Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-04-30
THAT MORTGAGE.
BY MRS ANNA NJ.

wei, Sarah, | guess you Will have
10 give up that visit to your mother till
next year"
This was said with much in6ltfer-
ence by farmer Brown as if Mrs. Brown
had not been living on the anticipation
OF this visit for the last six months.
"Why, James, what has happened
now 10 prevent my going" said Mrs.
Brown, as she sank down, pale and
trembling, III the nearest char.
Nothing in particular" said the
nonchalant husband, "but it don't look
just exactly right, does it, for you to 60
off on visit, when the farm is still
mottgaged and we have another pay.
ment to make on the last eighty |
bought"
Mrs. Brown might have told him that
she had begged him, with many tears,
not To buy the last eighty until they
were ready to pay for it; she also might
nave told him that the S100 sent her
last year from her mother, to make
this visit, had been, through his per-
suasions, gwen up to pay the interest
on the mortgage; and many promises
given nv him III return that should go
TINS year. She did not, however, tell
him any of these things, as she bad
found out by past experience that al
though her husband was not cross
man, and never got out of that even
placidity of temper, that il was utterly
impossible to make him realize that
she needed anything besides enough to
eat and wear. Mrs. Brown only sat as
SSt1 For N fau nj nd
concluded to make one more feeble eff
fort. She felt she could not give up
this chance to see her mother, perhaps
tor the last time.
81 think James, | could almost make
up for what my visit would cost by a
little closer economy after get back"
Il don't know in what way" said the
iucorrigible James.
Mrs. Brown sighed gentle sigh, as
she thought it was hard to conceive
where she could economic more, but
she only said 81 had thought probably
we could do without cistern one more
year"
Il think myself" said Mr.. Brown
with alacrity, that we can do very well
without that cistern another year, but
that would not be more than half pay
Tor your visit, SO hope you will say no
more about it, as we will have to stay at
home and live very close till that
mortgage is paid off,"
Mr.. Brown got up and walked out,
and Mrs. Brown went to the kitchen to
get dinner, telling as if all the ills from
Pandora's box pursued her, and not
even hope remained to cheer her way.
Mrs. Brown was no weak, incapable
woman, to be dismayed at trihes, but
her mother was old and had been par
alyzed for years, making it impossible
for her to visit her children, and the
chances were growing less for Thorn to
he ever reunited this side of the tomb.
OVERWHELMINGLY, however, she took
up this last burden with less spirit and
strength than she bad for many years.
She did up her work for the day, after
all the rest Of the family we're serenity
sleeping, wrote the following letter to
her mother:
"Mv dear Mother: Il am sad to have
TO write and tell you that cannot visit
YOU this fall. know measuring your
disappointm ent by my OWN that IT is
almost cruel to tell you so,-but James
is so involved, and you know the inter
est on that mortgage almost eats up the
profits OF the farm, and he thinks
ought to postpone visiting you for
another year, at least. Mother, you
know you always taught me that what
was to my husbands interest in such
matters must be to mine, 80 can now
only send a heartfule of love and many
regrets. From your duilful daughter,
SARAH Brown.
Nevertheless, before James had de-
posted the letter in the Office he bought
him bran new reaper that was quite
An Improvement on the old one, and
as Sarah had given up her visit he
might as we'll have it as not. Sarah
dragged around doing the work Tor three
or four men most of the summer. can.
ming fruit, milking and making butter
from three or four cows, with no late
improved cook stove or patent woman
helper, and only little girl that James
had ia ken from the Orphan Home to
assist her, until by fall she was pretty
well used mp.
When James went for the doctor be
said mis- wife was little mopy but II
ne would give her something TO tone
up he thought she would be all right 10
4 few days. She did not get any better,
however, but went into low grade Of
typhoid fever, which had entire pos
session Of her when she received the
fatal letter that her mother had died
calling for her tirst-born child, her
patient. loving Sarah.
Mother and daughter we're reunited,