Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-11-12
SOUTH BRANCH FARM


The Taneys had lived on. the South
Branch farm since colony times, and
no fancy had ever cheated man OF
Il dollar, They lent No money or Dor
rowed none; they never sat 1T any mans
table, or asked guest to theirs.
The Taney pew-front onc-was filed
every sunday, eomerain or sun, Mlo,
fancy, Il middlo-aged woman, with her
gray hair i'll II tight little knot behind,
and wearing the same rusty black
gown and bonnet for adozen years, was
always like the Others present But
sometimes She was asleep. For this was
the one hour of the whole week when
she could sit down ON cushion and
fold her hands. The air was warm
and the music soft and sweet no Won
der She slept sometimes the works
that were read stirred her soul; it
seemed us if her childhood woke, rs if
the tears must come to her long dry
eyes. But they never did BY the
time she had walked home with her
son William the story of Bethlehem,
or heavenly glory to come, had faded
~
real WAS the South Branch farm, the
price of pork or the fall of potatoes,
After church, dinner must bc ready
Dipping hot, too, ON account of the
boardcr,) IN half an hour; then She
had the sheep To look after and the
poultry "a feed; then milking The
Taneys never had kept any help
Mrs. fancy had broughtup six children,
been sole cook, seamstress, tailor and
dairymaid; yet her husband, old Ben.
always had said "Sarah's not Il capa-
bic woman. No Fancy blood in her. :
Ben had been dead five years, but
his wife went on carrying grooming
load on the back which lacked bone.
William was a harder master than his
father had been; the very oxen felt
the hash oftencr, and their corn fell of
one-half He sat in the the kitchen
now, with a book before him while his
mother and younger sister, Lefty, were
cooking supper
Take the the butter otl'the table he
said, suddenly. Molasses will do. What
are YOU cooking meat for It's not
necessary Put it back in the cellar. =
"HcS, William, replied his mother.
submlssively. only | thought the
bosrdcr-'
1--WE can't afford 10 keep him like Il
lord You'll have to exercise economy.
mother; can't Sc always hero to look
after things. How am ever to pay
for The meadow lots if the money il 90
ing away III this STYLE
~ n I.#,
fancy scared eyes wandered over the
spare Kitchen, the ,mouldcring coal in
i corner II tie CRATE, the half-starycd
face Of her little girl
try 10 save, | am sure. What way
DO YOU mean. sil?3
"Oh, every wayl closing his book
with bang There Il leak 1T every
corner. Why. | toll and slave the
year round. But with such lot Of
mouths To feed -
He glared IT Lefty, who shrank into
the pantry. She did not come out dur
ing supper. and her mother dared not
call her. The girl was crying as usual,
and her tears always exasperated vii
liam. Poor Lefty felt the horrible guilt
Of her hearty appetite sore upon her.
She was always hungry hungry enough
to faint now
Mrs fancy forgot TO eat her dry
bread, o. drink her milk The meadow
lots, It was 70 buy those lots that her
husband had made their live, bare and
bard and wretched from their wedding
day. The good wholesome produce
from the farm. which should have fed
the children had gone g market while
they ate the refuse the money which
should have educated them had boon
put II the bank t. buy these lot.
When her baby va, III no doctor was
brought, and her child died tie money
saved went To the lots: the mother had
begged fir 4 hcadstone for tie grave.
There VAS Lefty. growing ~ be wo-
man, half-clothcd without a sparkle of
fun OF pleasure t. Lighter her Young
life; while poorer girls dressed and
went out. and had company, and en-
ioyed. as the girls should days filled
with comfort and happiness Every
penny thus saved William laid by for
the lots. Ycs those twelve acre,
mad come 10 be the absolute God for
these people Not happy life, mr.
God nor heaven
After supper hi, mother followed
William, she aid desperately
how many YEAR viii It he before vnt
IAN buy the lots
Years. The lots ID anfeigned
amazeHlent how on earth car
you understand business