The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-08-13
JOHNS WIFE.

Whatever possessed brother John to
60 up to the city and marry that little
yellow-haired, blue-eyed bit Of school
girl, when he could have just had his
pick of girls nearer home, was some
thing l never could understand. There
was Ida Handscombe, just dead in love
with him, rs anybody could see, and the
best brcad.maker in the whole country,
besides taking prizes at the State Fair
for pickles and jellies, and ever so much
better looking, too, than Myra. No
yellow bangs ever her eyes she just
combcd her hair back of her face and
did il up in hard knot that staid. She
sent John birthday cake, and knit him
a comforter, and everybody thought il
would be match, but John said he
didn't like her eyes they were hand
some eyes to my idea, and could look
you through and through, they were that
clear and bright; but did you ever know
man TO take advice "Marry that fer
ret" said John, "and never have any
peace Of my life well, | guess not !"
and with that off he goes to town and
telegraphs back, "expect me and my
WIFE" Dear such shock as il gave
me, and our spring cleaning not done.
and the minister coming to board with
us while his wife went home on visit
it was trial, you may be sure
And when she did come, il was more
like having a wax doll in the way than
anything else, with her big wondering
eyes, and childish ways and silly ques-
tions and hanging on Johns arm, and
leaning over Johns chair with two little
Insignificant feet in the rung at the back
and her clothes Such fallals, Just like
a rigging, and just sat my foot down
that if she was to live with us she must
tOaform TO our ways. l hadn't been
forty years in this world for nothing
II she wanted to wear fine white laces
and ruffled aprons, she had to wash and
iron them herself. wouldn't be her
slave. And such silly questions as she
asked, they just make me sick
"Were there any dear little yellow
chicks 2"
Dear little yellow chicks, indeed
they were dear enough, before we raised
them and got their heads of, and had
them ready for market, and If that silly
child didn't sit down and cry because
they were killed, said she had named
every one Of them and watched them
grow up. And she our Johns wife |!
bah
Then she did the silliest thing Of all !;
went and bought book called, "what
l Know About Farming" and used to
sit out under tree, studying il by the
hour, and one night when she went
down to the bars to meet John, l heard
her ask:
"John why don't you get a washing
machine and wringer, and save your
own flesh and blood. Look at the bills
tiers on my hands !"
And the next thing il was the talk oi
the neighborhood that we Elliotts, who
had set our faces against modern i'm
provements, had given out before that
little pale-faced thing, and not only got
a wringer and washer in our kitchen,
but several hundred dollars worth oi
farm machinery at work. John said he
could afford il, but I spoke my mind ard
told her what thought Of il after he
went out to his work. Size looked kind
Of frightened, and pretended she was
going to cry, and then she spoke up
quick like and said:
"Sister Janet, its triumph Of mind
over matter. You can wash now, and
not be all tired out, and sick and nerv-
Gus, and-and-John can afford il. 81
Perhaps il I had known that she had
paid for il all, and hadn't cnst John a
cent, ! might have been more forgiving,
but just straightened up and said:
"Mrs. Elliot you may 60 on and ruin
your husband with your boarding school
ideas, but as for me I'll never touch the
things. / can work, thank goodness,
while I've got my health. / wasn'i
brought up in idleness."
She never took il to heart bit the
next thing knew she was at little
parlor organ she had, singing and play.
ing rs il that was all there was in life.
And that silly old minister-men
never do have bit Of sense, but you
expect more oil preacher oil the gospel,
but he just sat and talked to her as il
she was companion for him, and they
walled about the fields, and staid down
where John was working, and all around
'em souls perishing for want Of the
bread Of life such sinful waste ol
time never saw
"Janet, do you love the hills ?" she
asked one day when was securing the
knives outside the door. She had Of
fered to do them for me, but Law, heI
white hands were not ht for anything SC
useful.
'ILove the hills Well, I'd like tC
know what there is to love about
them. I guess if you climbed them 4
spell you wouldn't love 'em much"
'rThey're so high and grand" she
said, looking up at them. '"rhey seem
50 near the cool, far or Heaven / love
TO climb to the top and drink in the
sweet, fresh air il does me good here
here"
She laid her hand on her heart, and
nss.r.l Leila. IN ...ssA . .e~anua ~wr,wee