The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-10-07
TINE or NEED.

And they made good living and something
TO spare;
But they had a great fault. Now, if you but
win ind that fault is sQmetimes but
Carried quiteto excess, and it's plain on the
OF affairs, as you'll see that twas so in their
case.
Their home, il was humble; but do not forget
That home may be little ard humble and yet
Re very attractive. print On the wall,
basket OF flowers. some ornam ents. such
As skilled hands can make, without costing
them much.
A few .well-chosen books, and It's plain unto
That the home has a wealth that is better than
gold.
l am sorry to say, but the truth must be told
mat this little and shabby old house that
Was not under, a single half-minute, the
spell of
The beautiful. All that the man seemed to
Was to save up his money. The why and the
wherefore
His wife did not question; but simply sub
mitted
To his win. am sure she was much to be
pitied.
When the wheat, or the corn or a fat pig was
John that was his name) would come home
with the gold
Ut was gold every time, and would say to the
Heres the pay for the pig. It's very great
shame
That it did not bring more. Take the money,
Put il into the bag, put the bag safe away.
lis plainly our duty-you know that. indeed
To be well prepared for the great Time O.
Time o Needs sure to come, sooner or
later
Such talking of course would intimidate her
And make her submissive Sometimes it
would hap
That she wanted a gown, or bonnet or cap:
But the mention would bring such a storm!
He would shout.
a bonnet! What, pray, are you thinking
ahOutE
A gown! Why, the woman is mad, beyond
To ask for such things. Don't you know, don't
You know
wemust save all we CAM How the money
would go,
If YOU had your own way. Don't you know
Time o Need
Will some day be here? You better had heed
What say 10 you now. Why, work and
slave
From morning to night, on purpose TO save.
wear the year round the same trousers and
No, Maria, you can't have bonnet. That's
fiat"
And Maria would notice Outlines that her
neighbors
Would reap in their homes the reward of their
labOrs
She would see pretty carpets and tables, and
Shed wish in her heart that she too could have
such.
But She thought she was simple, 1 do not
That they did not expect Time O. Need; and
just why
He was coming TO them was puzzle to her.
But John, he had said il dt did not occur
To her ever TO doubt. and still the Old cry
Was kept up. She was sick of the sound of
the name.
I think wen agree she was not much to
blame.
There was not day of the week but begun
with il,
Till she wished he would come right along, and
be done with il.
OF gold in the bag; but no blessed release
From work or from worry. No treasure they
OF beauty and wisdom. as added years ought
Twas still the old story; as ever, Johns greed
Was the same. 1t was plain he would never
be freed
From his miserable bond of the myth, Time
O. Need.
It happened at last, one bright morning in
MAY.
There came to the cottage, a man, old and
It happened that John had just started away
To market. This man began straightway to
plead:
Al pray, you, dear mann, in my great time o
Give me clothing and food" He looked fear
fully tired.
He has come" thought Maria, and so she in
Are you Time O. Need, sir?" Alas! it is
am he" Then she said: -' We've been look
For ever so long. We've something already
To give you" Her movements were some
what unsteady,
SO great her excitement. She managed topull
The bag from the closet. tell you, twas full
Full of bright yellow gold. " See here! Just
see here!
We've been saving this money for many a
year
For You, all for you. John said you would
come
When least we looked for you" The stranger
was dumb
With amazement, but wisely refrained from a
He could not reply, and perhaps he had heard
That silence is sometimes far better than
speech.
Be that as it may, he was quite glad to reach
His hands for the wonderful gold-bag; but, 10!
Twas too heavy TO carry. The best he could do,
He could not have carried the bag half mile.
But Maria was equal 10 that. With a smile
That was simple and childlike, she said: why,
of course,
Since too heavy for you, you must take the
best horse.
And John has the cart you must take the new
g wagon.
with the rest that give, you can just put the
bag on.
Here's a splendid new coatl You have such
rag on.
Had YOU not better changer 1t will all be quite
right;
For. as sure as live, it was only last night,
When J told John TO wear it, he answered,
did he:
Better save it till Time O. Need comes Don't
D. You see?
And here is pig, and some chickens inst
killed
tAs-youre taking the wagon, it better be
filed.
And here is some meal" But, suffice it to
saw.
When that shameless, dishonest old man went
away.
He was just loaded down.
BY and by. in came John
She fastened TO tell him just what she had
done.
Gave the goldl Are you mad, woman? Get
will follow him quick. What? What? Worse
= and wOrsel
You gave him the horse? Then hitch up the
mare
Will be such time. What! the wagon gone
Maria, Maria. o. what did you do
Such thing as that for, with the savings of
years.
In vain did Maria, with pleadings and tears,
Remind him that all she had done was but
He had taught her to do. All in vain, he would
Hear word that she said.
But my story is ended.
II in with my rhyming lesson is blended
That should explain it. Who runneth may
read.
-Cdrlottd Perry, in v. Y. Independent
MRS. McWILLIAMS AND THE LIGHT
NING