Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-05-16


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 allow
ing her money to get things to make the
family comfortable. Things began to
look differently to him just now. Could
it be that he was not generous. 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 oblig-
ed to begin the world for herself that
day it would be as penniless woman,
Notwithstanding the houses, the lands
anu 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 to call her
own. How fast he thought, standing
there at the Office window looking down
at the little houses where the mill hands
lived. Could it be that he was not as
good a man as he thought? e? He had
felt deeply the wrongs Of the slave,
whose labors had been appropriated by
their masters, and when a negro who
had worked twenty years for his master
before the emancipation freed him. came
to Jarvis mills, friendless and penniless,
the heart of the proprietor swelled with
indignation at such injustice. He was
eloquent on the subject at home and
abroad, and wondered how any one
could be so cruel and selfish as to COM
NIT 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 holder !!
Massa Brown had taken the proceeds of
Cuffee's labor for his own without even
a ''thank you" for it. True, when Cuff
fee ate he had given him food. when he
was sick he had given him medicine,
and he had clothed him, too, just as he
himself thought best. Mr.. Jarvis had
married lovely, conscientious woman,
and for fifteen years had appropriated
her labors. Her recompense had been
food and clothes such as he thought best
for her; little better than Cuffee'
perhaps, but the similarity of the cases
did not please him. He had expected
his wife to be very grateful for what he
had done for her, but now he wondered
that she had not rebelled long ago. Had
his wife no more money or liberty than
Cuffee in his bondage? Was Donald
Jarvis no better than Massa Brown?
His brain seemed to be in a muddle,
and he looked so strangely, his wife,
anxious to break the spell, took his arm,
saying: '.Let US 60 home, dear; tea
must be waiting for u.s." He put on
his hat in dreamy way and then walk
ed home in silence. The children ran
joyously to meet them. The yard was
so fresh and green and the flowers SC
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, that would
not have amounted to anything without
his wife's care. His children were tidy
and sweet and everything around and ir
the house had that CHEEKY look thai
rested him after the hard, dull day al
the mill. They sat again at the table
that had been source of comfort anc
pleasure to him for so many years, anG
he wondered how could have enjoyed i
so long without even thanking the WON
an who had provided it. True, she hac
his money in bringing it all about, bu
how else could his money be of use tt
him ? Who else could have turned i
into just what be needed for years
And he began to have an underlined feel
ing that it took more than money t.
make home. He glanced at his wife
face as he buttered his last slice o
bread.
1t was not that of the fair, rosy brid
whom he had brought to the mills year
before, but at that moment he realize,
it was far more dear to him, for he kne,
that she had given the bloom and fresh
ness of her youth to make his hom
what it was. His daughters had he
rose-leaf cheeks, his sons her youthful
beauty, all had her cheerful, winsom
ways, and comforted him now as she ha
in those days when, hardly KNOWN
what care meant, she had lived for hiI
alone. And new thought came to him
"Who was comforting her now whe
she had so much care % Was not thu
what he promised to do when he brougf
her from her old home? He sighed &
he thought how far he had drifted frol
her while in bondage equal too Cuffee'
Nay, he felt that her claims were f;
more binding than any which had eve
held the negro, and that his obligation
to her were so much the greater.
Something called the children out
doors, and as Mr.. Jarvis took his eas
chair his wife came and stood besiC
| him al fear vou are not we'll Donald