The Portland daily press., 1880-05-03
THE PRESS.
The Money Well Spent.
Home Comforts Better than Too Much
Land.


open door, to enjoy the GOODNESS of the sum-
iner evening, threw aside his paper as he
spoke. and awaited his wife's reply. His
wife busy over her ewing did not answer
Immediately.
Come" he said, ''let me have yoar opin-
ion. FIJI bet you've made up your mind
what to do with it long ago. You know the
saying, man to save money and woman
to spend it," and he laughed good-na-
turedly.
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 helped her to make
over and repair many an old garment that
she was about to throw away in despair; it
had encouraged her to contend with num-
berless inconvenience. But now the time
had really come, she felt strange reluc-
lance about revealing her thoughts.
She was oppressed with the fear that her
long cherised plans might be dashed to the
earth. However she commenced bravely
enough.
81 have thought we could repaint the
house some pretty color, such as silver-gray,
and have shutters put up at the windows
the right shade of green to harmonic with
the house-the same as the green leaves of
the poplar harmonize with the soft gray of
its trunk and branches"
why, Jennie" exclaimed Mr.. Graham,
there is a good coat of paint on the house
now. And there is no color as durable as
red lead, in my estimation
"And," continued the wife, 81 would
have the yard enclosed with a neat picket
fence
81 don't see any use in tearing down that
fence. The rails are as good and sound as
20years ago."
''Please don't interrupt me, Hiram. |
would repaper the rooms, buy new ingram
carpet for the parlor, and muslin curtains
for the Windows
''Thunderation. What is the sense of
having curtains if you have shutters? Be-
sides, these paper curtains answer every
purpose, as l can see. The paper on the
walls is perfectly whole 1t is true that you
have patched it considerably; but that don't
show much. And as for the carpet-why,
haven't you got new rag carpet in the
room now?"
ss"Yes, but that would be for the sitting
room. And l would have a bay window
made off the south side of the sitting room
for house plants"
Mr.. Graham laughed outright at this.
'sNow Jennie" he said, 'Inever said any
thing about it, but have always thought it
kind CT foolish to spend as much money and
time as you do fussing with flowers out of
doors; but when you come to make flower
beds of-that beats mer'
Hiram" said Mrs. Graham, ''you asked
me for my opinion. Now please don't in
terrupt mep'
every well. go aheadr'
q would have portico built over where
you are sitting, and wood house and a
large, cool pantry, that need so much on
the back of the kitchen. One part of the
wood house would be finished off, where
the cook stove could stand in warm wather
1t would be so much cooler for us to eat in
Besides this, there are so many little adorn-
ments, such as pictures, ETC., that would
add afterward."
''Why," exclaimed Mr.. Graham, s'if we
were going into that, it would take every
cent OF the money"
s'Well, we earned it to invest in some
thing, didn't we?'
'Yes, but l want to invest my money in
something that will bring me in some kind
of an income"
1T would bring us the best of all incomes
not in dollars, but what is better farm
joy and happiness. Life would have fuller
and purer meaning for us both; it would
bring higher and better atmosphere in
which to rear up our children. Even the
humming bird loves to deck it's sweet little
nest with pretty MOSES and lichens. Ought
We not to have as much love for home and
its adornings as Gods dumb creatures?"
Il have something more important to live
for than a humming bird has," said Mr.
Graham, tartly. 81 would rather leave
something substantial to my children, such
as bonds, well-tilled acres, for instance. 1
will tell you what have been thinking off,
he said with an air of one who felt that the
expressing of an opinion must necessarily
bring conviction to his superior Judgment.
''You know that have always wanted that
40-acre lot of Southwell's that joins me on
the north. They say he is hard up now,
and when he finds out that l can make a
large payment down, believe can get it
mighty reasonable. And when get that
paid for, l shall have one of the best farms
in the country. Now, what do you say to
that?' he asked triumphantly.
at would run us right in debt again, -
said Mrs. Graham.
''Well, supposing it did? We have swung
clear this time easy enough, and can again.
You must remember that this land was
badly run down when 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 a sacrifice.
The next morning Mrs. Graham was I'D
betimes, and busyas usual amidst her house
hold cares, but her heart had lost its light
ness; 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 stray bits of sunshine; they were still
bright with the dewy freshness of early
morning. TO the right there was a low
meadow land; the silver thread that trav-
ersed it showed where brook murmured
along, its tiny waves sparkling in the sun
light. 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 a glaring red, with
its large, shutterless windows, like lidess eyes
stating out upon the dusty highway. In
side, it was equally as barren Of grace or
beauty; the walls were dingy, and unadorned
by pictures of any kind, the furniture was
guiltless of paint or varnish; with
no works of literature worthy of men
ton beside the weekly paper, the Bible and
an almanac.
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 wandered over the fields of grain, to
where stately stone house stood on an en-
inence. She knew there was beauty there,
breezes stole into large lace curtains; there
were rich carpets and furniture, and libra
nv that was almost an intellectual feast to
look at; outside, there were pleasant walks
and drives, and fiower-garden filled with
the rarest floral treasures; and she sighed
softly, as she thought to herself-"But love
would not have been there, and life 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 from the back kitch-
en- door, and seated himself upon the edge
of a huge log t4at had been hewed out and
did duty for evesdrop and cisterr. 1t was
not unusual for him to seek her; he always
did when he came in and found her not in
the house. 1t was not a bad habit in the
man. His very life seemed bound up in
her; and although he had the reputation
among his nelghbors Of being ''close'' in his
business transactions, he was kind-hearted
and oanarouc too in his Way This morn