Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-03-16
Jones' NEW LEAF

II was n drcary kl'chen-'he W"'''
were di,,y and smoky, the breakfast
dishes stood on the table in he mid
die ol tho floor the cooking stove was
open, with kitlles aud pans on 1t, and
cold ashes on ila hearth, It's sooty
plates awry, u pot of dishwaler stand
lag on iopoi the stove, and the broom
and pokef and toi gs were just where
the little riders had left them when
they were called to prepare tor school
johnny had gone Of crying and even
then his whines could be heard COM
ing up the hollow, in the direction oil
the school house. The milk had not
been strained, and the flies were buz-
zing about II as they sat on the edge
of the brimming pals sippingand rub
bing their heads together IN salts
fed way. The baby was 'eethlng and
cross, and the one pair OF hands that
could have brought order out OF chaos
were trying to sooth it,
Is i, any wonder that tears we're IN
the mothers eyes, aS she cnddled her
baby TO her bosom, and walked across
the floor trying TO still its cries'
o. dear, what Il lie, what n life, said
she F.; ri try TO be patient aud make
the bes, Of il, bat il does seem hard,
Just ms tho baby was growing quiet,
and his little blue hand had fallen
lisllessly upon hIs bosom. a shadow
fell across the doorway, and the hus-
band entered saying:
Jane, can You tell me what ihe
children did with the hatchet yester'
dayf
Il wa. ON the rock, behind john
ny's wagon lest night, said she speak
ing low, and gently laying the baby
down on bed that had not been made
up.
Seems to me you are a good while
getting your chores zone you havn
the knack Of getting along like Mrs
Leyond,kc-her work is done up long
ago, and she's busy in the garden
Tell Won her'n is nice garden don't
look much like ours, you don't put the
the time on it that she does on hern
Oh, John said the little woman
slipping back her sleeves and tying
on biz apron, aud trying to keep her
face turned away to hide the gather
inc tears, with four little children, a
baby sick, with three, COWS to milk
and calves to feed and hands TO COOK
fer, and all the other work to DO, L
only wonder that / get halt my chores
done in whole day.
swell, Tm slre don't see how it
is" said he ;; my mother had ten,
children and she managed to get along
frst.rale, and do all her our weaving
Besides taking in weaving for the
neighbors. You have more room
than she. and you don't have to carry
water forty rods, like she had, here
it is rign at the footofthe hill, and
YOU never have to cut your own wood
unless it is in the midst OF harvest
and II think you shouldn't complain
Iftbere is anything hate to hear ii
is q growing, whining wife. Now l
have 70 be out Of doors all the time,
no matter how hot the sun shines, or
how cold the winds blows, while you
are in the shade aud comfortable--lf
you only knew It. Ah You have an
easy time oft, you women, II you
only knew it; so cheer up. married
yo1 tor helpmate. don't you know
The cir's will be big enoushin three or
four years to help you, and then you
can take times easier and may be by
liatl lin,e the bottom farm win be paid
for, and we'Hibe able to ride in car
riagc,like the Ley oudikes. > id
How long since You brought in this
water I said he as be took q drink
froma tin dipper, and finding it not
fresh he sqalrted il out coclly on the
floor among some pans that had slip
ped drwn off q shelf. ,7,.', oioI
AS he took the hatchet and started
ont to the hay wagon to 6x the hay
rigging ON it, he SAID to Jane, i you
car rs well as not 'sposin' you have