Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-08-12

Easy enough: MIS- Gfanam Qlu not
repeat the words about Her husband
did not know of the little sacrifices and
acts of self-denial that it had cost her
He never could know, and therein lies
the pathos of many a 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 dandelions nestled in
the grass that carpeted the yard like
bits Of sunshine; they were still bright
with the dewy freshness of early morn
ing. To the right there was a low
meadow land; the silver thread that
trayersed it showed where a brook muir
INJURED along, its tiny waves sparkling
in 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
distant cOW-bells, the voice of domestic
fowls, and the song of wild birds But
her great disappointment overshadowed
it ALL
She could think of nothing but the
great barn-like house painted glaring
red, with its large shutterless windows
like lidless eyes staring out u pom the
dusty highway Inside it was equally
as barren of grace or beauty; the walls
were dingy and unadorned by pictures
of any kind, the furniture was guiltiesS
of paint or varnish, with no works OF
literature worthy Of mention besides
the weekly paper, the Bible and an al
manac.
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 is nothing that can not be
represented by gold What wonder,
then, if her thoughts and eyes wander
ed over the fields Of waving grain to
where stately stone house stood on
an eminence? She knew there was
beauty there, breezes stole into the
large, airy rooms, through lace cur
tams; there were rich carpets Ond fur
niture, and library that was almost
an intellectual feast to look at; outside
there were pleasant walks and drives,
and 4 flower garden filled 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! Q, here you are"
and Mr.. Graham came out from the
back kitchen door and seated himself
upon the edge of huge log that had
been hewed out and did duty caves
drop and cistern. Ii was not unusual
for him to seek her; he always did
when he came in and fonnd her not in
the house. 1t was not habit in the
man. His very life seemed bound up
III her; and although he had the repu-
tation among his neighbors of being
CLOSE IN his business transactions, he
was kind-hearted and generous, too, in
his way.-This morning he had some
thing Of importance to communicate.
II didn't tell you last evening" he
said, that | had already had some
talk with SOuthwell about that land.
He wouldn't listen to cent under 50,
5000 then, and | wouldn't offer more
than $500. He came over to see me
this morning and offered to split the
the difference Amt that bargain,
though A little better than spending
money for paint or paper, Jennie? O."
rising to go, Il came near forgetting to
tell you, Powers is here He wants to
hire out during harvest. [ have hands
enough, but [ suppose the more help [
have the better | shall get along, SO [
told him to 60 right to work. | don't
suppose he has been to breakfast yet,
his folks are so slack; so you must set
out lunch for him to eat.-Try and
have the luch ready by $50; you can
blow the horn and [ will send one of
the men down for it.
Poor Jennie 1t was like the straw
that broke the camePs back. She
struggled hard, but tears would come
Mr. Graham turned back and came in
stantly to her side, when he saw that
she was in trouble.
"What Is the NATTER dear?" he
asked, cOmpassiOnately, while his large,
kind hand glided down her hair with a
soft caressing touch. eff you are not
Telling WELL | will slip down and get
Miranda Powers to come out and help
you. | guess I'd better anyway, hadn't
u"
Mrs Graham mastered her emotions
with an effort
ooh, no." she said; ''there isn't any
thing"
Mr.. Graham hesitated, but was not
satisfied with this explanation.
''There ~ she said. 'Now go along
to your work, or [ shall cry again."
and indeed she looked very much as if
she might
Hiram Graham had faint idea us to
what the matter was, and was very will
ing to do as sc babe him. He felt con-
siderbly annoyed that his wife could not
see the advantages Ofthe proposed pur-
chase that would so materially add to
their mutual property. And then he
began to wonder what she was thinking
so silently about while she stood look
ing off toward tie distant hill. A little
jealousy crept in with the thought. The
owner Of that fine mansion had once
been a formidable rival of his. There
could have been no reason for her
choice but the one she 80 slyly confess
ed to him in the soft twilight of a sum-
mer evening ten years ago. How proud
and happyhe had felt. He vowed that
she should never want for anything
which he could procure. But he had
changed since. He had little to begin
with. They had to practice such rigid
economy. and to watch every dollar so
closely, to be able to meet the payments
on farm, that he learned to love
money, not so much for the good it
would purchase as for its own sake.