South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-09-09

induced to change her manner of do
ing business. Perhaps he had been
too indulgent himself, and had pro.
vided too lavishly for the supposed
wants of the household. He might,
and indeed he must turn over "a new
leaf. In other words, he would tight.
EN- the thumb-screws n little and see if
the effect OH his victim would not be
salutary.
Phcbe had grown very reluctant TO
ask for what was really needed in the
house, so sure was she of that adverse
criticism so intensely Illuminating to n
woman of fine nature. IT water will
wear stone, so will perpetual petty
faultfinding eat away all home hap
piness. If Phebc had been more self
asserting in the Stait it would have
been far better. She could have ed
ucated the young man into a reasons
able householder. But instead, she
took very wrong course, and, by
dressmaking in over hours, contrived
to cain little money. This went to
exc out the scanty allowance her hus-
band thought SO muniiiccnt for the
expenses of so small family
When supper was over Ridge har-
messed up and drove to the village in
his fresh cool suit, to get the evening
mail. 1t would have been rest and
rei'reshment to Phebe to go too, but
there was the supper to clear away,
the milk TO set, a little Aleck to care
for, and Ridge would have thought
all things going to wreck and ruin if
she had deserted the ship.
Uncle Alcck is at home, Phebe,'
said Ridge one evening in great ex-
element, as he returned with letter.
lie is coming on here next week. -
Now | need not tell you how impor-
tant 1t Is for all of us that we make a
good impression upon him. Ny un-
Gle is good man. but he has his pc :
cullar notions. lie was always lee
turing me about economy. Ii he gets
the Impression that we arc living ex.
tri'vagantly, he may cut me off with
Il shilling. Try and have little Aleck
at his best, aud, if possible keep him
from crying. We must study To pro-
vide his tavoritc dishes. for he ALWAYS
feels crnsty if his meals do not please
him. have laid hy n little money.
though not half what expectcd-our
Ewing expenses have been so high ::
but ! know Uncle Aleck will be graf
flied to know have saved a little
There are 4 number OF things we
need, suggested Phebe. wearilv, Il
suppose your uncle will always prefer
white sugar i'll his coffee. and it is
much the best for everything. We
have mono. And the coffee pot is so
leully ! can hardly make coffee in il !:
and the tel kettle is n great trouble
Tor the same reason. They really
ought to be mcnded.'
And the same with half the tin.
ware Ill the house, | suppose, lie said
with lofty smile, us he lighted his
cigar
1T Is very true,' said Phebc, with
no smile either.
Now, don't it seem TO you, Phebe,'
he said, argumentatively, that three
years Is very short tiEIc for tinware
to last? | think my Aunt Lucinda
has pieces she bought forty years ago.
'Tinware is not what it used to be.
i know women say so, but after all
IT depends great deal upon the way
1t Is used Whereupon followed a
discourse on the use of pans and ba-
sins, that was supposed to cffcctuaIly
settle the question about the necessity
OF her particular stock being mcnded.
This modern pharoah still persisted
III demanding bricks without straw
so with the very scantiest resources.
Phebe set about preparing for the
dreaded visit She would have liked
u little girl To hel p take care Of the
baby, but her husband objected on
principle. Itmight look oxtravagant
to Uncle Alecli, and the board of such
"a girl would be more than her wages.
1t was beautiful day in June, and
the country at its best, when Uncle
Aleck came. lie gave his nephew
hearty hand-stal<e, and looked ovor
his added pounds of avoirdupois with
laughing eyes.
Farm life hasn't worn You down. I
PERCEIVE he said, as he stepped into
the buggy.
The supper was excollont, the house
like q new pin, baby sweet and fresh
IN his clean white tucker, and there
was only one shadow that those keen
gray eyes detected, and that was the
worn and faded look of the Young
mother. 1t filled him with solicitudc
and gave him real pain, as he feared
his young niece might be in failing
health, aud his poor boy bo left early
with only q memory and a pictured
taco, IS he had been these many long
years One thing which had so drawn
lm to Phebo, was her resemblance
to that little ivory-paintcd picture he
moro with HIM Ctr,t. LII -