Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-01-22

dgdlu.1 Sdlu 0llS. NIdudHl.
Well, surposing 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" r
Easy enoughm Mrs. Graham did
not repeat the words aloud. Her hus-
band did not know of the little sacri-
her. He never could know it, and
therein lies the pathos of many a sac
rifice.
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
stray bits of sunshine; they were still
bright with the dewy freshness of early
morning. To the right there was low
meadow land; the silver thread that
traversed it showed where brook MUIR
the sunlight. To the left were fields
VI dlA WlOA 1lpCAOo ACfbQS OOWCo
down, waiting for the sickel. The air
of distant COW 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 a glaring
red. with its large shutterless windows,
lilo lIdlQcC nyn q OF nr1f n
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 guiltless
of paint or Varnish: with no works of
literature worthy of mention beside the
weekly paper, the Bible and an 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 wandered
over the fields of waving grain, to where
n stately stone house stood on an in
eminence. She knew there was beauty
there, breczes stole into large, all y rooms,
through lace curtains; there were rich
carpets and costly furniture, and
library that was almost an intellectual
feast to look at; outside there were
pleasant walks and drives, and a 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! Oh, here you are,n
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 ewes
drop and cistern. 1t was not unusual
for him to seek her, be always did when
he came in and found her not in the
house. 1t was not bad habit in the
man. His very life seemed bound up in
her; and although he had the reputation
his neighbors of being close "
in his business transactions, he was
kind hearted and generous, too, in his
way. This morning he had something
of Importance to communicate.
81 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 1000
then. and [ wouldn't offer more than
81 500. He came over to see me this
and offered to split the differ
ence. Amt that d bargain, though? A
little better than spending money for
paint or paper, Jennie! Oh" rising to
go, =" came near forgetting to tell you.
Powers is mere. 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
go right to work. / don't suppose he
has been to breakfast yet, his folks are
so slack, so you might set out bit for
him to eat Try and have the lunch
ready by half-past nine; you can blow
the horn, and | will send one of the men
down for it."
Poor Jennie! 1t was like the last
straw that broke the camel's back. She
hard, but the tears would
come. Mr.. Graham turned back and
came instantly to her side when he saw
that she was in trouble.
"What ssthe matter, dear?" he asked,
compassionately, while his large, kind
hand glided down her hair with soft,
touch. :" If you are not feel
ing well, / will slip down and get Mi.
randa Powers to come out and help YOU.
| guess I'd better anyway, hadn't n"
Mrs. Graham mastered her emotion
with an effort.
=" oh. no." she said. "There isn't
Mr.. Graham hesitated; he was not
satisfied with this explanation.
''Therei" she said. sNow do 90
along to your work. or shall be foolish
enough to cry again!" and indeed she
looked very much as if she might.
Hiram Graham had faint idea as to
what the matter was, and was very will
ing to do as she bade him. He felt con-
siderably annoyed that his wife could
not see the advantage of the proposed
purchase 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 looking
off toward the 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 SO shyly confessed
to him in the soft twilight of summer
evening ten years ago. How proud and
happy he had felt! He vowed she
should never want for anything which
he could procure. But he had changed
since. He had but little to commence
with. They had to practice such rigid
economy, and to watch every dollar so
closely, to be able to meet the payments
on the farm, that he had learned to love
money, not so much for the good it could
purchase as for its own sake.