The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-12-19
Pork and Potatoes.
'Pork and potatoes
Pork and potatoes "

Pork and pOtatOes!
There was little of rhyme or reason
in the monotonous reiteration of these
homely words. yet they had their de
signed eject, for in the course of time
the wild-eyed baby in the woman's
lap began to nod q drowsy approval
and at last fell into an uneasy s1umber.
Carefully the singer placed it in its
little cradle and turned to her neglect.
ed work. There was enough to do ia
all conscience. So much she hardly
knew where to begin, While she
hesitated her thoughts wandered away
from the untidy titchen With its yes.
terday's litter ali unclaimed, its drift
ing rolls of lint. its sink piled high
with unwashed dishes. and for the
moment she was no longer a pallid.
hollow-eyed. unkempt drudge, but
young and pretty, sweet and fresh as
women are who put on wedding fnery
and wait with happy longing for the
new life full of blessed mystery.
"Four years ago" she thought, 81
was the happiest woman in the world.
now am one Of the most miserable
Four years ago I kept happy birth.
day in my heart and home; now
She gave a sharp, hard laugh and
turned to her work.
Four years ago she and John had
been two smart and happy young
people who thought nothing on earth
could make them 20 devoutiy thankful
as to belong wholly and entirely to
each other. Their marriage had been
to them the best possible celebration
for the pretty young brides birthday.
They had begun life in q little hired
house, with a little stock of worldly
goods and a great and wonderful for
tune in store. which they had made up
their minds to possess through indus
try, economy and mutual endeavors.
How was it, Annie asked herself over
and over again, that in only four years
they had come to this ! She remem-
bered, as she washed and secured
among the pots and pans, how the
girls in the shop where she used to
work had envied her. Envied her for
her handsome husband, for her smart
new dress. and all of them hoped for
rs good luck themselves.
Now, Miriam rode in her own car
riage and filed it royalty with her silks
and laces. She had married an old
man, surly enough to be sure, but
what of that To-day she would sit
at the head Of q table loaded with sill
yer. and greaning under its weight of
costly dainties. There was Alice, fair
and frail. Annie thought, with lit
tie thrill of virtuous pride, that she
never spoke to Alice now /; yet at her
table to-day there would be music and
laughter, rare fruits and flowers aud
costly wines. Tn ough better women
Stunned her, yet was she clothed in
purple and fine linen and Jared stump.
tuously every day. There was Kate
Brown, and Avis. her sister, elderly
girls. and plain, but their birthdays
were always to them high holiday.
She began to sing again, and the sweet
ness of her voice was all lest in the
bitterness that rang through the same
old words -
s'Pork and potatoes.
Pork and potatoes
1t was all they had in the house to
eat. and it was her birthday-their
wedding anniversary.
The door opened and John came in;
not the fine, spruce young man Who
smiled on her 80 proudly four years
ago, but . slouching man in dirty
overalls. with shabbiness written all
over his clothes and care all over his
face. He was smiling now and swing
ing . plump little turkey.
"Here. nanny" he called, here il
. bit of birthday for you"
"Oh. joint" she cried. "Hew
could your Poultry 90 dear, and l
with never . dress or . boot"
II did not buy it," he answered
"Old Huxley gave it to me-"
IA charity bird! Shsme on you,
Jshnl Shame on ysu, poor - We
are. for taking charity. l will net
cook, or eat. or have any hand in the
disgrace of it'll"
Throw it away. then" he answer
ed, Cor give it to some one without
ysur cursed pride" And without an
ether word he went out into tho Wind
and rain.
s'Cbarity ! charity charity !" How
the word rang through her brsin! Net
all the sorrow and poverty and disap-
peintment of her married life had ever
humbled her like this one gift. Old
Huxley had once been . would-be lever
of hera- and an former hirth1avs kal