The Red Cloud chief., 1881-08-04
RICHLY POOR.

were nlarTlcu llcl Ddu Just three uOt-
lars in hand wherewith to begin life.
Charles was clerk in a general store
I'm a small inland town. MARY was a
farmers daughter who hal taught dis
trict school for u living. They were
now both orphans, and, having known
each other for many yeas, had grown
into love, rather than fallen into il,
and were of the same mind that il was
better to be happy together, than I'M
happy apart.
So Mary laid out her small savings in
cheap furniture for two rooms, a few
dishes, n good store of underc'othcs.
two calico dresses and a merino; and
. Charles spent his on n stove, a clock,
an ingram carpet, a good bed for the
bedroom and a snit of Sunday clothes;
this lett them, as i sad. three dollars:
for Charles salary WAS only just in
creased to such small extent as made
his marriage possible.
In this little town of Durham all the
children in their early lives went 10
school together, and grew up friends as
far rs their natural traits permitted;
but some of the wealthy manufacturers
and professional men, when their SOM
and daughters grew older, sent them TO
the county town or even farther, for
better education and more polish than
they could obtain at home.
When Charles and Mary were mar
ried and came into church the first
time one November day they were
nodded at and smiled 10 by many a
kindly face, and more than one young
girl Of her W age ran her Eyes over
Mary'S bridal attire in a way not alto
gcther pleasant 10 the bride; and she
heard more than whisper: Moth.
Ing but a blue merinoi'
Mary was a sensible girl, ii is true,
bat she was n girl still. and she felt hot
and uncomfortable. She would hav,
liked a silk dress. but she could not buy
one, and her mothers earnest advice Il
her from the time she first earned /:
cent had been: Don't spend money
YOU haven't got, Mary, or you'll bu,
trouble"
There were a good manys%ser thing
that were hard TO bear thel
seemed the harder because ttefoycrt,
was mutual. She could not 20 GU
evenings, for Charles was busy in TIL
store. She had 10 give up her girlisl
frolics of nutting, rowing on the lake
Deriving, and all such things. becaus
she had her work To do; and she knew
all the time that her husband neede'
air and exercise even more han Sh
did. One afternoon. in such 4 mood
she picked up her ~sunhonnet, put he
work into her apron, and ran oat TO sc
an old ncighbor, a poor lame womal
whom she had known all her life, an
whose greatest pleasure was 10 hav
people come in to see her, since sh
could never get out to see them.
IL didn't ieel over and above cherk
Aunt Polly" she said, $50 L though
Id run in and have n talk with Won"
dear met" said Aunt Polly, =.
thought YOU looked rs bright rs a but
ter-cup, Mary; amt you well?"
Yes. | am always we'll"
What a thing to be thankful fort
said Aunt Polly, with n half sigh.
but sometimes L get down hearted
auntv: we're so poor, and so shut ur
somehow. L can't get out evening,
for Charley can't leave the store. and
hate TO GO away anywhere without hun
and then | never do 60 AM where sine
! was married, for there's work TO d
ct home every day"
Il suppose you'd be happier
Charles was 10 leave We for good al
all. then, and let you have liberty
go?"
20. auntyr' Tears choked her voiC
as she answered this seemingly cru
question.
Mary" Aunt Polly began aga
with deep earnestness, ''ef you're
Christian woman and van 10 live
Christian life, Jest o stop right he-
and don't count your troubles no nor
count up your mercies; it's them v
had ought TO look at"
Mary colored painfully. She had n
tn ught of her troubles N that Ugh
and, being q sensible, true woman, 81
\ went home with new resolution.
: Charles Plat was not a strong ma
or a CHEEKY one; his tendency was
be careful and troubled, and Mary 50
now that she had hindered, not helpe
him. She was young, honest. cand
and eager to do right; she made ne
resolves. and lived up TO them. 81
= let fresh air into her house. since 81
had scarcely more chance than Charl
to 30 out and get it; she let the su
shine come in, too; and the little pos
ptu Nv liNt lIOEt opVl was
by the landlord, since the women vi
kept the milliner's shop below had
time to use il. One neighbor and a
other gave her seeds and slips, and
winter her east window was gay WI
plants, and the south n gayer WI
her fresh face and bright smile. 81
made friends with everybody about be
for a kind word is like a caress. al
she always had a friendly greeting.
kind inquiry, or a word OF sympatl
for all she met. Sometimes, OF a no
day, she asked a few friends to con
and spend the evening with her. s.
had the courage to offer them only
dish of apples, a basket of nuts. pc
haps a bowl of popped corn. or, in s
gar-time, a ''sugaring off," that ente
tainment peculiar to the country
maple trees. But her welcome was
warm and genial, her hospitality
genuine and simple, go +