Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1881-06-23

whose course you only trace by the
greener and stronger grasses that con-
ceal it. Yet there was not a
sick or sad person who did not
want to see Mary Platt. and her hap
py laugh did "good like medicine"
wherever it was heard. After several
years they were able to take little
house to themselves, and from its gar
den. solely Mary's care, came the first
Strawberries, the freshest radishes. the
crispest lettuce. not only to add tp their
own meals but to share with the neigh
bors. and the one early apple tree that
shaded her kitchen door was a blessing
to everybody who liked the fruit.
"Give. and it shall be given unto YOU"
was abundantly realized; when. time
after time. the delicate baby sickened
and fought its way back to life again
with a tenacity babies only possess,
watchers were always ready to take the
mothers place at night, dainty food
sent in, every kindness that country
neighborhoods can show lavished upon
her. for all her neighbors had some
debt Of kindness to pay.
Then her cellar never was empty. for
one would send her barrel of apples.
another bushel of potatoes, and still
another few parsnips. a head or two
OF cabbage. jug Of cider vinegar. II
never saw such good people in my life."
she said once to Charles, with tears in
her eyes; they're always doing some
thing for u.s."
"Strange, amt it?' said Charles.
smiling with queer smile. but he said
no more: he knew very well why they
were so kind. but he would not tell
Mary; he loved her with all his heart,
but he was too shy to praise her. after
the reticent New England fashion.
So the days passed. carrying with
them their little cares and little pleas
ures; and Charles and Mary found that
ii their Life was not all sunshine, the
sunshine which dad come into it was all
the sweeter because of the occasional
shadow. The tastes of neither were
expensive; they did not pine after lux
uries which they could not afford. and
were quite content with the even course
of their quiet home life.
After q while Charles fell i'll OF q
fever. and the extra necessities of sick
ness brought them into debt; this was q
real trouble to Mary; to have all going
ont and nothing coming in seemed hard
to her; her husband was not danger
ously i'll. but he could not work; it was
four long months before he resumed his
place in the store. and they were almost
two hundred dollars in debt But
Mary's cheerful faith and courage held
up her husband in this strait. II she
was troubled he never knew it; she took
in what sewing she could get, sold her
vegetables and fruit to the tavern
keeper, instead of giving them away.
and mended the old clothes for them
selves instead of the poor about them;
for she knew well justice is better than
generosity. Slowly, almost cent bv
cent. she laid up few dollars, and
applied them in these small sums
to their debts. Charles came home
one night in a responding mood
enough; he had been dunned by the
villa e apo;hecary for his bill. and
though he did not mean to tell Mary.
she soon coaxed out of him the secret
of his weary face and aching head; she
heard his story silently, and then went
to the drawer where her coin accu-
INFLATED, and brought out with the little
box q bundle of bills-for she had ex-
acted receipt for even the smallest
sum paid inland now out of dimes.
quarters, five cent pieces, here and
there dollar bill. she counted out ten
dollars, and, running over what she
had already paid on account. found
they were but i've dollars in debt when
that ten should be paid. The druggist
was careless man. and. eager for
money, had gone to Charles with bill
on which none of Mary's payments had
been entered. Here was q pleasant
enough surprise for the cast-down man;
to be sure there were still debts remain
ing. but there was an outlook of hope