Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-02-07
"rHAT WALL

when her husband bought the OLD Deer
field farm. 70 be sure there was mort
gage on it, and that was rather adamper
on her perfect happiness; but the young
couple hoped, by the exercise of prudence
and economy, to have.sthat paid off in
the course of few years; and though
not accustomed to farm work, they did
not dread it. Both were industrious and
anxious to get on i'm the world.
Mrs Hayward had always lOnged to
live i'm the country, saud sDeerfeld farm
was her beau ideal of what a country
place should be. For several days after
they took possession, the little woman
could not do much but roam about in
the big orchard sweet with apple, cherry
and peach blossoms, dig in the large,
weedy flower garden, and explore the
numerous hooks and crannleS OF the
rOOmy old barn and well-sheltered farm
yard.
Il should be perfectly happy" she said
to her husband, Yes, in spite of the
mortgage, perfectly happy, If only"
There she stopped, for she could not
understood. He felt as deeply as she did
how much they should miss their little
Nav, the dear child who had been like a
meath the sod whole year now.
81 do hope we shallllike our neighbOrs,"
the little wife said, when she could COM
mand her voice sufficiently to speak
again. 1T will be just too bad if they
are not nice and sOciable."
There was plenty of furniture to fill
the old house. When Mrs. Hayward's
father died, he left his only daughter all
the furniture he had accumulated dur
ing fifty years of housekeeping, and not
liking to sell it, she had stored it away
until Frank bought the farm. when it
was put into use, and was found Suf-
,ficient to render every room in the old
house thoroughly comfortable.
Mrs. Hayward was much disappointed
jim her neighbOrs. They all called on her
with one exceptional she found
them social enough, but they were plain,
juneducated women, with no thought
above the best way to make soap and
cider, and the newest fashion for cutting
a calico gown. They were domestic,
Woodworking and thrifty, and made ex-
cellent wives to their Industrious, prac-
teal husbands; but they were not con-
genial to Mrs. Hayward, who had lived
most of her life in a city, and had had
the best educational advantages to be
found there.
But the nearest neighbOr did not call,
and she was the only one of whom Mrs.
Hayward fancied she could make a
friend. Mrs. Morgan was very different
from the women l have described. Some
thing in her sensitive, clear-cut face
told Mrs. Haywood of bitter disappoint.
ments and discOuragements which had
been endured silently, and had left the
heart wrung and sore. At church, and
often on the road, the two women met
and exchanged silent greeting, as be-
came such near neighbOrs, but still Mrs.
Morgan did not call.
Il am sure / should like her if she
would only let me know her." Mrs. Hay
ward said to her husband.
you seem strangely interested in her,"
her husband remarked, laughing. Il as
sure you her husband is as commonplace
as you can we'll imagine"
but she isn't commonplace anybody
could tell that. Iwish knew her. Per-
haps-whO knows? Knight do her good
in some way. She looks as if she needed
a friend"
'She shows poor taste in not wishing
to make your acquaintance, Lucy; but 1
shouldn't urge it on her."
mo, won't. But if we were once
acquainted, If could once break down
the wall between us, know we should
be good friends, and then-she has such
lovely child, with thought of little
May bringing sob to the mothers
throat.
"She evidently wOrships her child"
said MIR. Hayward. Il have noticed that
in church she rarely takes her eyes from
its face"
lido not wonder" said Lucy, signing
How terrible if she should lose it." she
added, thinking of that dark day OF
which their little May had left them
She could understand how Mrs. Morgan
loved her child. She felt that she could
love it alsO-fOr Mays sake.
One warm September day Mr.. HAYWARD
came into the house at nOOntime, with q
broad smile on his face.
what's the matter, Frank?" asked his
Wlfe, as she put the last dinner-dish on
the table, and took her seat opposite
him.
walt until 1 eat piece of this chicken
and I'll tell you" he answered. 81 am
as hungry as hunter, and this dinner
looks tempting"
1t aCas tempting dinner. No one
knew better than Lucy Hayward how t.
prepare an appetizing meal, and she al
ways studied her husbands tastes. The
spring chickens were "dOne brown
the baked potatoes had not shrunk in
their skins from waiting in a cooling
oven; the biscuits were like honey
COMP; the butter hard and golden; thu
pickles spiced just enough; while TIT
naky-crusted apple-pie on one side of thu