The true northerner., 1882-10-06

lived. Could it be possible that his
wife envied them anything?' Could it
be that he was not AZ good man as he
thought? He had felt deeply the
wrongs of the slave, whose labors had
been appropriated by their masters, and
when negro, who had worked twenty
years for his master before the emanci-
patton 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 bo so
cruel and selfish "a to commit such an
outrage against justice. He had called
him a robber many time, but now
Donald Jarvis looked to himself very
much like the old shareholders. Massa
Brown had taken the proceeds Of
Cuffee's labor for his own without even
"thank you" for it. True, when
Cuffee 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. A little better than Cuff
fees, perhaps, but the similarity of the
cases did not please him. He had ex-
pected 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 life been a mistake !?
Had his wife no more money or liberty
than Cuffee had in bondage? Was
Donald Jarvis no better than Massa
Brown?
His brain seemed to be in q muddle,
and he looked so strangely that his wife
anxious to break the spell-took his
arm, saying:
"Let us go home, dear; tea must be
waiting for u.s."
He took off his hat in dreamy way,
and they walked home in silence The
children ran joyously to meet them.
The yard was so fresh and green, and
the flowers so many and bright, that he
wondered that 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 a
few dollars that would not have amount
ed to anything without his wife's care.
His children were tidy and sweet, and
everything around and in the house had
that CHEEKY look that rested him so af-
ter the hard, dull day at the mill. They
sat again at the table, which had been
a source of comfort and pleasure to him
for so many years, and he wondered
how he could have enjoyed it so long
without even thanking the woman who
had provided it. True, she had used
his money in bringing it all about, but
how else could his money be of use to
him? Who else could have turned it
into just what he needed day after day
for years? And he began to have an
underlined feeling that it took more than
money to make home. He glanced at
his wife's face as he buttered his last
slice of bread.
was not that of the fair, rosy bride
whom he had brought to the mills years
before. but at that moment he realized
it was far more dear to him, for he
knew that she had given the bloom and
freshness of her youth to make his
home what it was. His daughters had
her rose-leaf cheeks, his sons her youth
full vivacity, all had her cheerful win
some ways, and comforted him as she
had in those days when, hardly know
ing what care meant, she had lived for
him alone.
And a new thought came to him,
"Who was comforting her now, when
she had so much care? Was not that
what he promised to do when he
brought her from her old home?" He
sighed as he thought how far he had
drifted from her when in bondage equal
to Cuffee's Nay, he felt that her chains
were far more binding than any which
had ever held the negro, and that
his obligations to her were so much the
greater.
Something called the children out of
doors, and Mr. Jarvis took his easy
chair. His wife came and stood beside
him. 81 fear you are not well, Donald;
are you displeased with me?"
He drew her into his arms and told
her how her words had showed him
what manner of man he was, and theS-
were words spoken which need not he
written, but from that time forth %
different man was proprietor of the
Jarvis mills, and there was brighter
light in Mrs. Jarvis eyes, for at least
she had something of her own, nor has
she regretted that she applied for
wages