Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-10-20

that it was not, and had not she an
equal right to determine upon their
future with their father?
The sunbeams slowly heightened,
creeping up and over her feet, her work
and her folded hands, until they flashed
upon her with sudden blindness.
"Come Mary, it's most time for sup
per, and father'n soon be in from the
feld!" and then she gathered up her
work with weary sigh.
"The deacon is kind enough at
heart" she thought, half spologetical-
ly, only he's so SET"
For a moment she fingered in the
doorway, then, turning away, said hur-
riedly:
sfhe men are coming; you skim the
milk, child, while 1 cut the bread.
Where is the bread?" and she glanced
inquiringly from the empty bread-cloth
to her daughter.
"Oh, mother! As 1 live, I do be-
lieve!"
She opened the oven door slowly, and
with the air one might be supposed to
wear going to their execution. The bread
was almost in blaze, and blacker than
any hat you ever saw, or any Chloe that
ever lived.
This was the climax of misfortune;
burnt bread was the Deacon's particular
aversion, the eating of which was al
ways considered by him worthy of an
indefinitely greater patience than the in
comparable Job ever possessed.
Before this new evil all other troubles
s'paled as stars before the sum-" and
for while Mrs. Heyworth's SORROWS
were swallowed by the trembling ques-
ton:
Whatwill father say?'
Deacon Heyworth's days work was
done long ago, and he sat, as usual, in
his easy chair, with his feet upon the
fender. The evening was cool-just
cool enough to make fire enjoyable,
and with his paper and apples, and
glass of cider beside him, he prepared
to enjoy himself to the full. His wife
sat near him with busy fingers; her
work was not yet done-would never be,
she often thought YEARLY, until her
hands and feet and heart were still in
death.
The corner clock struck nine, and the
Deacon laid aside his paper. Mrs. Hey
the moment she had waited for anxious
". " Something must be done. Oh, if
1 only could say something to convince
him! His heart is kind and good enough,
if it only could be got at-kind O. like
green moss, and shining shells under
the water when it's frozen over-easy
enough to be got at when the ice breaks
and floats away"
"Father!" she commenced, desper-
ately, "college begins next week."
eyes, I known' and the Deacon's
voice expressed slight irritation.
"Willie does want to go so bad,
pears like it's shame for the boy to be
disappointed"
The Deacon's face became flint.
"I've explained to William my rea-
sons for not letting him 60, and when 1
say thing I mean it; I've set my foot
down.
eyes! yes! know! but do wish,
Nathan, you wasn't quite so swift at
setting your foot down. as you always
say; it's mighty aggravatin' some
times, for you never pretend to ask me
what I think of such or such things,
and for all I'm so quiet like, and don't
say anything, feel it, nevertheless, and
I've begun to wonder when my time'Il
Gomez
The Deacon gasped, and his wife,
throwing away her last remnant of tim
idity, continued:
"We've been married now nigh onto
twenty-five years, Nathan, but I can't
remember the time when I ever set my
foot down that such thing should or
should not be done.'
She paused moment, with the scar
let staining her face like some bashful
girls, and her husband, watching the
new light in her usually dropping eyes,
stammered out, with fast expiring dig
nifty; ,,,, ,,,:o, u
I am surprised!''
"That's very likely" answered his
wife, meekly; tive are always surprised
if person ventures an opinion different
from our own, and I suppose you are
all the more surprised at my attempting
thing never did before; but it's gone
on and on, until can stand it no longer,
Nathan, and must speak. I've worked
long and hard for you, now, more'n
twenty years. Many and many's the
night I've gone to bed too tired to sleep,
and it pears like shall never get rested
any more. Mary amt stout, you know,
and all the brunt of the work comes on
me. look old and feel old to be only
forty-five, and it's the hard work that's
done it; hired girl would have been a
mighty help and blessing sometimes,
but you never seemed to think about it.,
and never grumbled any, for I loved
you all the same; but sometimes, when
I've thought it all overland I've done
it hundreds and hundreds of times-it
touches mighty close to be always set
aside like nobody at all, and have my
wishes and opinions continually talked
against, for 1 never forgot that I'm your
wife, Nathan, and have an equal right,
with you, to say what should or should
not be done!"
Her voice trembled for q moment, but
the Deacon's amazement was too great
for words, and she hurried on:
"There was never better children
than ours for smartness or work, and
anybody will say so that knows 'em
but because they'll mind every word
I n