Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-07-12

ed if any one had left his wife legacy,
thus allowing her tobe Independent of his
purse. The idea of her earning money
as the other work folks did, never enter
ed his mind. He supported her. that
was his idea of their relation He never
had happened to think that it was very
good of her to take his money and spend
it for the good of himself and his children.
He never had thought that any other
woman would have wanted big pay for
doing it. He had even thought himself
very generous for allowing her money to
ge, things to make the family comforta-
ble. Things began to look differently to
him just now. Could it be that he was
not gcnerous-not even just-to his wife
Had he paid her so poorly for her fifteen
years of faithful labor for him that if she
had been obliged to begin the world for
herself that day i, would have been as a
penniless woman, Notwithstanding the
houses, the lands and mills that he had
so often told her were all hers : For he
knew, as every one else did, that not one
dollar of all he had would the law allow
her 10 call her own.
How fast he thought, standing there at
the office window looking down at the lit
tie houses where the mill-hands lived.
Could it be possible that his wife enyied
them anything Could it be that he
was not as good a man as he thought
He had felt deeply the wrongs of the
slaves. whose labors had been approprla
ted by their masters, and when a negro
who had worked twenty years for his
master before the emancipation freed
him, came TO Jarvis's mill friendlesS and
and penniless, the heart of the propric-
tor Swelled with indignation at such IN
justice. He was eloquent on the sub
iect, at home and abroad, and wondered
how any one could be so cruel and self
ish as to commit such an outrage against
Justice. He had called him robber
many time but now Donald Jarvis
looked to himself very much like the old
slave holders "Massa Brown had taken
the proceeds of Cuffee's labor for his own
without even a thank YOU for it. True,
when Cuffee ate he had given him food
when he was sick he had given him medi-
cine, and he had clotted him, too, just as
he himself thought best. Mr.. JARVIS had
married a loving, conscientious woman'
and for fifteen years had appropriated her
labors. Her recompensc had been iooa
and clothes. such as he thought best Tor
her. A little better than Cuifees' per,
haps but the similarity OF the cases ana
not please him. He had expected ms
wife to be very grateful for what he hAd
done for her. but now he wondered tha'
she had not rebelled long ago. Had his
wife no more money or liberty than Cut
fee had in bondage: was Donald JARVIS
no better thon MasSa Brown
His brain seemed to be IN muddle,
and he looked so strangely that his wife,
anxious to break the spell, took his arm'
saving. "Let US 90 home, dear. The
tea mus, be waiting for US. lie took
up his hat in dreamy way, and they
walked home in silence. The children
ran ioyously to meet them. The yard
was so fresh and green, and the flowers
so many and bright that he wondered he
had never thanked Nettie for them all
Hitherto he had looked upon them as
his: but now, he felt that his interest IN
them was only few dollars, tina, would
not have amounted to anything without
his wife's care. His children were tidy
and sweet, and everything around and IN
the house had that CHEEKY look tba; rested
him after the hard, dull day in the mill.
They sat again at the table which had
been a source OF comfort to HIM so many
wears, and he wondered how ne could
have enjoyed it so long without even
thanking the woman who had provided
il. True she had used his money n
bringing it all about, but how else could
his money be of use to aim: Who else
sould have turned it into just what he
needed day after day for years And he
began to have an underlined feeling that
it took more than money to make home
He glanced at his wites face as he but
tered his last slice of bread. 1t was not
that of the fair, rosy bride whom ne had
brought to the mills years before; but
at that moment he realized that it was
far dearer to him, for he knew that she
had given the bloom and freshness OF heE
youth to make his home what it was.
And a new thought came to him
"Who was comforting her now when she
had so much care Was not that what
he had promised to do when he brought
her from her old home' He sighed as
he thought how far he had drifted from
her while holding her in bondage equaI
to CuFee's. Nay, he felt that her claims
were far more binding than any which
had ever held the negro, anu tnaI lie
obligations to her were so much the
greater.
Something called the children out doors
and Mr.. Jarvis took his easy chair. Hi:
wife came and stood beside him. 81
fear you are not well, Donald, or are you
displeased with me = =,
He drew her into his arms and tolc
her how her words had shown him what
manner of man he was, and there wert
words spoken that need not be written
but from that day forth different man
was proprietor of the Jarvis mills and
there was brighter light in Mrs. jar
vis's eyes, for at last she had something
of her own. nor has she ever regretted