Sharp County record., 1880-10-21
TINE OF NEED.

to spare:
But they had great fault. Now, if you but
Will find that fault is sometimes but a
virtue
Carried quiteto excess, and It's plain on the
face
OF affairs, as you'll see, that twas so in their
case.
Their home it was humble; but do not forget
That home may be little and humble and yet
Be very attractive a print on the wall,
A basket of flowers some ornaments, such
As skilled hands can make, without costing
them N ,ch.
A few well-chosen books, and it's plain unto
That the home has a wealth that is better than
am sorry to say, but the truth must be told
That this little and shabby old house that l
tell Of
Was not under, single half-minute, the
The beautiful. All that the man seemed to
care for
Was to save up his money. The why and the
wherefore
His wife did not question; but simply sub
To his will. am sure she was much to be
pitied.
When the wheat or the corn, or a fat pig was
sold,
John that was his name) would come home
with the gold
ut was gold every time), and would say to the
dame:
"Here's the pay for the pig. It's very great
shame
That it did not bring more. Take the money,
Ipray;
Put ii into the bag, put the bag safe away.
'Tis 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 gown, or a bonnet or cap;
But the mention would bring such storm!
He would shout.
"a bonnet What, pray, are you thinking
about?
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 can? 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 to you now. Why, work and
slave
From morning to night, on purpose to save.
Iwear the year round the same trowsers and
hat
No, Maria, you can't have bonnet. That's
fiat"
And Maria would notice ofttimes that her
neighbOrS
Would reap in their homes the reward Of their
labors.
She would see pretty carpets and tables, and
much
She'd wish in her heart that she too could have
such.
But she thought (she was simple, do not
deny
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 it DIT 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.
1 think we'll agree she was not much to
blame.
There was not a day of the week but begun
with it,
Till she wshedhe would come right along, and
be done with it.
The years glided by, and brought them in
crease
OF gold in the bag; but no blessed release
From work or from worry. No treasure they
brought
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
From his miserable bond of the myth, Time
O. Need
1t happened at last, one bright morning in
May,
There came to the cottage, q man, old and
It happened that John had just started away
To market. This man began straightway to
plead:
1pray, 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
quired:
Are you Time O. Need, sir?" ALAS it is
lam he" Then she said: We've been look
ing for you
For ever so long. We've something already
To give you" Her movements were some
what unsteady,
So great hereXcitement She managed to pull
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
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
word.
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 gOd-bag; but, 10!
Twas too heavy to carry. The best he could do,
He COuIQ not nave CuTTl6u J0e udg udll IL llllc.
But Maria was equal to 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
wagon.
With the rest that give, you can just put the
bag on
"Heres a splendid new coatl You have such
rag on.
Had Won not better change? IT will all be quite
right;
For, as sure as live, it was only last night,
When | told John to wear it, he answered,
did he:
Better save it till Time O Need comes Don't
you see?
And here is pig, and some chickens inst
killed
(As you're taking the wagon, it better be
filed,
And here is some meal" But, suffice it to
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 gold! Are you mad woman? Get
me the horse!
1 will follow him quick. What? What? Worse
and worse!
You gave him the horse? Then hitch up the
mare
Into the wagon! I'll catch him, or there
Will be such a time! What the wagon gone
too?
Maria! Maria! o! what did you do '@
Such a thing as that for, with the savings of
years.