The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-09-17
THE MONEY WE'LL SPENT.
Home Comfort. Better then e'o MI

and a woman tO spend IT," and lac
laughed good hGmoredly.
Yes, Mrs. Graham had made UP her
mind long ago. The thought Of a time
when they should be clear OF debt, and
some of their surplus earnings could be
expended for home comforts, had help
ed 10 make over and repair L.iany an old
garment that she was about to throw
away in despair. and had encouraged her
To he content with numerous inconvenien-
ces. But now that the time had really
come. she felt strange reluctance about
revealing her thoughts.
She was oppressed with the fear that
her long cherished plans might be dash
ed To the earth. However, she commenc-
en- brayely enough
Il have thought we might repaint the
house some pretty color, such AS silver
grey, and have shutters put up AT the win
dows the right shade of green To har-
monte with the housc-the same Us the
green leaves of the poplar harmonize
with the soft grey of its branches"
why, Jennie" exclaimed Mr. Ora
ham, there's n good coat of paint on the
house now, and there is NO color as dura-
BILE as red lead, in my estimation"
And" continued the wife. Il would
have the yard enclosed with picket
fence
81 don't see any use in tearing down
the felce. The nails are good and sound
rs they we're twenty years ago"
please don't interrupt me, Hiram. l
would repair the rooms, buy new in
grain carpet for the parlor and muslin
curtains for the windows"
"ThunderationI What is the sense OF
having curtains if you have shutters
Besides, these paper curtains answer ev-
II M nm a
wall is perfectly whole. Ii is true that
You have patched il considerable, but that
don't show much. And as for the car
pet-why, haven't you got new ragcar-
pet in the room now?"
"Yes, but that would be for the sitting
room. And l would have bay window
made off the south side of the sitting
room for house plants"
Mr.. Graham laughed outright at this
"Now Jennie" he said. II never said
anything about it; but have always
thought it foolish to spend so much
money and time as you do fussing with
flowers out of doors, but when you come
to make fiower-beds Of-that beats me-
"Hiram, you asked me for my opinion
now please don't interrupt me-" said
Mrs. Graham.
"Very well-go ahead"
81 would have pOrtico built ovel
where you are sitting, and a woodhoust
and large cool pantry, that need sc
much on the back of the kitchen. One
part of the woodhouse would be finished
| off, where the cook-stove could stand il
warm weather. 1t would be so mucI
cooler for us to eat in besides this, there
are many little adOrnments, such as pic
lures, etc, that would add afterwards
"Why," exclaimed Mr.. Graham, 81
we are going into that, it would take ev
cry cent of the money"
"Well, we earned it to invest IN some
thing that will bring us in some kind o
an income"
at would bring MS the best of all in
comes-nOt in dollars, but what is bette
| farm joy and happiness. Life woult
have fuller and purer meaning for u
both, it would bring 1: higher and bette
atmosphere IN which TO rear up on
children. Even the humming bird love
TO deck its sweet little nest with prett,
MOSES and lichens Ought we not t,
have as much love for home and il
adjoining as Gods dumb creatures 81
al have something more important T.
live for than humming bird" said MI
Graham, tartly ~ would rather leav
something more substantial TO my chi
dren, such as bonds and well titled acres
for instance. l will tell you what hav
been thinking Of" he said, with an al
of one who felt that the expression of a
opinion must necessarily bring cOnvic
ton to his superior judgment.
You know that have always wante
that 40-acre lot of Soulhwell's that join
me on the north. They say he is har
up now, and when he finds out l ca
make large payment to him believe
| On not mil nd Ina
get thai paid for l will have one of tn
best farms in the country. Now VIII,
do you say to that ~ lac asked, triumph
antly.
, 1t would run us right into debt again,
. said Mrs. Graham.
well, supposing it did? We HAY
; swung clear this time easy enough, an
can again. You must remember til;
this land was badly run down when
first got hold of it, but the farm is
good condition now"
EASY enoughr' Mrs. Graham did Ii,
repeat the words aloud Her husban
did not know of the little sacrifices an
acts of selfdenial it had cost her +
never could know it, and therein lies Il
3 pathos of many sacrifice.
I The next morning Mrs. Graham Wi
, up betimes, and busy as usual. amid
her household cares, but her hear; h.
lost il lightness, and as she stood und
D the locust tree that shaded the back doc
[ churning, it seemed, too, as if much
A the brightness had gone cut of her lii
Golden dandelions nestled in the gra
i that carpeted the yard like stray bits
q sunshine; they were still bright with Il
4 dewy frehness of early morning. Totl
9 right there was low meadow land; q
silver thread that traversed it show,
where q brook murmured along, its til
f waves sparkling in the sunlight 7
I the left were fields of grain with ripent
heads bowed down waiting for Il
sickle. The air was full of happy sound
s the tinkle of the distant cow-bell; Il
s voice of domestic fowls, and the song
wild birds. But her great disappoir
ment overshadowed it all.
She could think of nothing but Il
}, great barn like house, painted glarir
a red, with its large shutterless- window
q like lidless eyes staring out upon q
dusty highway. Inside It was equal
as barren of grace and beauty; the wal
e were dingy and unadorned by pictur
e of any kind, the furniture was guiItle
e of paint or varnish; with no works
literature worthy of mention besides Il
= weekly paper, the Bible and the alma
: &C. In this atmosphere she must lily
z | sic WOTh Oh VIII
mind and soul starved; here, too, 81
must rear her children, to see worth al
beauty IN nothing that can not be repr
j; scented by gold. What wonder, then, ifh
# thoughts and eyes wandered over Il
q fields of waving grain, to where a state
stone house stood on an eminence. 81
knew there was beauty there, breez
r stole into large, airy rooms through la(
4 curtains; there were rich carpets al
!. furniture, and a library that was almo
an intellectual feast to look at; outsiC
c there were pleasant walks and drive
j; and flower garden that was filled wi
r the rarest floral treasures; and tn,
= sighed softly as she thought to hersef
But love would not have been theI
u and life would have been of very lit
p worth without that"
y Jennie, Jenniei Oh, here you are
and Mr.. Graham came out from the baC
J kitchen door and seated himself upC
/ the edge of \ huge log that had be-
2 hewed out and did duty for eavesdrC
q and cistern. 1t was not unusual for hi
to seek her; he always did when
came in and did not find her in Il
house. 1t was not bad habit in q
man. His very life seemed to be bouI
: up in her; and although he had the re
utation among his neighbors of beil
D "close" in his business transactions,
IS was kind hearted and generous, too,
a his way. This morning he had SON
v thing of importance to'communicate.
81 didn't tell you last evening""
Z said, that had already had some Ia
n with Southwell about that land. I
D wouldn't take a cent under $4,000 the
n and l wouldn't offer more than 81 81
! He came over TO see me this mOrnil
Il and Offered tn Snlit The iii fference Al,
Is that bargain though? A little bett
le than spending money for paint and !
i. per, Jennie9 Oh" rising to 60, al car
near forgetting to tell you. Powers
- here. He wants To hire out during hi
r vest, have hands enough, but 81
ie pose the more help have the better
shnll get nlnnn 50 / told him To ON "a a