Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-03-13
sYLAND, SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1880.

Wal w NY Snllu'oht ouSh -" Do~S'
we'll titled acres for instance. will
tell you what have been thinking
of, he said with an air of one who
felt that the expressing Of his opinion
must necessarily bring conviction of
his superior judgment. "You know
that I have always wanted that forty
acre lot of Southwells that joins me
on the north. They say he is hard
up now and when he finds out that |
can make a large payment down, l
believe l can get it mighty reasonable.
And when I get that paid for, 1 would
have one of the best farms in the
country. Now what do you say to
that?' he asked triumphantly.
"It would run US high in debt
again" said Mrs. Graham.
"Well, supposingit did. We have
swung clear this time easy enough,
and can again. You must remember
that this land was badly run down
when l first got hold of it, but the
farm is in good condition now
easy enough |" Mrs. Graham did
not repeat the words aloud. Her
husband did not know of the little
sacrifices and acts Of self denial it
had cost her. He never could know
it, and therein lies the pathos of many
sacrifice.
The next morning Mrs. Graham was
up betimes and busy as usual amidst
her household cares, but her heart
had lost its lightness; and as she stood
under the locust tree which shaded
the back door, churning, it seemed
too, as if much of the brightness had
gone out of her life. Golden dande-
lions nestled in the grass that carpet
ed the yard like stray bits of sunshine;
they were still brighter than the
dewy freshness of early morning. To
the right there was low meadow
land; the silver thread that trsversed
it showed where brook murmured
along, its tiny waves sparkling the
sunlight. To the left were fields of
grain with ripened heads bowed down,
waiting for the sickle. The air was
full of happy sounds; the tinkle of
the distant bells, the voice of domes-
tic fowls and the song of wild birds.
But her great disappointment over
shadowed it all.
She could think of nothing but the
great barn-like house, painted glar-
ing red, with its large shutterless
windows, like lidless eyes, staring out
upon the dusty highway, Inside it
was equally as barren of grace and
beauty; the walls were dingy and un-
adorned by pictures of any kind; the
furniture was guiltle.s of paint or
varnish; with no works of literature
worthy of mention besides the week
ly paper, the bible and almanac. In
this atmosphere she must live, here
she must henceforth work on, while
mind and soul starved; here, too, she
must rear her children, to see worth
and beauty in nothing that cannot be
represented by gold. What wonder,
then, if her thoughts and eyes wan
dered over the fields of waving grain,
to where stately stone house stood
on an eminence. She knew there was
beauty there, breezes stole into large,
airy rooms, through lace curtains;
there were rich carpets and costly fur
niture, and library that was almost
an intellectual feast to look at; out
side there were pleasant walks and
drives, and flower garden filed with
the rarest floral treasures; and then
she sighed softly as she thought to
herself-"but love would not have
been there, and life would have been
of very little worth without that"
Jennie Jennie Oh, here you are"
and Mr.. Graham came out through
the back kitchen door and seated
himself upon the edge of huge log
that had been hewed out and did duty
for eves-drop and cistern. 1t was not
unusual for him to seek her, he always
did when he came in and found her
net in the house. 1t was not bad
habit in the man. His very life SEEM
cd bound up in her; and although he
had the reputation among his neigh
bors Of being "close" in his business
transactions, he was kind-hearted and
generous, too, in his way. This morn
ing he had something of Importance
to communicate.
al didn't tell you last evening"" he
said. "thst I had already had some