.
"rd thank you for not doing so. I'm
not going to Saratoga or Long Branch. In
| the first place, know that pa cant afford
it, And then / promised Mary Breton
that would visit her this Summer"
| Though Mrs Wilson affected to be dis
I pleased at this announcement, she was
secretely relieved.
! Belle and Lucy were very well suited
with this arrangement too. Josie was
very handy at furnishing up and making
| over. and if she was determined to bury
herself in a country farm house, she would
not need so much of that for herself, and
could, therefore, devote more time to them
And so busy did they keep her during the
next two weeks that followed, that Josie
was clad enough to see the big trunks all
hacked ond waiting in the hall.
To save expense, Mrs. Wilson had ar
| ranged to dismiss the servants, and shut uI
| the house with the exception of one room
for her husband who was to take his meals
at his sisters.
"Of course, she won't charge him any
tLing, so that will be one item saved" re
| m arked Mrs. Wilson, as she regarded COM
| pla,?ently the effect of Bellies new dress
which her management had secured.
Gas though pa would board there fol
nothing" was Josie's indignant rejoinder
| when Uncle William has such hard time
to get along" -,
he needn't and it isn't expected of him
| it's his own loss. For my part ] don't SET
4 h. 1ooA IF hawSnO alafinns If VOI
can't make use of them"
Mrs. Wilson certainly believed in making
her relatives useful, carrying out that belle
| to its fullest extent, whenever it was prac
teal, as some of them knew to their cost
Even her love to her daughters partook o
| the selfishness of her intensely selfish nature
her chief anxiety being to get them "ot
her hands," and in a manner that would bt
as advantageous and reflect as much credi
on herself as possible.
But they were gone, at last, and Josl'
was at liberty to make her own simple
Dreparations, which did not take her loni
| to complete.
The father and daughter had a nice quie
tea together. Josie was going on the NOR
row, and, as sitting opposite him and pour
inc out his tea, she saw the hard lines softer
in his careworn face, and how happy h
was in her society, her heart reproache'
her for leaving him.
ar have half mind not to 60, papa;
seems too bad to leave you here all by your
self" Bat Mr. Wilson would not hear t
this.
AZ insist upon you going; you have bee
! working hard, and you need change. NJ
life would be much the same anyhow"
.6You can expect me in three weeks
papa," smiled Josie, from the car window
the next morning. "You will want you
little house. keeper by that time, know.
And Mr., Wilson went back to the col
roding anxieties which had made him a.
ola man before his time, thanked God TO
this bit of sunshine, and which left its glo'
in the heart long after it had vanished.
~ -
There was only few passengers for Bay
ridge, a small town in the interior of tn
State, though there were the usual leunger
upon the platform of the station as JOSH
stepped out. But they soon scattered, leav
ing her to stare blankly around for tn
carriage that she supposed would be avail
ing for her.
She walked clear around the statior
loo king in every direction, but not vehicl
was in sight except a rough box wager
with board across it, drawn by pair {
spirited black horses, that stamped thei
feet ami tossed their heads as if impatien
to be of. A man stood beside the rsstiv
creatures, who yet seemed under perfsf
control.
"There, Jenny Be easy, Katet'' he saiC
patting the satii-smooth skin, and speakin