Daily globe., 1880-03-28
A FRIEND IN NEED.
BY HARRIET E. 8. CRESSY.


There, that is just my case" said old
Mrs. Williams, taking her glasses
and laying aside the paper that con-
tanned the poem alluded to. (
"Not quite SO bad as that" replied
the neighborly friend whom she ad
dressed.
"!Vell, expect it will come to that;
next month have got to be toted
down to my daughters, in Jersey. You
know I stay two years with Betsy, here,
and then two years with Emily. I
have done that ever since my son
moved off West. He said at the time
he went could go with him, but he
knew that would be impossible, with
my feeble health, so it was safe to make
me the offer. When our farm was sold
in Jersey, he took the money, came
here to York State, bought farm, the
one adjoining this where Betsy now
lives, and had the deed made out in
his own name. He had no right
to do it, of course; and why the girls
and allowed him to is now a mystery
to me; for they should have shared
equally with him, and I been allowed
the use of third; and, then, my two
boys in California should have had
something. But we were all so foolish
as to allow that selfish Cal to get it
into his own hands. The girls got mar
ried, or I cannot say how they would
have got along, and am left on their
hands"
"Don't he send you any money to
help yourself with?"
"No, not cent; he has got a wife
that would prevent his doing that, if
she could, even if he we're inclined to.
She treated me shamefully the little
time 1 lived with her, before they
moved West. She little realized or
cared how hard I worked to help earn
the property she was then living on.
With house work, dairy, six children
one of whom died when he was 12
years old-to take care of, never having
any hired help within doors, but one OF
two hired men to cook for good part
of the year, I generally had plenty Of
work to do. For months together, in
spring and summer, arose at 4 in the
morning, and was so hurried through
the whole day that I could not find
time to sit down long enough to comb
my hair until 9 in the evening. And
after that hour I often had about an
hours work to do before could letire.
We always had good deal Of compa-
ny, too, and a schoolmarm and school
master to board five or six weeks, each,
during the year; for it was then the
fashion for teachers to board around,
particularly in the rural districts. l
know thought it something of tax
to put up teachers and children's din
ners so many weeks in the year, and
what I remember as one OF
my worst tasks was going around
into the cold rooms in winter
for we never kept but one fre-and
making up five or six beds. 1t is al
most wonder the little children did
not freeze, sleeping in those great cold
rooms; but I did my best to try to keep
them comfortable, going around to
their rooms every night md tucklng ur
the bed-clothes, until they were fairly
grown up. My husband used to tell
me I made slave of myself for my
children, but did it with free will,
and would do the same again if were
to live my life over again. When my
little boy died know I nearly mourned
myself to death; and then how glad I
was had always tried to make him so
happy and comfortable. And then,
when the other two boys went Of to
California, I was glad had been SO
good and motherly to them. They
were young, one 16 and the other Is.
It seemed almost like burying them to
let them go; but their father thought
it might be the best for them in the
end. But he did not live long enough
afterward to know whether they were
successful or not, having 6ed in less
than year after they went. They have
now been there six years, have both
married, and write that they do NOT
much more than make good living"
Don't they ever send you any money,
either?"
"No, they don't know but have plen-
tyto be comfortable, as I have never
written them about Calls unkind be-
havior.
Il should write and tell them about
it, Mrs. Williams, for I should say he is
the greatest scamp outside of prison
walls"
"Only selfish, Mrs. Blandon, that is
ALL" replied the poor old lady, tears
gushing from her eyes.
"Well, do your two California boys
write you kind and frequent letters?"
"They do not write very often, hav-
ing families of their own to care for,
but write kindly, though not as do to
them"
II am glad I never had any children,
Mrs. Williams. I believe my money
serves me better"
IF you had them you woald find
them inexpressibly dear to you"
"No doubt would, but would want
them all girls. I believe daughter is
a daughter all her life; and son is a
son till he gets him wife,"
"My daughters are very kind to me"
said the old lady.
@And their husbands?" asked Mrs.
Blandon.
"Well, Betsy's husband is a good
sort of a man, you know, and is kind in
his way. But the one in Jersey, Emil
ly's husband, would rather were any